CarCostCheck

SMART CITY PULSE 61 SEMI-AUTO (2003)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 37 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,530

£128/month

MOT Pass Rate

70%

Average

Road Tax

£20

Based on CC/year

Insurance

Grp 1-8

698cc Petrol

Check Carefully

70% pass rate, £1530/year to run. 12 points below average.

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Petrol698cc23 years old37 tests79k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 698cc)

~50 mpg

£955
Road Tax

Based on 698cc

£20
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs

Higher estimate due to low pass rate

£500
Total per year£1,530
Per month£128/mo
Per week£29/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

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Reliability Verdict

70% MOT pass rate(Average)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Average reliability. Expect some repairs as it ages. That's 12 points below the national average of 82%. It falls below the SMART brand average of 80%.

At 23 years old, 70% of SMART CITY PULSE 61 SEMI-AUTOs from 2003 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 37 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 79,332 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2003 cars308th of 445(top 69%)
Rank among SMART models111th of 123(top 90%)
vs national average-12%(82% avg)
vs 2003 cars average-2%(72% avg)
vs SMART average-10%(80% avg)

Mileage Analysis

79,332

Average miles

vs

170,200

Expected for age

The average 2003 SMART CITY PULSE 61 SEMI-AUTO has 79,332 miles on the clock, which is significantly below the expected 170,200 miles for a 23-year-old car. Low-mileage examples may have spent time sitting unused, so check for issues like corroded brakes or perished rubber seals.

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SMART CITY PULSE 61 SEMI-AUTO by Year

YearPass RateTestsAvg Mileage
200460%5369,186 mi
200370%3779,332 mi

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About the 2003 SMART CITY PULSE 61 SEMI-AUTO

The 2003 SMART CITY PULSE 61 SEMI-AUTO is a city car with a 698cc petrol engine. 37 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a rare model on UK roads. Among all cars from 2003, the average MOT pass rate is 72%, and this model falls short of that benchmark.

With an average of 79,332 miles at 23 years old, SMART CITY PULSE 61 SEMI-AUTO owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver. Very low mileage could mean the car has been garaged or used only for short trips, which can cause its own issues like battery drain and moisture buildup.

2003 SMART CITY PULSE 61 SEMI-AUTO Fuel Costs

The modest 698cc petrol engine keeps fuel costs low, which is a real advantage for a city car. Expect around 50 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £955 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2003 SMART CITY PULSE 61 SEMI-AUTO?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,530 128/month), broken down as £955 fuel, £20 road tax, £55 MOT, and £500 predicted repairs. Repair costs are moderate, reflecting the 70% pass rate. Keeping on top of servicing will help avoid surprises.

Buying a Used 2003 SMART CITY PULSE 61 SEMI-AUTO

At 23 years old, the SMART CITY PULSE 61 SEMI-AUTO is firmly in budget territory. Purchase prices are low, but check for rust, worn suspension bushes, and electrical gremlins. A full service history is especially valuable at this age. Note: with only 37 tests in our data, these figures should be treated as indicative rather than definitive.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2003 SMART CITY PULSE 61 SEMI-AUTO's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Coil Pack Failure

Medium risk

Smaller petrol engines are prone to ignition coil failures, causing misfires and rough running. Replacement is £50-£150 per coil.

Rust and Corrosion

Watch out

At 10+ years, check wheel arches, sills, subframe, and brake lines for rust. Structural corrosion is an MOT failure. Prevention is far cheaper than repair.

Suspension Bushings

Watch out

Rubber suspension bushes harden and crack with age, causing knocking noises and vague handling. A full refresh costs £300-£800 depending on the car.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2003 SMART CITY PULSE 61 SEMI-AUTO stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
SMART CITY PULSE 61 SEMI-AUTO(2003)70%£955£20Grp 1-8£1530
NISSAN MICRA(2005)72%£955£30Grp 1-8£1540+£10
VAUXHALL CORSA(2004)68%£955£30Grp 1-8£1740+£210
KIA PICANTO(2005)66%£955£30Grp 1-8£1740+£210
PEUGEOT 107(2005)69%£955£30Grp 1-8£1740+£210

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Related Smart Models

Explore other Smart cars or similar models in the same category.

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