Smart ForFour build years & generations
The Smart ForFour spans several build years and named generations (2004-2024). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.
Which year is which
Build years & generations, side by side
Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.
Built 2004
- Generation
- Mk1 (454)
- Figures from
- cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005-2006
- Generation
- Mk1 (454)
- Figures from
- cars built 2005-2008
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2015-2016
- Generation
- Mk2 (453)
- Figures from
- cars built 2013-2016
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2017-2020
- Generation
- Mk2 (453)
- Figures from
- cars built 2017-2020
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2021-2024
- Generation
- Mk2 (453)
- Figures from
- cars built 2021 onwards
Counted with every car built from 2021.
“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.
By build-year group
How each group of build years performs
Each card shows MOT results for one group of Smart ForFour build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.
Built2017-2020
Mk2 (453) only
These build years are all Mk2 (453), so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 7 years old
18.5%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)
Ages with data
5 to 8 years old
MOT tests counted
12,659
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
2017-2020
Mk2 (453) only
These build years are all Mk2 (453), so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 7 years old
18.5%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)
Ages with data
5 to 8 years old
MOT tests counted
12,659
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 8 years old.
Built2013-2016
Mk2 (453) only
These build years are all Mk2 (453), so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 10 years old (latest age)
26.7%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)
Ages with data
8 to 10 years old
MOT tests counted
13,896
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
2013-2016
Mk2 (453) only
These build years are all Mk2 (453), so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 10 years old (latest age)
26.7%
UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)
Ages with data
8 to 10 years old
MOT tests counted
13,896
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 10 years old.
Built2005-2008
Mk1 (454) only
These build years are all Mk1 (454), so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)
29.3%
UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)
Ages with data
18 to 20 years old
MOT tests counted
2,358
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
2005-2008
Mk1 (454) only
These build years are all Mk1 (454), so the figures are almost all from that generation.
Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)
29.3%
UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)
Ages with data
18 to 20 years old
MOT tests counted
2,358
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 19 years old.
BuiltBefore 2005
Mk1 (454) only
Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the Mk1 (454).
Fail rate at 21 years old (latest age)
36.2%
UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.2%)
Ages with data
20 to 21 years old
MOT tests counted
311
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Before 2005
Mk1 (454) only
Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the Mk1 (454).
Fail rate at 21 years old (latest age)
36.2%
UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.2%)
Ages with data
20 to 21 years old
MOT tests counted
311
Chart shows
Age at the MOT
Not the build year
Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 21 years old.