Smart Forfour Pulse (2005)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 157 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£2,100

£175/month

MOT Pass Rate

69%

Below Avg

Road Tax

£170

Estimated/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 5-15

1124cc Petrol

Proceed With Caution

69% pass rate, £2,100/year to run. 13 points below average.

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Petrol1124cc21 years old157 tests100k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1124cc)

~50 mpg

£1,175

Road Tax

Estimated CO2 band

£170

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

Higher estimate due to low pass rate

£700

Total per year£2,100

Per month£175/mo

Per week£40/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

69% MOT pass rate(Below Avg)

0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Below average reliability. Budget extra for maintenance and repairs. That's 13 points below the average of 82% across all models in our data. It falls below the Smart brand average of 80%.

69% of MOT tests on Smart Forfour Pulses from 2005 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 19 years old. That's based on 157 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 100,111 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2005 models386th of 504(bottom 24%)

Rank among Smart models113th of 123(bottom 9%)

vs average of all models-13%(82% avg)

vs 2005 models average-3%(72% avg)

vs Smart average-11%(80% avg)

Mileage Analysis

100,111

Average miles

140,600

Expected for age

The average 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse had 100,111 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is below the expected 140,600 miles for a 19-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

2007 · 1596cc Petrol

£2,228/year

73%

+4%

MINI

2007 · 1598cc Petrol

£2,228/year

73%

+4%

Peugeot 207

2007 · 1360cc Petrol

£2,353/year

69%

same

Honda Jazz

2007 · 1339cc Petrol

£2,153/year

72%

+3%

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About the 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse

The 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse is a city car. Our records list a 1124cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 157 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it a rare model on UK roads. It sits in the bottom 24% of 2005 models for MOT pass rate.

With an average of 100,111 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, Smart Forfour Pulse owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2005 Smart Forfour Pulse Fuel Costs

The modest 1124cc 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 £1,175 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 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse?

Total estimated annual running cost is £2,100 (£175/month), broken down as £1,175 fuel, £170 road tax, £55 MOT, and £700 predicted repairs. The higher repair estimate reflects the 69% MOT pass rate. Cars in this bracket tend to need work on suspension, brakes, and emissions components.

Buying a Used 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse

At 21 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.

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.

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.

Clutch Wear

Watch out

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 69% 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 2005 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(2005)	69%	£1,175	£170	Grp 5-15	£2,100
Ford Focus(2007)	73%	£1,398	£275	Grp 12-25	£2,228+£128
MINI(2007)	73%	£1,398	£275	Grp 12-25	£2,228+£128
Peugeot 207(2007)	69%	£1,398	£200	Grp 8-20	£2,353+£253
Honda Jazz(2007)	72%	£1,398	£200	Grp 8-20	£2,153+£53

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 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse

Is the 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse reliable?

Below average reliability. Budget extra for maintenance and repairs. 69% of MOT tests on 2005 Smart Forfour Pulses ended in a pass, from 157 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's 13 points below the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse cost to run?

Our estimate is £2,100 a year (£175 a month): £1,175 fuel, £170 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 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse?

69% of 157 MOT tests on the 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 386th of 504 models first registered in 2005 (bottom 24%).

What is the average mileage for a 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 2005 Smart Forfour Pulse is 100,111 miles, which is below the expected 140,600 miles for a 19-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.