Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet (2006)

195 real MOT outcomes analysed • 74.2% first-time pass rate

2006 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet

CarHunch analysed 195 real MOT records for the 2006 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2006 Smart City Cabriolet falls short of the UK average with a 74.2% first-time pass rate, and that's before you factor in the concerning 40.5% of vehicles that have recorded dangerous defects at some point—well above what you'd want to see. This is a vehicle with genuine reliability headwinds that will cost money to keep legal.

These cars are running at moderate mileage for their age (median 45,647 miles), yet they're averaging nearly 5 failures and over 20 advisories per test, suggesting systemic wear rather than isolated problems. If you're considering one, budget for immediate pre-purchase inspection by a Smart specialist and expect regular repair bills; this isn't a casual purchase.

Below average reliability 5.8% below UK average
74.2%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
45,647
typical mileage
35,364–57,576 middle half
40.5%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
4.76
avg MOT failures per car
over 17.7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2006 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 40.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (99%) 194 74.1% 4.77
Diesel (1%) 1 78.6% 3

Mileage Distribution

Most 2006 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

35,364
low mileage
45,647
typical
57,576
high mileage

Half of all 2006 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet vehicles fall between 35,364 and 57,576 miles.

2006 Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 79 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (44% of peak).

179 79 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

17.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.76
Avg failures per vehicle
20.3
Avg advisories per vehicle

Found a specific Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Smart (mcc) City Cabriolet:

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005