CarCostCheck

SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET (2001)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 40 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,230

£103/month

MOT Pass Rate

95%

Excellent

Road Tax

£20

Based on CC/year

Insurance

Grp 1-8

698cc Petrol

Great Choice

95% pass rate, £1230/year to run. 13 points above average.

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

Check a specific SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET

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

Petrol698cc25 years old40 tests63k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 698cc)

~50 mpg

£955
Road Tax

Based on 698cc

£20
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs

Low estimate due to excellent reliability

£200
Total per year£1,230
Per month£103/mo
Per week£24/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 (MCC) CABRIOLET

Compare quotes and find the best deal

Reliability Verdict

95% MOT pass rate(Excellent)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Excellent reliability. Very few MOT failures. That's 13 points above the national average of 82%. It also outperforms the SMART (MCC) brand average of 78%.

At 25 years old, 95% of SMART (MCC) CABRIOLETs from 2001 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 40 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 63,464 miles.

Got a SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET 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 2001 cars9th of 362(top 2%)
Rank among SMART (MCC) models1st of 83(top 1%)
vs national average+13%(82% avg)
vs 2001 cars average+22%(73% avg)
vs SMART (MCC) average+17%(78% avg)

Mileage Analysis

63,464

Average miles

vs

185,000

Expected for age

The average 2001 SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET has 63,464 miles on the clock, which is significantly below the expected 185,000 miles for a 25-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 (MCC) CABRIOLET?

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

Best Year to Buy?

The most reliable year is the 2010 model with a 86% MOT pass rate, while the 2003 model has the lowest at 71%. The 2001 sits between the two at 95%.

SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET by Year

YearPass RateTestsAvg Mileage
201276%7568,707 mi
201185%13757,867 mi
201086%9956,300 mi
200978%13069,224 mi
200876%13972,791 mi
200774%9569,643 mi
200679%11263,346 mi
200574%15270,089 mi
200473%20282,853 mi
200371%31670,829 mi
200274%12275,752 mi
200195%4063,464 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Check a Specific Smart (mcc) Cabriolet

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 2001 SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET

The 2001 SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET is a city car with a 698cc petrol engine. 40 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it a rare model on UK roads. It ranks in the top 2% of all 2001 cars for reliability.

With an average of 63,464 miles at 25 years old, SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET 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.

2001 SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET 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 2001 SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,230 103/month), broken down as £955 fuel, £20 road tax, £55 MOT, and £200 predicted repairs. The low repair estimate reflects the excellent 95% pass rate. These cars rarely fail their MOT, so unexpected bills are less likely.

SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET Reliability Trend

Newer SMART (MCC) CABRIOLETs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 5 percentage points.

Buying a Used 2001 SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET

At 25 years old, the SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET 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. If you're flexible on year, the 2010 model has the highest pass rate at 86%. Note: with only 40 tests in our data, these figures should be treated as indicative rather than definitive.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2001 SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET'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 2001 SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET(2001)95%£955£20Grp 1-8£1230
NISSAN MICRA(2003)70%£955£30Grp 1-8£1540+£310
VAUXHALL CORSA(2003)67%£955£30Grp 1-8£1740+£510
VOLKSWAGEN POLO(2000)71%£955£30Grp 1-8£1540+£310
VAUXHALL AGILA(2003)74%£955£30Grp 1-8£1540+£310

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 (mcc) Models

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

Related Guides

In-depth articles relevant to the Smart (mcc) Cabriolet.

Check a specific SMART (MCC) CABRIOLET

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 (MCC) CABRIOLET? 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