SMART has received further independent endorsement from motoring and consumer organisations.

A 1999 smart city coupe was among a number of used cars of various ages crash tested by DEKRA, the German automotive safety and testing organisations. The tests simulated real-life car accidents that happen every day on the roads.

In a 32 mph offset head-on collision, the smart’s steel Tridion safety cell was able to absorb most of the impact and the city coupe was the only model not to be written off after the crash tests were complete.

Which? magazine has published the results of a survey of more than 32,000 cars. The results show that smart owners in the sample have never been let down by their cars and smart has a record of 100 per cent reliability.