2012 Volkswagen Polo 1.2L Petrol · FT12 LLG

The 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine in this Polo typically returns around 47–50 mpg in real-world mixed driving, translating to roughly £1,400–£1,700 per year in fuel for a typical 7,000-mile annual driver, though the current owner's usage is well below that. Road tax falls into a low band due to the sub-130g/km CO2 output, costing around £35 annually. Insurance for a 2012 1.2 Polo sits in group 4–7 depending on trim, making it one of the cheaper small cars to cover.

Routine maintenance is generally affordable, with annual servicing typically £120–£200 at an independent garage. The biggest known service item approaching for a 14-year-old car is the timing belt replacement, which on this engine is usually quoted at £350–£500 including the water pump. Brake discs and pads are inexpensive, and the car shares parts with several other VAG models, keeping supply costs down.

Estimated annual running cost: £1,000–£1,300, including fuel, tax, insurance, and routine maintenance. This excludes any one-off repairs arising from the suspension issues already flagged.

Begin with a thorough inspection of the front suspension, which has been the most frequently recorded MOT issue on this specific car. With the vehicle on a ramp or with the wheels lifted, check both front lower suspension arm bushes for movement by hand; any free play beyond a couple of millimetres indicates the bushes need replacing. Also inspect the anti-roll bar drop links, as these tend to wear alongside the bushes on a Polo of this age and are an MOT failure point.

Move to the rear suspension and shock absorbers. The offside rear shock was noted as having a serious fluid leak at the 2025 test and light misting in two prior tests. Look for wetness or oil staining on the shock body, check the upper mounting for corrosion, and bounce each rear corner — the car should settle within one and a half oscillations if the shocks are healthy. Given that the parts were apparently replaced after the 2025 fail, verify the date stamps on the shocks themselves. Also examine the tyres closely, as a cut exposing the ply was recorded at the 2025 fail; the current tyres should show no sidewall damage.

Finally, do not overlook the smaller flagged items: the fuel cap should be inspected for a tight seal and intact gasket, and the engine bay should be checked for fresh oil residue around the sump and cam cover to assess whether the noted oil leak is static or worsening. A generic road test to check for dashboard warning lights, clutch feel, and gearbox refinement remains essential, as none of these items are captured in the MOT data.