2015 Toyota Prius 1.8L Hybrid electric · BX64 LLT

The Prius presents as fundamentally sound at its most recent MOT on 04 October 2025, passing at 136,396 miles with only minor advisories. The maintenance trend is stable rather than improving, with suspension components showing gradual age-related wear rather than sudden deterioration. Both front upper MacPherson strut pins or bushes were flagged as worn but not excessively so, while the nearside rear shock absorber displayed light oil misting. These are not failures, yet they indicate the car is entering a phase where suspension bushings and dampers will demand closer monitoring. The absence of braking or tyre defects in the latest test is a positive sign that consumable upkeep has been addressed recently. The mileage pattern reveals a striking jump between March 2023 and October 2025. The car recorded 67,377 miles in March 2023 and reached 136,396 miles by October 2025, an increase of roughly 69,000 miles in under three years. Before that, the annual mileage was far lower, with only 231 miles covered between the February 2023 and March 2023 tests. This suggests either a period of very light use or the car standing unused, followed by a dramatic shift to sustained high-mileage driving. The current rate of approximately 12,400 miles per year is above average for an eleven-year-old Prius and points to regular long-distance or motorway use, which typically benefits engine and drivetrain wear but accelerates consumption of brakes, tyres, and suspension components. A buyer should focus the physical inspection on the front suspension, given the recurring advisories around strut bushes and the anti-roll bar linkage ball joint flagged in March 2024. Worn strut top mounts and anti-roll bar links can produce clunking over uneven surfaces and affect steering precision, so a road test over speed bumps and rough roads is essential. The rear shock absorber oil misting from the October 2025 test warrants a close visual check of both rear dampers for weeping or corrosion, as misting can progress to full fluid loss if left unattended. Brake condition should also be verified in person, even though the most recent test was clean. The March 2025 test flagged front and rear pads wearing thin, and with the high mileage since then, pad and disc thickness should be measured. Tyre condition, particularly the nearside rear which showed cracking in 2024, deserves attention across all four corners, including sidewalls and inner edges. Given the mileage surge, checking for underbody corrosion, exhaust integrity, and hybrid battery health through a diagnostic scan would be prudent before purchase.