All-new Vauxhall Corsa Review
The all-new Corsa is lower, lighter and far more efficient than the last model.
It’s good value, too, with the line-up starting at around £15,500. That said, the car will set you back at least another ten thousand quid if you want the top Ultimate Nav grade.
I didn’t go for the flagship car; instead, I settled for the SRi Nav Premium 1.2 100PS Turbo. Before getting into the motor, I had a good look around it. It’s a handsome bit of kit – something that couldn’t always be said for past Corsas. It doesn’t look like a hatchback just for newly qualified drivers or those wanting a second runabout car – it’s as though it’s grown up a bit.
Indeed, the all-new Corsa is part of the first step in a different chapter for Vauxhall. After all, this is the first-ever Vauxhall created while under PSA proprietorship. The French-based firm owns Citroen, DS and Peugeot, so it’s no bombshell that the replacement Corsa shares some components. For example, it’s on the same platform as the latest Peugeot 208 and uses identical engines. Narrow your eyes, and you can just about see hints of the 208 in the Corsa’s side profile. Yet, it’s still got a distinct character – and this is never more evident than when behind the hatchback’s wheel.
You sit low down, and the switchgear is pleasantly intuitive – it almost feels athletic. The Corsa SRi’s 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine takes the car from a standstill to 60mph in 9.3 seconds and on to 121mph. Shifting up and down the six-speed gearbox is a grin-inducer in and out of bends, and the light clutch makes driving effortless, especially in town.
My only whinge is that the steering is overly light. It’s great for urban roads and parking manoeuvres, but a heavier feel would provide more assurance at speed.
The Corsa seats four people or five at a push, and it’s easier to get your toddler into their child seat than before. Why? Because the Corsa is now only made as a five-door car. The former three-door version might have looked stylish, but it was restricted in terms of rear passenger friendliness.
Head and legroom are tight if you’re on the lofty side, but cargo capacity has expanded; the 309 litres now on offer is 24-litres greater than before. That’s plenty for a couple of cases – and you won’t have any worries getting a buggy in the boot, either.
The kit is remarkable, with features such as navigation, a seven-inch colour touchscreen, a leather steering wheel, air conditioning, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Safety is something you shouldn’t overlook when shopping for your next vehicle, either. The Corsa does nicely on this front, with equipment including full-size curtain airbags, speed sign recognition, lane departure warning, and cruise control. It could do a tad better, though, as crash test organisation Euro NCAP has given it four out of a possible five stars.
The all-new Corsa is in showrooms now, along with a different all-electric variant, named the Corsa-e. There are, of course, many great-value used Vauxhalls for sale in dealerships, too. Whichever way you cut the cake we’ll likely be seeing lots of Corsas on the UK’s roads for ages to come.
All-new Vauxhall Corsa SRi Nav Premium 1.2 Turbo
Engine: 1,199cc turbo petrol, 100PS
Performance: 0-60mph, 9.3 seconds; top speed, 121mph
Price: £20,665
Review By Tim Barnes-Clay. Follow on Instagram @tbarnesclay and Twitter @carwriteups.
