2022 MINI Cooper 1.5L Petrol · LG72 VKB

The 1.5-litre petrol MINI Cooper is one of the more economical hot hatches on the market, with official fuel economy figures around 50 mpg combined for manual versions and low-40s for automatics. Real-world economy typically falls between 38-48 mpg depending on driving style, with urban commuters likely seeing closer to 40 mpg. Insurance sits in group 20-22 for the standard Cooper, which is reasonable for a premium small car but noticeably higher than a Volkswagen Polo or Ford Fiesta of similar size.

Road tax is free for this vehicle as it falls under the £0 VED band for cars registered between 2001 and March 2025 emitting under 100 g/km CO2 (the Cooper 1.5 emits around 120-130 g/km, so it will sit in a low tax band of around £30-£35 per year). With such low mileage recorded, annual mileage is likely modest, keeping fuel and wear costs down. Typical maintenance costs for a MINI Cooper include brake fluid changes every two years, coolant changes at five-year intervals, and air filter and spark plug replacement roughly every 30,000-40,000 miles.

Start with the tyres — the MOT history shows both front tyres were worn to near-legal limit at just 12,530 miles, which is unusual and worth investigating. Uneven or rapid front-tyre wear on a MINI can indicate worn suspension components (particularly the front wishbones, track rod ends, or anti-roll bar bushes), incorrect wheel alignment, or aggressive driving. Have the front suspension inspected for play, and check the rear tyres too as they should be barely worn given the mileage.

The MOT failure listed 'Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low' — confirm this has been correctly adjusted, as the same-day pass suggests it was fixed during the test. Check that both headlamps are now correctly aimed by parking on level ground 10 metres from a wall and looking for a flat, horizontal beam pattern. On the 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine, listen on cold start for any rough running, excessive cam-chain rattle (a known area on these engines), or oil leaks from the rocker cover gasket. Check the coolant level carefully as the 1.5 turbo can suffer from minor coolant leaks around the expansion tank.

General inspection points: check all electrical items, including the infotainment screen for dead pixels, climate control, central locking, and the electric windows. Examine the bodywork for parking dings and stone chips, particularly on the bonnet and door mirrors. Look underneath for any signs of fluid leaks, and check the condition of the brake discs — at 12,530 miles they may show surface corrosion if the car has been used mainly for short journeys, but should not be scored or worn.