2022 Toyota Proace City Design 1.5L Diesel · MF22 UDD

A commercial-derived MPV of this age carrying this volume of annual mileage would ordinarily be expected to accumulate a steady stream of advisories as its brake friction material, suspension bushes, exhaust hangers and drive belts reach the middle of their service life. Instead, the MOT record shows a remarkably clean roadworthiness profile. The 2026-03-17 entry records a chip to the windscreen, a recurring minor advisory that was noted against the original test that day and also caused the fail on the same date alongside a non-functional offside rear fog lamp, both of which are trivial in isolation and point to minor electrical or lamp holder wear rather than any deeper structural concern. The January 2025 pass carried no advisories at all, meaning the chip is the only flagged item on the safety-critical inspection across two tests, and there is no recorded corrosion, no brake pipe or hose concerns, no suspension component advisories and no tyre or emissions findings. The mechanical story here is one of a vehicle that has so far resisted the wear pattern typical of high-mileage light commercial use, though buyers should be aware that the absence of advisories does not necessarily indicate that consumables have been recently replaced, merely that they were within tolerance on the day of test. With 78,278 miles accumulated in roughly four years from new, this Proace City is running at an annual rate close to 19,570 miles, which sits well above the average for a privately-used vehicle of its type and instead aligns closely with what would be expected from a fleet, rental or small-business operator covering daily mixed-route mileage. There are no significant gaps between tests, with the 2025 and 2026 entries spaced at a realistic interval that implies continuous service rather than extended periods standing off the road. Mechanically, this level of sustained running accelerates wear on the clutch friction plate, dual-mass flywheel, turbocharger bearings and diesel particulate filter, particularly if the vehicle has predominantly been used for short urban trips where the DPF cannot complete regular regeneration cycles. Front brake discs and pads, rear drum or disc friction material, anti-roll bar drop links, top mount bearings and the timing belt or chain service items will all be approaching, or may have already passed, their typical replacement intervals at this mileage, even though none of these were specifically flagged at test. Given the diesel commercial origins of the Proace City platform and the absence of any structural or brake-related advisories in the recorded tests, a prospective buyer should focus their physical inspection on areas that MOT testing does not directly cover but which are heavily influenced by high mileage. On a cold start, listen for any diesel rattle from the timing chain area that persists for more than a second or two, and watch for blue or excessive grey smoke from the exhaust that could indicate turbo seal wear or oil consumption. On the road, pay close attention to clutch take-up smoothness, as a slipping or juddering clutch under load is common on vans of this age and mileage. Test the rear fog lamp and front fogs as part of the electrical checks, since the offside rear unit has already failed once and the wiring on commercial derivatives can be vulnerable to water ingress through the rear lamp clusters. Underneath the vehicle, inspect the front brake discs for a pronounced lip on the outer edge and check pad material thickness through the caliper window, as commercial use tends to wear these disproportionately quickly. Examine the front suspension components by pushing down firmly on each corner and releasing, listening for any clonking from the anti-roll bar drop links or top mount bearings and feeling for any looseness in the steering as the wheels self-centre. Inspect the underside for any oil residue around the turbo, sump and injector pump areas, and check the exhaust system hangers and flexi section for deterioration. Tyres should be inspected for even shoulder wear across both axles, which would suggest a tracking or alignment issue, and the underside of the body, particularly around the rear wheel arches and subframe mounting points, should be checked for any surface corrosion starting to form even though nothing was flagged at test. A final check of the DPF regeneration history via diagnostic interrogation is strongly advisable, given the high mileage and likely mixed urban usage pattern this vehicle has clearly endured.