CarCostCheck

SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A (2005)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 34 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,730

£144/month

MOT Pass Rate

59%

Below Avg

Road Tax

£20

Based on CC/year

Insurance

Grp 1-8

698cc Petrol

Proceed With Caution

59% pass rate, £1730/year to run. 23 points below average.

Buying this car? Check for finance, write-offs & theft
£4.99

Check a specific SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A

Enter a reg plate for full MOT history, mileage check, health score, running costs, and reliability data. Free, instant, no signup.

GB

Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

Petrol698cc21 years old34 tests76k 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

£700
Total per year£1,730
Per month£144/mo
Per week£33/wk

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

🛡️

Get an insurance quote for this SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A

Compare quotes and find the best deal

Reliability Verdict

59% MOT pass rate(Below Avg)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Below average reliability. Budget extra for maintenance and repairs. That's 23 points below the national average of 82%. It falls below the SMART brand average of 80%.

At 21 years old, 59% of SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-As from 2005 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 34 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 76,466 miles.

Got a SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A you're looking at?

Enter the reg plate to check its specific MOT history, mileage, and health score.

GB

Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2005 cars522th of 526(top 99%)
Rank among SMART models123th of 123(top 100%)
vs national average-23%(82% avg)
vs 2005 cars average-13%(72% avg)
vs SMART average-21%(80% avg)

Mileage Analysis

76,466

Average miles

vs

155,400

Expected for age

The average 2005 SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A has 76,466 miles on the clock, which is significantly below the expected 155,400 miles for a 21-year-old car. Low-mileage examples may have spent time sitting unused, so check for issues like corroded brakes or perished rubber seals.

Looking at a specific SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A?

Enter its reg plate for a free check with full MOT history, mileage verification, and predicted costs.

GB

Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

Similar Cars to Consider

Check a Specific Smart Fortwo pulse 61 s-a

Enter a reg plate to get the full MOT history, health score, and mileage verification.

Upgrade to Premium (£4.99) for stolen, finance, and write-off checks.

GB

Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

About the 2005 SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A

The 2005 SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A is a city car with a 698cc petrol engine. 34 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a rare model on UK roads. It sits in the bottom 99% of 2005 cars for MOT pass rates.

With an average of 76,466 miles at 21 years old, SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A 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.

2005 SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A 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 2005 SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,730 144/month), broken down as £955 fuel, £20 road tax, £55 MOT, and £700 predicted repairs. The higher repair estimate reflects the 59% MOT pass rate. Cars in this bracket tend to need work on suspension, brakes, and emissions components.

Buying a Used 2005 SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A

At 21 years old, the SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A 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 34 tests in our data, these figures should be treated as indicative rather than definitive.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2005 SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A'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.

Higher Than Average Failure Rate

Watch out

With a 59% 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 FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A(2005)59%£955£20Grp 1-8£1730
NISSAN MICRA(2005)72%£955£30Grp 1-8£1540-£190
PEUGEOT 107(2007)71%£955£30Grp 1-8£1540-£190
TOYOTA AYGO(2007)70%£955£30Grp 1-8£1540-£190
VAUXHALL CORSA(2004)68%£955£30Grp 1-8£1740+£10

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.

Related Guides

In-depth articles relevant to the Smart Fortwo pulse 61 s-a.

Check a specific SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A

Enter the reg to see its MOT history, mileage check, and predicted costs.

GB

Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

Premium History Check

Buying a SMART FORTWO PULSE 61 S-A? Our premium check covers:

  • Stolen check (PNC)
  • Outstanding finance
  • Write-off history (Cat A/B/N/S)
  • Previous owners count
Just £4.99 per check

Competitors charge £10-£20 for the same data

Share this page

X
GB