2018 SMART FORTWOELECTRICITY

The 2018 Smart Fortwo presents a stable and improving maintenance trend, culminating in a notably clean bill of health. The most recent MOT, conducted on 17 November 2025 at 39,448 miles, passed with zero defects recorded. This is a significant turnaround from the preceding two tests, which flagged recurring issues. The record suggests a previous owner addressed underlying mechanical neglect, moving the vehicle from a pattern of minor advisories to a fully compliant state. The mileage accumulation tells a story of very light, intermittent use. Covering just 5,856 miles between November 2024 and November 2025, the annual average sits well below the typical 8,000-mile benchmark. The 2024 test at 33,592 miles followed a 4,716-mile increment from the 2023 test at 28,876 miles, confirming this has always been a sparingly driven city car. Such low mileage reduces wear on major mechanical components but raises its own concerns. Long periods of inactivity can cause brake calipers to seize, tyres to flat-spot, and rubber suspension bushes to perish from standing rather than use. Buyers should scrutinise the braking system closely, as historical faults point to a recurring issue. The tester flagged binding rear brakes and excessive parking brake travel in the November 2023 test at 28,876 miles. While the subsequent clean tests suggest these were repaired, a physical inspection is essential to verify the handbrake mechanism holds firmly on a slope and that no calipers are dragging, which would manifest as a hot wheel or uneven brake disc wear. The tyre wear pattern also demands attention. The 2024 test flagged both front inner tyres worn to the legal limit and wearing on their edges at 33,592 miles. This is a classic symptom of worn suspension bushes or incorrect wheel alignment, specifically toe-in misalignment. A buyer should check the front suspension for play in the track rod ends and wishbone bushes, and inspect the inner sidewalls of all four tyres for uneven wear, as the compact rear-engine layout of the Fortwo can make alignment particularly sensitive.