smart fortwo common problems & fixes (451 2007–2014, 453 2015 on incl. EQ electric)

Written by the C4R team from DVSA data and owner reports. Fact-checked 2026-10-13.

30-second verdict

The smart fortwo is a tiny two-seat city car that is easy to park and cheap to run. Check recalls, the gearbox, front springs and brakes first. Town drivers who never need a back seat will like it. On a 2007–2014 451, make sure petrol cars built from August 2010 have had fire recall R/2014/094, judge the slow automated gearbox in traffic, feel under the seats for damp, and look for broken front springs and binding brakes, its two commonest MOT failures in C4R's analysis. On a 453, check the handbrake, flap and steering recalls are closed. The safest pick is a 2015–2019 453 with the 89bhp 0.9 turbo, Auto Express's choice, and a full service history. Choose an EQ electric only if about 60 miles of real-world range is enough.

Generations at a glance

Generation	UK years	Main engines and gearboxes	Notes
451 (second generation)	2007–2014 (Auto Express dates the UK launch to autumn 2007)	999cc three-cylinder petrol at 61bhp or 71bhp (both became "mhd" stop-start models from November 2008) or 84bhp turbo; Brabus 98bhp from February 2008 (Autocar quotes 101bhp); 799cc cdi diesel at 45bhp from mid-2009, then 54bhp from October 2009. Every petrol and diesel 451 has a five-speed automated manual: Softip on Pure, with paddles on Pulse, plus the Softouch fully automatic mode on Passion	Coupe and cabrio. Facelift in September 2010 (lower CO2, more kit) and a refresh in 2012 (LED running lights, new nose). Power steering was not standard on any version. Electric Drive went on sale in January 2013 with the battery leased or bought. Four-star Euro NCAP rating
453 (third generation) petrol	Early 2015–2019	999cc 70bhp three-cylinder or 898cc 89bhp turbo; Brabus with about 110hp. Five-speed manual as standard or a six-speed "twinamic" dual-clutch automatic	Coupe first, cabrio from February 2016. Shares its engineering with the Renault Twingo but is built in Hambach, France. Electric power steering standard. Four-star Euro NCAP rating (2014 test). Petrol engines were dropped in 2019
453 electric (Electric Drive, renamed EQ fortwo)	July 2017 on	81bhp electric motor and a battery of roughly 17kWh. A 22kW on-board charger was standard on the 2020 update	On sale from July 2017; electric-only from the 2020 facelift. Official range 74.5–84 miles. Wikipedia lists production as ending in 2024

The first-generation car (the City Coupe, later renamed fortwo, codenamed 450) is not covered here. If a seller describes a "2007 fortwo", check which model it is: DVSA MOT records for 2007 include both 698cc 450s and 999cc 451s.

Known issues

1. Heater-valve fire recall on 2010–2014 petrol 451s

Label: Confirmed recall R/2014/094

What you notice: usually nothing. DVSA says wear can cause a short circuit in the electronic valve that shuts off the heater, which in extreme cases could overheat and start a fire.
Which cars: petrol 451 fortwos built from 01/08/2010 to 30/06/2014, according to the DVSA record. Diesel and electric cars are not named in the campaign.
Why: the electrical connection to the heater shut-off valve could wear and short out.
Fix: a dealer reworks the valve's electrics under the recall; GOV.UK says owners do not usually pay for recall repairs (Auto Express describes a new valve being fitted). DVSA lists 16,822 vehicles.
DIY difficulty: 5/5 (dealer recall work).
Check when buying: run the GOV.UK recall check on the registration and ask a smart or Mercedes-Benz dealer to confirm by VIN that the campaign is closed.
Evidence: the DVSA recall record, launched 11/09/2014; Auto Express's used 451 guide describes the same September 2014 heater-valve recall covering nearly 17,000 cars.

2. Slow, jerky automated gearbox on the 451

Label: Reported by owners and independent specialists

What you notice: long pauses between gears, a nodding motion as the car changes up, lurching when pulling out of junctions, and a slow response when you need to kick down to overtake.
Which cars: every 451, 2007–2014, petrol and diesel, coupe and cabrio. There was no conventional manual or torque-converter automatic.
Why: the 451 uses a single-clutch automated manual, with the clutch worked by an actuator rather than a pedal. Parkers, Autocar and Carbuyer all found the changes sluggish or clunky, even though smart claimed it was quicker than the 450's gearbox. The clutch's engagement point has to be set electronically: smart specialist S2 Smarts includes a clutch adjustment with its 451 services, and the long-running smart enthusiasts' site evilution notes that a replacement clutch actuator must be set up with diagnostic equipment.
Fix: if the changes are clearly worse than the merely slow shifts reviewers describe, ask a smart specialist to read the gearbox fault memory and carry out a clutch adjustment. Any actuator or clutch work needs the same diagnostic set-up afterwards. We found no reliable current UK price, so get a written quote.
DIY difficulty: 4/5 (needs smart diagnostic software).
Check when buying: drive from cold, in slow traffic and up a hill from a standstill, in both automatic and manual modes. Ask when the clutch was last adjusted. If the delays would annoy you every day, a 453 with the dual-clutch gearbox is a far better automatic.
Evidence: Parkers' used 451 engines review; Autocar's used 451 review; Carbuyer's 451 review; S2 Smarts' servicing page; evilution's clutch actuator guide.

3. Water leaks that damage the 451 gearbox controller

Label: Reported by owners and independent specialists

What you notice: wet or musty carpets, water under the seats, misting inside, or gearbox faults if water has reached the gearbox control unit.
Which cars: 451 coupes and cabrios, 2007–2014.
Why: unlike the 450, the 451 has a separate gearbox controller under the carpet beneath the left-hand seat. Evilution says the unit is not sealed and that water collecting under the seats is the most common reason it fails. Auto Express notes that the rear-window washer pipe often comes adrift and lets water into the car.
Fix: find and stop the leak first. Reconnecting the rear washer pipe is an easy DIY job, according to Auto Express. Smart specialists also offer leak-detection tests. Dry the floor thoroughly and have the gearbox controller checked if any gearbox faults are stored.
DIY difficulty: 2/5 for the washer pipe; 4/5 for the controller.
Check when buying: lift the carpet and feel under both seats, especially the left one, and run the rear wash to see whether water appears inside. On a cabrio, look for water marks along the roof seals.
Evidence: evilution's guide to the 451 gearbox controller; Auto Express's used 451 guide; S2 Smarts' repairs page.

4. Broken front coil springs and worn ball joints (451)

Label: Inspection point

What you notice: a clonk over bumps, a car that sits low on one corner, vague steering or uneven tyre wear.
Which cars: 451s, especially older and higher-mileage cars.
Why: in C4R's analysis of 2024 DVSA MOT tests (see below), a fractured or broken coil spring was the single most common failure on 451s first used from 2008 to 2013. Worn suspension pins and bushes and worn ball joints also feature. Evilution says 451 ball joints are now failing through split rubber boots or excessive play, and found badly perished wishbone bushes on an old car.
Fix: a garage replaces the broken spring. The 451's ball joint is pressed into the wishbone and can be replaced on its own, as can the wishbone bushes, according to evilution. Have the alignment checked afterwards.
DIY difficulty: 3/5.
Check when buying: on full lock, look at each front spring for a snapped coil, drive over speed bumps listening for knocks, and read the MOT history for spring, ball-joint, pin and bush advisories.
Evidence: C4R's analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2024; evilution's 451 ball joint and wishbone bush guides.

5. Binding brakes and corroded brake pipes (451)

Label: Inspection point

What you notice: a car that feels as if it is dragging, a hot or smelly wheel after a drive, a handbrake that pulls up too far or does not hold, or MOT advisories for corroded brake pipes.
Which cars: 451s, 2007–2014.
Why: "service brake performance: excessively binding" was the second most common MOT failure on 451s in C4R's 2024 analysis, and corroded rigid brake pipes were among the commonest advisories. The MOT data records the result, not the cause. Evilution says the 451's rear drum brakes do not always self-adjust properly as the shoes wear, which leaves the handbrake slack.
Fix: a garage frees off or replaces sticking brake parts, adjusts the rear brakes and handbrake, and replaces corroded pipes. S2 Smarts' smart service schedules include checking the rear brakes for leaking wheel cylinders, inspecting the brake lines and, on its C service, cleaning and adjusting the handbrake.
DIY difficulty: 3/5 (brake pipes 4/5).
Check when buying: on the test drive, coast and feel for drag; afterwards, carefully feel near each wheel for one that is much hotter than the rest. Test the handbrake on a slope and read the MOT history for brake-pipe and binding advisories.
Evidence: C4R's analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT data for 2024; evilution's 451 handbrake adjustment guide; S2 Smarts' service schedules.

6. Heater stuck on hot or clicking behind the dash (451)

Label: Reported by owners and independent specialists

What you notice: hot air whatever the temperature setting, or a burst of plastic clicking when you change the temperature or air setting.
Which cars: 451s, 2007–2014.
Why: Auto Express says the heater can keep blowing hot air because of a faulty control module, and that restarting the car sometimes fixes it for a while. Evilution traces the clicking to a small flap motor whose plastic gears strip when something blocks the flap inside the heater box.
Fix: a replacement heater control module, or freeing the flap and fitting a new flap motor. Evilution says the motor sits in the right-hand footwell and is held by three screws.
DIY difficulty: 2/5 for the flap motor; 3/5 for the control module.
Check when buying: run the heater from cold to hot and back, try every vent setting and the air-con, and listen for clicking.
Evidence: Auto Express's used 451 guide; evilution's 451 heater blend flap motor guide.

7. Handbrake, flap and steering recalls (453)

Label: Confirmed recalls R/2017/245, R/2016/092 and R/2017/252

What you notice: usually nothing until it matters: a handbrake that does not fully apply, a plastic service flap that could come off at speed, or, in extreme cases, a failed steering knuckle.
Which cars: 453 fortwos (and forfours) built 01/04/2014–31/01/2016 for the handbrake adjuster nut (R/2017/245, 9,181 vehicles); fortwos built 01/04/2014–31/10/2015 for the service flap locks (R/2016/092, 1,726 vehicles); and cars built 01/03/2017–30/06/2017 for the left-hand steering knuckle (R/2017/252, 1,878 vehicles). Smaller campaigns covered the gear selector and Park lock on early automatic cars; see the full table below.
Why: the handbrake adjuster lock nut could work loose, the flap's locks were too weak, and some steering knuckles were made out of specification.
Fix: dealer recall work: a new or checked lock nut, new flap locks, or a checked or replaced knuckle. GOV.UK says owners do not usually pay for recall repairs.
DIY difficulty: 5/5 (dealer recall work).
Check when buying: run the GOV.UK recall check and ask a smart or Mercedes-Benz dealer to confirm by VIN that every campaign is closed. Test that the handbrake holds firmly on a slope.
Evidence: the DVSA recall records; Auto Express's used 453 guide lists the same handbrake, flap, gearbox and steering recalls.

8. 453 petrol gearbox, clutch and idle checks

Label: Inspection point

What you notice: a manual whose clutch pedal goes soft and refuses gears once hot, a 0.9 turbo that idles roughly, hesitates or knocks, condensation inside in cold weather, door handles that stick open, or sat-nav and other electrical glitches.
Which cars: 453 petrol coupes and cabrios, 2015–2019.
Why: Auto Express describes the 453 as reasonably reliable apart from its recalls, but notes damp cabins in cold weather and sticking exterior handles. It also says the twinamic dual-clutch gearbox needs an oil change at every minor service. Evilution reports two engine and gearbox problems: clutch master cylinder seals that leak internally when hot on manual cars, and rough idling on the 0.9 turbo that it traces to the intake camshaft solenoid valve. Carbuyer owners have reported infotainment and electrical faults.
Fix: a new clutch master cylinder (evilution warns that right-hand-drive cars need the correct, longer-armed part); a new or cleaned camshaft solenoid; lubricating the door handles, as Auto Express suggests; and, for sat-nav faults, a software or map-card update, which cured one Carbuyer owner's problem.
DIY difficulty: 3/5.
Check when buying: on a manual, drive until fully warm and check the clutch still frees cleanly. On a twinamic, look for gearbox oil changes in the service history. Listen to a 0.9 turbo at idle, test every door handle, check the floor for damp, and try the touchscreen, Bluetooth and sat-nav.
Evidence: Auto Express's used 453 guide; evilution's 453 clutch master cylinder and intake camshaft solenoid guides; Carbuyer owner reviews.

9. EQ electric: short range and charging checks

Label: Inspection point

What you notice: a range that falls well short of the official figure, particularly at higher speeds.
Which cars: 453 Electric Drive and EQ fortwo, July 2017 on.
Why: the battery is small, at roughly 17kWh. Parkers lists an official range of 74.5–84 miles, and Auto Express expects about 60–65 miles in real driving. Range shrinks further on fast roads, as the RAC notes.
Fix: none for the battery's size. Choose one only if your daily trips fit comfortably inside the real-world range. DVSA lists one battery recall, R/2020/080, which affected a single car.
DIY difficulty: 1/5 for checks.
Check when buying: charge it fully before the viewing and compare the predicted range with the figures above. Ask which charging cables come with the car, plug it in to make sure it starts charging, and ask for the service history and any battery records. Auto Express says the 22kW on-board charger standard on 2020 cars can add 80% charge in about 40 minutes on a suitable charger.
Evidence: Parkers' EQ fortwo review; Auto Express's used 453 guide and 2020 EQ fortwo review; RAC's EQ fortwo review; the DVSA recall record.

Recalls (DVSA data)

Every smart fortwo recall in the DVSA file (checked 2026-10-13) is recorded under Mercedes-Benz, not smart: the make strings are "MERCEDES BENZ UK LIMITED" and "MERCEDES-BENZ CARS UK LTD", with the models "SMART FORTWO", "SMART 453", "SMART EQ (453 PLATFORM)" and, once, "SMART CAR". Launch dates and build windows below are copied from the file. Where DVSA lists a campaign under both the fortwo and the forfour, the rows are merged here and the vehicle count is the shared figure DVSA gives. Not every car built in a window is necessarily affected. We found no end dates earlier than start dates.

DVSA ref	Launch date	Build window	Summary
R/2008/135	19/01/2009	Not given in the DVSA file	Paint adhesion faults where the roof and windscreen are bonded could, in extreme conditions, let the roof or windscreen come loose. The paintwork bonding is redone. DVSA lists 26 vehicles; Auto Express describes this as the first 451 recall
R/2012/088	18/09/2012	01/02/2012–31/03/2012	Recorded under the model name SMART CAR; the build window falls within 451 production. A bolt on the right front brake calliper holder might not be tight enough, so the holder could touch the wheel when braking. Checked and corrected. DVSA lists 19 vehicles
R/2014/094	11/09/2014	01/08/2010–30/06/2014	Petrol 451s only. The electronic heater shut-off valve could short-circuit through wear and, in extreme cases, overheat and cause a fire. The valve's electrics are reworked. DVSA lists 16,822 vehicles
R/2015/144	25/08/2015	01/08/2014–31/03/2015	The lock in the gear selector module might be assembled wrongly, letting the lever leave Park without the brake pressed or the ignition on. Checked and replaced if needed. DVSA lists 3 vehicles
R/2015/146	25/08/2015	01/08/2014–31/05/2015	Engine control unit programming could, rarely, make acceleration or deceleration differ from what the driver asks for. The software is updated. DVSA lists 102 vehicles
R/2015/147	25/08/2015	01/04/2015–31/05/2015	Dual-clutch transmission software might stop the selector lock working as intended, so the car could roll unexpectedly. The software is updated. DVSA lists 65 vehicles
R/2015/153	28/08/2015	01/04/2014–30/11/2014	Welds on the bracket for the torsion-bar linkage at the front shock absorber might tear under very high loads, affecting handling. The front shock absorbers are replaced. DVSA lists 4 vehicles
R/2015/170	25/08/2015	27/04/2015–23/07/2015	A wrongly designed bracket could stop Park engaging or disengaging as intended. Checked and replaced if needed. DVSA lists 57 vehicles
R/2016/092	15/06/2016	01/04/2014–31/10/2015	The locks on the plastic maintenance flap might be too weak, so the flap could come off at high speed in strong gusts. New locks are fitted. DVSA lists 1,726 vehicles
R/2016/198	10/10/2016	01/04/2016–30/04/2016	Listed for both fortwo and forfour. The Bowden cable on the gear selector could come loose and stop Park engaging or disengaging. Checked and reworked. DVSA lists 49 vehicles
R/2017/245	25/09/2017	01/04/2014–31/01/2016	Listed for both fortwo and forfour. The handbrake adjuster lock nut could loosen, so the handbrake might not apply fully. Checked and replaced if needed. DVSA lists 9,181 vehicles
R/2017/252	20/10/2017	01/03/2017–30/06/2017	Listed for both fortwo and forfour. A production error could leave the left-hand steering knuckle out of specification, and in extreme cases it could fail. Checked and replaced if needed. DVSA lists 1,878 vehicles
R/2020/080	09/07/2020	27/05/2019–27/05/2019	Recorded under the model name SMART EQ (453 PLATFORM). Internal welds on the high-voltage battery's main cell conductors might not meet specification, so the battery is replaced. DVSA lists 1 vehicle
R/2020/195	11/09/2020	09/05/2018–05/09/2019	Recorded under the model name SMART 453, which does not separate fortwo from forfour. Advanced emergency braking software might not meet specification and is updated. DVSA lists 2,296 vehicles
R/2021/265	13/09/2021	19/11/2020–20/11/2020	Windscreen bonding might not meet specification, so the windscreen is replaced. DVSA lists 5 vehicles

Left out: R/2005/088 (recorded as SMART 450), R/2006/182 (recorded as SMART FORTWO but launched in December 2006, before UK sales of the 451 began), older SMART CAR campaigns from the 450 era, forfour-only campaigns, and the newer smart #1, #3 and #5, which DVSA lists under Smart UK Automotive Ltd.

Use the GOV.UK vehicle recall checker on the registration, then ask a smart or Mercedes-Benz dealer to confirm by VIN that any campaign covering the car has been completed.

MOT watch-points

What the 2024 DVSA figures say

C4R analysed DVSA's anonymised results for normal MOT tests carried out in 2024 on cars recorded as a smart fortwo. The national figure in the table is the 2024 first-time pass rate for all cars, weighted to match the ages of the cars in each group.

Cars first used	Tests	First-time pass rate	National rate for cars of the same age	Median mileage
2008–2013 (451)	22,097	66.2%	60.7%	60,655
2015–2020 (453 petrol)	17,256	80.5%	78.4%	31,605
2017–2023 (453 electric)	2,048	90.6%	85.2%	11,412

All three groups passed more often than the average car of the same age. Fortwos also tend to cover low mileages (see the medians), and these figures do not adjust for mileage.

Most common recorded failure reasons

DVSA failure reason	451 (2008–2013)	453 petrol (2015–2020)	453 electric (2017–2023)
Coil spring: fractured or broken	5.3%	0.7%	fewer than 30 tests
Service brake performance: excessively binding	4.2%	fewer than 30 tests	fewer than 30 tests
Position lamp: not working	3.9%	0.3%	fewer than 30 tests
Stop lamp: not working	3.2%	1.9%	fewer than 30 tests
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam	3.2%	0.2%	fewer than 30 tests
Engine warning light on or not working	3.1%	1.3%	fewer than 30 tests
Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded	2.3%	fewer than 30 tests	fewer than 30 tests
Tread depth: below 1.6mm	2.2%	2.3%	fewer than 30 tests
Wipers: do not clear the windscreen effectively	1.9%	3.3%	2.5%
Washers: not enough washer fluid	1.9%	1.5%	fewer than 30 tests
Ball joint: excessively worn	1.7%	0.6%	fewer than 30 tests
Brake pads: less than 1.5mm thick	1.0%	2.2%	fewer than 30 tests
Emissions: lambda reading outside limits	0.9%	1.6%	fewer than 30 tests

Each figure is the share of that group's tests on which the item was recorded as a fail. One test can record more than one defect, so the shares must not be added together.

Common advisories to check before buying

Corroded brake pipes: 14.1% of 451 tests.
Tread worn close to the legal limit or on the edge: 14.1% of 451 tests and 12.7% of 453 petrol tests.
Tyres cracking or perishing: 12.6% of 451 tests and 12.3% of 453 petrol tests, so check the tyres' age as well as their tread.
Engine oil leak (not excessive): 5.1% of 451 tests.
Brakes binding (not excessively): 5.1% of 451 tests.
Brake discs worn, pitted or scored: 7.4% of 453 petrol tests.

Method and limits: C4R calculated these figures from DVSA's anonymised 2024 MOT results for Class 4 and 7 normal tests, counting each test once. Pass rate is P / (P + F + PRS). Only records whose model text names the fortwo were included, so cars recorded under a vague name such as "Passion" are missing. Cars first used in 2007 and 2014 are left out of the generation groups because those years mix two generations, and 451-group records showing the 450's 698cc engine size were excluded. Items recorded on fewer than 30 tests in a group are not shown. These figures describe the tested cars as a group and do not predict the condition of any one car.

What to check before the test

Front suspension: look for broken coil springs and split ball-joint boots on any 451.
Brakes: feel for a dragging wheel, test the handbrake on a slope and ask a garage to look at the brake pipes, which corrode on older 451s.
Lights: walk round with the sidelights, dipped beams and brake lights on. Lamps that do not work are among the commonest 451 fails.
Wipers and washers: fit new blades if they smear and top up the washer bottle. Wipers were the top failure on 453 petrols.
Tyres: check the date code and sidewalls as well as the tread, because perished tyres are a frequent advisory.
Warning lights: make sure the engine warning light goes out after starting.

Read the full history on the GOV.UK MOT history service and look for spring, brake and tyre advisories that keep coming back.

Buying one? Our checklist

Confirm the generation, engine, gearbox and body from the V5C and the car itself: 451 or 453; petrol, cdi diesel or electric; manual, twinamic or 451 automated manual; coupe or cabrio.
Run the GOV.UK recall check. On a 2010–2014 petrol 451, make sure R/2014/094 is done; on a 2014–2017 453, check R/2017/245, R/2016/092 and R/2017/252 and the gearbox campaigns.
Read the MOT history for springs, binding brakes, brake pipes, ball joints and tyres.
Lift the carpets and feel under both seats for damp, run the rear washer, make sure the tailgate latches and the car locks (Auto Express says the 451's tailgate lock can fail), and on a cabrio check the roof opens, closes and seals properly. Auto Express warns that the 451 cabrio's roof mechanism can be troublesome.
Drive a 451 from cold and in traffic in both gearbox modes, and ask when the clutch was last adjusted.
On a 453 manual, check the clutch once the car is fully warm; on a twinamic, look for gearbox oil changes in the history.
Run the heater from cold to hot, try every vent setting and the air-con, and listen for clicking.
Look at the front springs on full lock, check the wheels and suspension for kerb and pothole damage (an Auto Express watch-point on the 453), drive over speed bumps and make sure the handbrake holds on a slope.
On a 54bhp cdi diesel (October 2009 on), ask about any limp-mode history: evilution blames failing exhaust temperature and particulate-filter pressure sensors, or faults in the EGR and turbo wastegate vacuum controls.
On an EQ, check the range at full charge, the charging cables, and that the car starts charging when plugged in.

Running costs

Vehicle tax (registered 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017): tax is based on the CO2 figure on the V5C. Current GOV.UK rates for a single 12-month payment are £20 for bands A (up to 100g/km) and B (101–110g/km), £35 for band C (111–120g/km) and £170 for band D (121–130g/km). Parkers lists £20–£170 for the 451. The 451 mhd is rated at 97–103g/km and the cdi at 86–88g/km, so both pay £20; the Brabus is quoted at 119g/km by Autocar and 124g/km by Parkers. Parkers rates 453 petrols at 110–114g/km with the twinamic, plus 4g/km for a manual and 1g/km for Prime trims, so early 453s sit in band B or C. A 451 Electric Drive pays the band A rate.
Vehicle tax (registered from 1 April 2017): the standard rate, currently £200 for a single 12-month payment, applies to petrol and electric fortwos alike. The expensive car supplement should not apply: GOV.UK sets its threshold at a list price over £40,000 (£50,000 for electric cars), Parkers lists new prices of up to £20,065 for the 2015–2019 petrol coupe and up to £27,995 for the EQ fortwo, and electric cars registered before 1 April 2025 are exempt anyway.
Insurance: Parkers lists groups 2–13 for the 451 coupe, 2–15 for the 451 cabrio, 2–12 for the 2015–2019 453 coupe and 10–13 for the EQ fortwo.
Official economy: Parkers gives 52–85mpg for the 451 under the older NEDC test, with the mhd at 66mpg and the cdi at 83–86mpg; Autocar quotes 67.3mpg for the mhd and 54.3mpg for the Brabus. Auto Express warns that economy suffers on short trips because the engine takes a long time to warm up. For 453 petrols built since September 2017, Parkers quotes 44.1–49.6mpg under WLTP, and Auto Express expects about 50mpg in everyday driving.
Servicing: Auto Express says the 451 needs a service every year or 12,000 miles, alternating minor and major, with brake fluid every two years. Its engines have timing chains, so there is no cambelt to change. Auto Express says 453 petrols need a service every 12 months or 12,500 miles; Auto Express's March 2023 used guide gave about £200 for a minor service and £300 for a major one at smart dealers, plus £200 for the twinamic gearbox oil change at each minor service. Auto Express adds that independent specialists can be cheaper.

Sources & further reading

Official data and checks

Reviews and buying advice

Specialist and owner knowledge

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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