How Long Do Smart Cars Last – Answered 16 Important FAQs

Car mileage is pretty essential to know because the performance of a vehicle depends on it. When you plan to buy Smart cars, the first question that might appear in your mind is, “how long do Smart cars last.”

The answer depends on a few factors. In this article, we will look into more features and information about Smart Cars.

Without further ado, let’s dive into this comprehensive guide.

How Long Do Smart Cars Last

With proper maintenance, Smart cars will last 10 – 12 years or roughly 150,000 miles. Remember, this can be less if you don’t take proper care of the car.

Sadly, few of us maintain periodic maintenance of our cars. The reliable performance of your Smart car will be ensured when you maintain the below tips.

• Ensure the right oil level. If the level is low, add the required amount of oil.
• Drive carefully on the road, especially during sharp turning. Also, you need to know when braking is necessary.
• Wash your car when required. Dirt and dust can cause severe damage to your vehicle’s engine. Clean both the outer and inner parts of your vehicle thoroughly and get many years of efficient service.

By following the above maintenance work, you can avoid costly repairs to your Smart Car. These cars have low insurance rates and are cost-efficient.

After reading the above points, we believe you got the answer to the question “how long do smart cars last.”

How Many Miles Can a Smart Car Go on One Charge?

Electric Smart Cars are solely dependent on the battery, and the battery life is also decent enough for long rides.

Per charge, an electric Smart Car will last a maximum of 84 miles. (This is based on highway driving.)

However, it can vary based on the below factor.

• When you drive a Smart car at 60 miles/per, the vehicle will last up to roughly 80 miles/charge.
• If you drive daily on a highway, your car will last approximately 60 miles/hour.

How Many Miles Can a Smart Car Go on a Full Tank?

The average mileage of a smart car on a full tank is 40 miles/gallon.

Although, a Fortwo Smart car fuel tank capacity is 8.7-gallon and a Forfour comes with a 12.4-gallon tank. But Forfour is a slightly larger vehicle that gets 40 miles/gallon as well.

One of the striking features of a Smart car is its mileage since it is nearly 2X the average mileage of a 24-gallon car per mile.

Here, the secret is, Smart vehicles are lightweight compared to their rivals, 1500lbs. – 1800lbs. Due to the lightweight feature, less energy is required to run.

The mileage will differ depending on the below factor.

• For highway driving, a Smart car will go 40 miles on a full tank.
• For city driving, a Smart car will go 32 miles on a full tank.

Are Smart Cars Reliable?

The answer is mixed when it comes to the reliability of Smart cars, but they do look to be swaying on the reliable side.

As per the Reliability Index, Smart car’s reliability rating is 52 out of 100.

A lower rating means better performance from the vehicle. The rating is done based on the following factors:

• Smart cars of 4-years old
• Minimum mileage of 30,000 miles

The great thing about Smarts cars is, that they will run 150,000 miles without showing a major problem.

Most customers of Smart cars are satisfied with the performance because their vehicles run 150,000 miles with periodic maintenance.

More importantly, a few customers expressed that their vehicle delivers 200,000 miles or 400,000 miles. Isn’t it amazing? However, exceptions can’t be an example. At the same time, it shows that when regular maintenance is ensured, Smart cars are reliable.

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Are Smart Cars Safe?

Undoubtedly, Smart cars are safe.

The reason is,

A Tridion safety cell is used in Smart cars.

This structure protects the surroundings of this vehicle’s occupants from distortions during an accident by performing as a protective cage.

Many think that providing the required safety is quite challenging for a small car on hectic roadways. The good news is that these cars are much more efficient to drive than on roadways without much trouble.

In this case, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Smart cars are not as stylish as other cars; their performance is decent enough to ensure safe riding.

How Much Does a Smart Car Cost

According to smartusua.com, Smart cars are unavailable in the USA from 2019. However, if you are an owner of Smart cars, maintenance, and spare parts service support is provided by Smart Car – Mercedes-Benz dealerships. Moreover, the service is available for both electric- and gasoline-powered Smart cars.

In America, Fortwo was the only Smart model that was sold. While, In Europe and other few countries, the Forfour version is available.

You will have to cost as per the below chart to buy a Smart car;

Model	Power	Engine	Best Price
Smart Fortwo	89HP	1.0L Inline-3Gas	$14,650
Smart Fortwo Carbio	89HP	1.0L Inline-3Gas	$18,900
Smart Fortwo Electric Drive	80HP	Electric	$23,900
Smart Fortwo Electric Drive Cabrio	80HP	Electric	$28,100

Are Smart Cars Expensive to Maintain

Generally, a full-sized vehicle will cost you $1186 (average) for maintenance purposes. On the other hand, to maintain a Smart cat, the average annual cost is $751.

The point to be noted is that higher mileage means more repairs.

However, the average cost is quite high compared to full-sized vehicles. The reasons are:

• Similar to other vehicles, Smart cars are not widely manufactured. As a result, spare parts are not readily available and resulting in expensive maintenance costs.
• Smart cars’ electrical systems are complex. Thus, basic repair takes a long time to finish.

What Problems Do Smart Cars Have

All vehicles show problems, and Smart cars are also no exception. Here are a few common reported problems with Smart cars.

Suspension

Suspension system complication is quite common in all Smart cars versions. This problem is related to many other issues which are also present in a Smart car. 

Many customers claim that they experienced the problem after reaching the 50,000-mile mark. 

Smart cars are compact in design. So, when driving through a bumpy and rough road, the bumps will be felt throughout the vehicle.

These jolts and bumps spread out in the suspension system first, and this way, parts of the suspension start getting loosened.

The solution to this issue is effortless. Since the parts get loose, all you need to do is simply tighten them.

If you find too much wear out of any parts, don’t hesitate to replace them. Customers rarely need to replace the suspension, and they solved the problem by simply tightening the loosened parts.

Electric Issue

As stated earlier, Smart cars’ electric systems are a bit more complex than other electric vehicles.

Many customers faced frequent electric issues in their Smart cars. In this case, the problem starts after completing 10,000 miles of riding. 

Now, how will you understand that your vehicle is having an electric issue? The most common signs are:

• Dim headlights
• Not workable stereo
• Unmovable windows

The above issues happen when there are shorts somewhere in the electrical system. To repair the issue, you will need to call a mechanic. 

For more complex issues, replacement might be required for the entire wiring harness.

Safety

The size of the Smart cars makes their low gas mileage and cost-efficient vehicle; unfortunately, the design makes them prone to damage due to severe accidents.

In front of the driver, the car body is very small and can’t withstand heavy collisions from the front end.

How to Increase Smart Car Life Expectancy

Needless to say, every Smart car owner wants their vehicle to last as long as possible. To increase the life expectancy of your Smart cars, here are a few tips that need to be followed meticulously.

• Inspect the tires
• Keep your car clean
• Ensure regular maintenance
• Store your vehicle in a garage
• Carefully read the manufacturer’s manual
• Drive carefully
• For gasoline models, fill the gas tank before it gets too low
• For electric models, put your vehicle into charger on-time

Also, some parts that need to be replaced periodically to get optimum performance are:

• Tires
• Brakes and rotors
• Spark plugs
• Vehicle fluids
• Windshield wipers

All in all, regular maintenance is the key to getting prolonged service from Smart cars. With basic knowledge of cars, you can do it yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Smart car batteries last?

Smart car batteries are designed to last for many years. However, the battery energy will start getting slow over time. A Smart car battery will deliver decent performance for 5 – 6 years before it needs to be replaced. Remember that the more you drive the Smart car, the battery will lose performance more.

How long does a smart car engine last?

A Smart car engine will last 150,000 miles before it requires serious repairs. It can increase when you ensure regular maintenance of your Smart car. 

How long does a smart car charge last?

When driving on the highway, a Smart car charge will last 84 miles. Manufacturers are developing processes to improve the miles/charge. 

How long does a smart car clutch last?

Undoubtedly, a Smart car clutch will wear rout and replacing is mandatory. Smart car clutches do not have a recommended replacement mileage. They do wear out, but some will last over 100,000 miles.

How Long Does the Transmission Last?

The engine and other parts of a Smart car receive power due to the transmission system. When a Smart car transmission wears out, controlling the vehicle becomes difficult. The smart car uses an automatic transmission that can last on average 7 years. Repairing the transmission system of a smart car is expensive, which will cost you roughly $500 – $1000.

How Long Does the Suspension Last?

Due to the suspension, your riding experience will be smooth. A driver can maintain control easily with the suspension system. Unfortunately, customers reported several complaints about the suspension of the Smart car. So, in order to add stability, owners often prefer to replace the stock suspension according to their choice. Generally, a Smart car suspension provides service for up to 4 – 5 years.

How long is a smart car?

The actual sketch of the Smart car measures 8’8” long. the new model’s length is 101.6”, which is less than 8’5”. The width is also narrow, measuring 65.5″. 

Why do street outlaws use Smart cars?

Smart cars are small and faster. For their small size, outlaws can drive them through a narrow tunnel without trouble. Also, since they are faster, the speed helps outlaws to leave the place immediately. But that doesn’t mean Smart cars are built keeping these points in mind. 

Does Mercedes make Smart cars?

A subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz and parent company Daimler owned and produced the third-generation Smart Fortwo coupe (C453). Smart cars are stylish, fun to ride in cities, and reliable, making them popular among US citizens and other countries. Due to their popularity, Daimler owned Smart cars in September 2015.

What company makes smart cars?

Smart is a German car company and a division of Daimler AG (as is Mercedes-Benz). Though the brand was discontinued in the United States, Smart cars are still sold abroad, and you can find used models stateside. Smart exclusively makes small two-seater cars like the Fortwo. 

Are smart cars electric or gas?

Smart cars are well-known for their efficiency. Only a special model of Smart car is available in the market that runs with electricity. In comparison, all other models use gasoline to run. The vehicle saves considerable cost in energy as the price of gasoline continues to rise over time.

How many miles per gallon do smart cars get?

The maximum loading capacity of a smart car tank is 8.7 gallons with a reserve of 1.3 gallons. With this capacity, you can drive up to 400 miles without a problem. 

How many cylinders does a Smart car have?

The Smart car 51 and 61-HP engines consist of a 3-cylinder with a cooled turbocharger. The manufacturer says the 61-HP engine takes only 15 seconds to achieve 0mph – 60mph. However, the top speed is limited to 84mph electronically for the safety of the driver.

How fast can a Smart cargo?

Smart cars are small and easy to maneuver. Its efficient engine offers a surprisingly quick performance. According to Daimler, Smart cars, top speed is 96miles/hour. Since this speed can be dangerous for drivers and passengers, the manufacturer electronically limits the top speed to 84mph.

Can you drive a smart car on the highway?

Although Smart cars are underpowered compared to other vehicle models, that doesn’t mean you can’t drive them on the highway. Yes, driving Smart cars on the highway is safe since high speed is limited to 84mph. As it turns out, the reality is that the Smart car is very capable of merging into traffic on both highways and city roads.

How much does a smart car weigh?

Smart cars are “too small to be safe.” The average weight of a Smart car is roughly 1,550lbs. without the driver. However, different versions’ weight is different. Due to their lesser weight, Smart cars consume less gasoline which means, it saves valuable money. 

Is a Smart car worth it?

Don’t assume that buying a Smart car is similar to buying other vehicles. Smart cars come with so many impressive features which make them the best option for your next vehicle. Let’s learn why Smart cars are worth the price.

Fuel Efficiency:

Smart cars go a long way with minimal fuel. The fuel economy of these compact-sized cars is pretty impressive. In the city, the fuel economy is 50mph, and it is 70mph on the highway.

Storage Space:

You don’t need a large space to store your Smart car. When the discussion comes to the car’s measurement, Smart cars are one of the space-saving cars that don’t take much space to get stored.

Quality Construction:

The outer shell and other parts of Smart cars are fully manufactured using quality materials. This means these cars are promised to deliver safe and reliable performance for many years.

More Interior Space:

Since it is a compact and small car, don’t wonder that the interior space is less. The truth is, Smart car interiors are so spacious that you won’t need to keep your valuables in your home due to lack of space.

Final Words

Hopefully, you got the answer to the question, “how long do Smart cars last?” The above discussion proves that Smart cars are reliable, safe, efficient, and cost-effective. The performance of these cars will surely satisfy you regardless of the road type. Smart cars are promised to let you reach your desired destination safely.

To sum up, Smart cars are worth the price, and you will never regret buying any model of them.

Resources:

• https://www.benzelbusch.com/blog/are-smart-cars-safe
• https://www.replicarclub.com/how-much-does-a-smart-car-weigh/
• https://www.carproblemzoo.com/smart/