2015 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2L Petrol · YY65 CYF

Official fuel economy for the 1.2 petrol Corsa sits in the mid-50s mpg on the combined cycle, with real-world figures closer to 45-50 mpg achievable. Road tax for a 1229cc petrol registered after April 2017 would be £190 annually, but because this car was first registered in September 2015 it falls under the older VED bands — verify the exact band on the V5C, as £30 or £165 are both plausible depending on CO2 emissions. Insurance is one of the Corsa's strongest selling points: it sits in group 3-4 typically, making it one of the cheapest superminis to insure.

Routine maintenance is inexpensive: a major service (oil, filter, plugs) typically runs £150-£220 at an independent garage, and brake fluid and coolant changes are similarly affordable. Tyres are the 185/65 R15 or 175/65 R15 fitment, around £40-70 each fitted for budget brands or £60-90 for mid-range.

Estimating annual running costs: assuming 5,000 miles per year at 45 mpg with petrol at £1.40/litre gives roughly £690 in fuel, plus £30-£165 tax, £400-£600 insurance (group 3-4, post-2019 No-claims), and £250-£400 for routine servicing and wear items. A realistic all-in annual running cost would be £1,400-£1,800 depending on usage and insurance profile.

The September 2024 failure list is the single best guide for what to inspect. The front sub-frame corrosion is the headline item — get the car on a ramp and look for any progression since the MOT, paying particular attention to mounting points and welds. Rust on a ten-year-old Corsa sub-frame is not unusual, especially on cars that have done lots of short urban trips in damp conditions, but it needs to be confirmed as no worse than 'not seriously weakened'.

The tyres all round deserve close attention. Perished sidewalls and cracked treads were noted on three of the four tyres at the September 2024 test, and tyre rubber typically deteriorates regardless of tread depth on a ten-year-old vehicle. Check the date codes on any fitted tyres (look for a four-digit DOT code on the sidewall) — anything over six years old should be replaced for safety regardless of legal tread. Also check the spare and the wheel arches for corrosion, as the Vauxhall Corsa of this era is known for bubbling paint around the arches and sills.

General inspection points include the coolant expansion tank (prone to cracking on this age of Corsa), the rear brake drums or discs depending on spec, the exhaust for corrosion (a common MOT failure point on the model per the aggregate data), and the front suspension components for any clonking over bumps. A scan for any stored fault codes in the ECU is also worthwhile even though no dashboard warning lights are mentioned in the MOT record.