CarCostCheck

Smart (MCC) Forfour (2016)

Estimated running costs and MOT pass rates from 9,221 MOT tests in 2024.

Annual Cost

£1,600

£133/month

MOT Pass Rate

82%

Good

Road Tax

£20

Estimated/year

Est. Insurance

Grp 1-8

999cc Petrol

Solid Option

82% pass rate, £1,600/year to run. Close to the average across all models.

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

Check a specific Smart (MCC) Forfour

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

Petrol999cc10 years old9,221 tests46k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 999cc)

~50 mpg

£1,175
Road Tax

Estimated CO2 band

£20
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs
£350
Total per year£1,600
Per month£133/mo
Per week£31/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

82% MOT pass rate(Good)
0%All-model avg: 82%100%

Good reliability. Occasional issues but generally solid. That's close to the average of 82% across all models in our data. It also outperforms the Smart (MCC) brand average of 78%.

82% of MOT tests on Smart (MCC) Forfours from 2016 ended in a pass in 2024, when they were about 8 years old. That's based on 9,221 tests across the UK, retests included. The average mileage recorded at those tests was 45,513 miles.

Got a Smart (MCC) Forfour 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 2016 models414th of 539(bottom 24%)
Rank among Smart (MCC) models23rd of 83(top half)
vs average of all models+0%(82% avg)
vs 2016 models average-3%(85% avg)
vs Smart (MCC) average+4%(78% avg)

Mileage Analysis

45,513

Average miles

vs

59,200

Expected for age

The average 2016 Smart (MCC) Forfour had 45,513 miles on the clock at its 2024 MOT, which is below the expected 59,200 miles for a 8-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

Looking at a specific Smart (MCC) Forfour?

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?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2018 model has the highest MOT pass rate at 88%, while the 2004 model has the lowest at 67%. The 2016 scores 82%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger, so compare years of a similar age.

Smart (MCC) Forfour by Year

YearPass RateTestsAvg Mileage
201988%3,22426,615 mi
201888%6,59032,534 mi
201785%8,28439,590 mi
201682%9,22145,513 mi
201579%9,84852,006 mi
200770%11491,965 mi
200672%83199,878 mi
200574%1,09399,187 mi
200467%401106,805 mi

Similar Cars to Consider

Check a Specific Smart (MCC) Forfour

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 2016 Smart (MCC) Forfour

The 2016 Smart (MCC) Forfour is a city car. Our records list a 999cc petrol engine, though engines vary between versions. 9,221 MOT tests were recorded on this model in 2024, making it a reasonably common sight on UK roads. It sits in the bottom 24% of 2016 models for MOT pass rate.

With an average of 45,513 miles recorded at its 2024 MOT tests, Smart (MCC) Forfour owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2016 Smart (MCC) Forfour Fuel Costs

The modest 999cc 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 2016 Smart (MCC) Forfour?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,600 (£133/month), broken down as £1,175 fuel, £20 road tax, £55 MOT, and £350 predicted repairs. Repair costs are moderate, reflecting the 82% pass rate. Keeping on top of servicing will help avoid surprises.

Smart (MCC) Forfour Reliability Trend

Newer Smart (MCC) Forfours pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 14 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.

Buying a Used 2016 Smart (MCC) Forfour

At 10 years old, the Smart (MCC) Forfour 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 2018 model has the highest pass rate at 88%. With 9,221 MOT tests in our data, there's strong statistical confidence in these figures.

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.

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 2016 Smart (MCC) Forfour stacks up against similar cars for estimated annual running costs, insurance group, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrEst. Ins. GroupTotal/yr
Smart (MCC) Forfour(2016)82%£1,175£20Grp 1-8£1,600
Ford Fiesta(2015)81%£1,175£20Grp 1-8£1,600same
Vauxhall Corsa(2015)78%£1,398£200Grp 8-20£2,153+£553
Nissan Qashqai(2017)86%£1,175£200Grp 5-15£1,780+£180
Volkswagen Polo(2015)82%£1,175£170Grp 5-15£1,750+£150

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 2016 Smart (MCC) Forfour

Is the 2016 Smart (MCC) Forfour reliable?

Good reliability. Occasional issues but generally solid. 82% of MOT tests on 2016 Smart (MCC) Forfours ended in a pass, from 9,221 tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That's level with the average of 82% across all models in the same data.

How much does a 2016 Smart (MCC) Forfour cost to run?

Our estimate is £1,600 a year (£133 a month): £1,175 fuel, £20 road tax, £55 MOT and £350 predicted repairs, based on 7,400 miles a year. Insurance is not included.

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2016 Smart (MCC) Forfour?

82% of 9,221 MOT tests on the 2016 Smart (MCC) Forfour ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). That ranks it 414th of 539 models first registered in 2016 (bottom 24%).

Which year Smart (MCC) Forfour has the best MOT pass rate?

Of the years with at least 100 tests, the 2018 Smart (MCC) Forfour has the highest MOT pass rate at 88% and the 2004 the lowest at 67%. Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger and have done fewer miles.

What is the average mileage for a 2016 Smart (MCC) Forfour?

The average mileage recorded at MOT tests on the 2016 Smart (MCC) Forfour is 45,513 miles, which is below the expected 59,200 miles for a 8-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

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) Forfour.

Check a specific Smart (MCC) Forfour

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) Forfour? 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

With outstanding finance included

Share this page

X