Smart Forfour Pulse (2004)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 76 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£2,428

£202/month

MOT Pass Rate

63%

Below Avg

Road Tax

£275

Estimated/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 12-25

1499cc Petrol

Proceed With Caution

63% pass rate, £2,428/year to run. 19 points below average.

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Petrol1499cc22 years old76 tests100k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1499cc)

~42 mpg

£1,398

Road Tax

Estimated CO2 band

£275

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Higher estimate due to low pass rate

£700

Total per year£2,428

Per month£202/mo

Per week£47/wk

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), petrol at 174.57p a litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026), GOV.UK road tax rates and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

Reliability Verdict

63% MOT pass rate(Below Avg)

0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Below average reliability. Budget extra for maintenance and repairs. That's 19 points below the average of 82% across all models in our data. It falls below the Smart brand average of 80%.

63% of MOT tests on Smart Forfour Pulses from 2004 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 20 years old. That's based on 76 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 99,810 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2004 models446th of 470(bottom 6%)

Rank among Smart models120th of 123(bottom 4%)

vs average of all models-19%(82% avg)

vs 2004 models average-9%(72% avg)

vs Smart average-17%(80% avg)

Mileage Analysis

99,810

Average miles

148,000

Expected for age

The average 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse had 99,810 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is below the expected 148,000 miles for a 20-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

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Smart Forfour Pulse by Year

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2006	67%	86	104,481 mi
2005	69%	157	100,111 mi
2004	63%	76	99,810 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Ford Focus

2006 · 1596cc Petrol

£2,228/year

73%

+10%

MINI

2005 · 1598cc Petrol

£2,228/year

71%

+8%

BMW 3 Series

2006 · 1796cc Petrol

£2,361/year

80%

+17%

Honda Jazz

2006 · 1339cc Petrol

£2,153/year

71%

+8%

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About the 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse

The 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse is a small family car. Our records list a 1499cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 76 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it a rare model on UK roads. It sits in the bottom 6% of 2004 models for MOT pass rate.

With an average of 99,810 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, Smart Forfour Pulse owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2004 Smart Forfour Pulse Fuel Costs

The 1499cc petrol engine offers a reasonable balance between performance and economy. Expect around 42 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £1,398 per year with petrol at 174.57p per litre (GOV.UK weekly average, week of 19 October 2026; based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse?

Total estimated annual running cost is £2,428 (£202/month), broken down as £1,398 fuel, £275 road tax, £55 MOT, and £700 predicted repairs. The higher repair estimate reflects the 63% MOT pass rate. Cars in this bracket tend to need work on suspension, brakes, and emissions components.

Buying a Used 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse

At 22 years old, the Smart Forfour Pulse 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 76 tests in our data, these figures should be treated as indicative rather than definitive.

Common Issues to Watch For

These are typical issues for cars of this age, fuel type and engine size, not faults recorded on this model's MOT tests. Use them as a checklist when you view one.

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.

Clutch Wear

Medium risk

With an average of 100k miles, clutch replacement may be due (typical lifespan 60,000-100,000 miles). Budget £400-£800 for a new clutch kit.

Brake Discs and Pads

Medium risk

High-mileage cars often need brake disc replacement, not just pads. A full set of discs and pads costs £200-£500 per axle.

Higher Than Average Failure Rate

Watch out

With a 63% MOT pass rate, this model fails more often than most. Budget for unexpected repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

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 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse stacks up against similar cars for estimated annual running costs, insurance group, and tax.

Car	Pass Rate	Fuel/yr	Tax/yr	Est. Ins. Group	Total/yr
Smart Forfour Pulse(2004)	63%	£1,398	£275	Grp 12-25	£2,428
Ford Focus(2006)	73%	£1,398	£275	Grp 12-25	£2,228-£200
MINI(2005)	71%	£1,398	£275	Grp 12-25	£2,228-£200
BMW 3 Series(2006)	80%	£1,631	£325	Grp 18-32	£2,361-£67
Honda Jazz(2006)	71%	£1,398	£200	Grp 8-20	£2,153-£275

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, GOV.UK average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026, GOV.UK road tax rates and MOT data. Insurance groups are our rough estimate from engine size, not official groups. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Questions about the 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse

Is the 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse reliable?

Below average reliability. Budget extra for maintenance and repairs. 63% of MOT tests on 2004 Smart Forfour Pulses ended in a pass, from 76 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 19 points below the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse cost to run?

Our estimate is £2,428 a year (£202 a month): £1,398 fuel, £275 road tax, £55 MOT and £700 predicted repairs, based on 7,400 miles a year. Insurance is not included.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse?

63% of 76 MOT tests on the 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 446th of 470 models first registered in 2004 (bottom 6%).

What is the average mileage for a 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 2004 Smart Forfour Pulse is 99,810 miles, which is below the expected 148,000 miles for a 20-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.