2016 Smart Forfour 1.0L Petrol · PL65 VFC

This 2016 Smart Forfour presents a remarkably clean roadworthiness profile across its documented test history, with each of the recorded DVSA examinations at 2024, 2025, and 2026 concluding with a Pass certification and no advisories or defects logged. The single failure recorded on 2025-02-17 was immediately followed by a Pass on the same date, suggesting an administrative or rectification scenario rather than a substantive mechanical concern, since no specific failure defects were recorded against that entry. The absence of any recurring advisory patterns for component wear items such as brake discs, suspension bushes, coil springs, or corrosion across three consecutive tests indicates that the vehicle has consistently met minimum roadworthiness standards without any flagged deterioration trajectories worth highlighting. With roughly 36,223 miles accumulated over a ten-year span, annual mileage works out at approximately 3,622 miles per year, which is markedly below the average for a city-focused Smart Forfour of this age. This level of usage typically points to short urban journeys, light commuting, or extended periods of inactivity rather than sustained motorway driving. Mechanically, low-mileage Smart Forfours warrant particular attention to items that suffer from underuse rather than wear, including the rear brake calipers and mechanisms which can seize from infrequent operation, the 12V auxiliary battery if the vehicle has stood for prolonged periods, and engine oil that may have aged despite low odometer readings. Tyres of the correct specification may also show age-related sidewall cracking given the low wear rate, even if the tread depth remains adequate. For a prospective buyer, a pre-purchase inspection should focus on the areas most likely to reveal the consequences of this usage pattern. During a test drive, listen for any clunks or rattles from the rear suspension over uneven surfaces, particularly noting the behaviour of the MacPherson strut and torsion beam arrangement that Smart employed, and check for any pulling to one side under braking that could indicate a seized rear caliper or uneven pad transfer. Inspect all four tyre sidewalls closely for ozone cracking or crazing, and verify the manufacturing date by examining the DOT markings on the sidewall, as tyres fitted many years ago may have hardened despite ample remaining tread. Under the bonnet, examine the engine oil on the dipstick for a darkened or sludgy appearance which would suggest infrequent oil changes relative to time rather than mileage, and check for any coolant discoloration that might indicate aged antifreeze. A further check worth conducting is a careful visual inspection underneath at jacking points for any surface corrosion on the rear subframe and suspension arms, even though none has been flagged on the MOT record, as the Smart Forfour can be susceptible to corrosion in the rear axle area particularly around the fuel tank strap mounting region and brake pipe unions along the underbody. Verify that all brake discs rotate freely without resistance from a stationary start, indicating no caliper binding, and confirm the handbrake holds the vehicle on an incline with the recommended number of clicks. Given the otherwise spotless MOT history, this Forfour represents a low-risk purchase from a roadworthiness perspective, but the test drive and underside checks described above are essential to confirm that the low-mileage usage pattern has not introduced the kind of deterioration from disuse that an MOT test alone would not necessarily detect.