City car · 1998–2018 cars
Smart City Coupe reliability
The Smart City Coupe fails 41.1% of first MOT tests, 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 16,583 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Smart City Coupe before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 41.1%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 10% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 16,583
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 4,800
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Smart City Coupe ages
Each point is the share of Smart City Coupes of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Smart City Coupe | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 30% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 35.5% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 38.8% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 41.2% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 40.7% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 44.7% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 42.5% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 40.4% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 42.9% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 39.1% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 40.7% | 40.6% |
By year
The best and worst Smart City Coupe years
2004 cars come out best and 2006 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 269 | 35.3% | 6% more fails | 63,777 |
| 2009 | 407 | 33.7% | 2% fewer fails | 63,031 |
| 2008 | 325 | 34.8% | 3% fewer fails | 61,150 |
| 2007 City Coupe | 1,726 | 42.4% | 14% more fails | 63,318 |
| 2006 City Coupe | 1,991 | 43.5% | 19% more fails | 60,948 |
| 2005 City Coupe | 1,452 | 42.3% | 10% more fails | 67,694 |
| 2004 City Coupe | 2,709 | 40.8% | 6% more fails | 67,950 |
| 2003 City Coupe | 3,770 | 41.9% | 9% more fails | 68,175 |
| 2002 City Coupe | 2,473 | 42.1% | 11% more fails | 67,161 |
| 2001 | 696 | 41.2% | 12% more fails | 66,850 |
| 2000 | 245 | 38.4% | 10% more fails | 60,907 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Smart City Coupe
Its weak spot is windscreen, wipers and mirrors: 65% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics25%47% above avg
- Suspension12.8%1% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors11.4%65% above avg
- Brakes9.5%8% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks8.7%63% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure6.2%10% below avg
- Tyres5.5%3% below avg
- Steering2.6%4% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags1.5%28% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 5.46% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 2
Stop lamp not working 5.22% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 3
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 4.59% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
- 4
Position lamp not working 4.09% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 5
Coil spring fractured or broken 3.96% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 6
Lambda reading outside specified limits 3.76% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 7
Dipped beam headlamp not working 3.3% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
- 8
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.74% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Smart City Coupe's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy12.34%
- Brake disc pitted or scored10.54%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking9.97%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit9.61%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive9.5%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion5.35%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Smart City Coupe
- 1
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 2
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 3
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.
- 4
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Smart City Coupe covers about 4,800 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol98.6%
- Diesel1.3%
- LPG0.1%
- Electric0%
- Hybrid0%
Most common colours
Silver, Black, Blue, Red, White
Average engine size: 0.7 litres.
Compare
How the Smart City Coupe compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Abarth 500 | 29.9% | about average for its age |
| Smart Fortwo Cabriolet | 33.5% | about average for its age |
| Volkswagen Lupo | 39.8% | about average for its age |
| Daihatsu Sirion | 37.8% | about average for its age |
| Smart City Coupe | 41.1% | 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai Amica | 43% | 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chrysler Ypsilon | 36.3% | 29% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every city car ranked in the city car reliability index, or all Smart models.
Questions
Smart City Coupe questions, answered
Is the Smart City Coupe reliable?
On MOT results, the Smart City Coupe is below average: it fails 41.1% of first MOT tests, 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 20 of 43 city car models in our index.
What fails most on a Smart City Coupe MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Smart City Coupe are headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect (5.46% of tests), stop lamp not working (5.22% of tests), windscreen washer fluid insufficient (4.59% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 25% of its tests.
Which Smart City Coupe year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2004 cars do best (6% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2006 cars do worst (19% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Smart City Coupe do a year?
A typical Smart City Coupe covers about 4,800 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Smart City Coupe before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
Found a Smart City Coupe? Check it free.
MOT history, mileage record, ULEZ, tax and recalls on any UK car, in seconds. No sign-up, no card.