Whether you’re a lover or a hater, there’s no denying that Smart cars are a staple on UK roads today. These cars came about as a result of a collaboration between Swatch, the watch company, and Mercedes-Benz, creating the ‘Swatch Mercedes ART’ – or Smart vehicles. These micro cars are designed to provide a comfortable, luxurious drive that is perfect for city living, with their small stature making it easy to manoeuvre the tightest of spaces and busiest of roads. Whether you’re a fan or not, Smart cars are known for their unique style but owners concerns have also raised a question as to whether they are reliable, but how true is it? We’re taking a look at some of the most common problems with Smart cars, below.
The Engine Can Be Unreliable
One of the most commonly reported issues that Smart car owners report is that the engine can be unreliable. Despite its link with Mercedes-Benz, it doesn’t appear at first glance like Smart benefitted from the connection. What owners seemingly get with Smart cars is an unreliable engine but often costly maintenance and repairs in order to get that engine back up and running. Owners report issues as early as 22,000 miles, though this seems to be more of an issue with older models. If you are a smart car owner and the engine is showing signs of a problem, get your vehicle booked in for engine repairs with our team as soon as possible.
Transmission Issues
The Smart Fortwo is reportedly plagued by issues relating to the transmission, particularly the manual gearbox. Issues with shifting gears and poor performance are particularly rife, usually in the five-speed automated manual transmission. Drivers have also reported issues with a lazy clutch and unresponsive acceleration, though these issues don’t typically affect the electric version of this vehicle.
Efficiency
Reports and owners also claim that the Smart Fortwo also suffers from poor fuel consumption and range, meaning they are far from the most efficient city cars around. It’s reported that the 1-litre engine only seemed to reach around 38-39mpg, and that was on motorways. The electric versions can reach around 63-68 miles with short charge times, but can be limiting for those that want to venture outside of the city.
Quick-Wearing Brakes
While there is no issue with the performance of the brakes in general, Smart car owners have reported that they appear to wear down faster than in other similar vehicles. Some owners are even having to replace them every 8-12 months. While shorter lifespans can be expected from city cars in which the brakes are constantly in use in heavy traffic, they are still expected to last around 35-40,000 miles. In general, Smart cars are expected to reach 25-30,000 miles before the brake pads need replacing, but some models can wear down faster. If your Smart vehicle is in need of brake pad replacements, book in with our team as soon as possible and we’ll get back on the road safely.
Poor Suspension Leads To Bottoming Out
Smart cars have received a number of complaints and concerns about poor suspension compared to similar vehicles and it can be a major drawback for some drivers. The suspension is reportedly poor in general which not only affects the driving experience, but can mean that it fails to take potholes, speed bumps or other bumps in the road well at all. The bottoming out can cause damage which can be costly to repair, particularly if additional costs are involved for parts.
If you own a Smart car and feel that it may be in need of repair, we are on hand to help. We offer full, transparent diagnostics and repair at competitive industry prices, offering you the peace of mind that your vehicle is in good, affordable hands. Simply get in touch with our team for more information, today.
Resources
https://motorandwheels.com/problem-with-smart-cars/
https://www.copilotsearch.com/posts/are-smart-cars-reliable/