Search Car Reviews



See all makes

Vauxhall Corsa Eco

Boy racers have been lowering the suspension and adding spoilers to Corsas for years, and now Vauxhall itself is following suit. But bringing the supermini closer to earth isn't a desperate bid to win respect from the baseball-capped, baggy jeans set. Far from it, in fact.

By Craig Cheetham

April 2002

Boy racers have been lowering the suspension and adding spoilers to Corsas for years, and now Vauxhall itself is following suit. But bringing the supermini closer to earth isn't a desperate bid to win respect from the baseball-capped, baggy jeans set. Far from it, in fact.

Thanks to that reduced ride height, special wheeltrims, fuel-saving tyres and a tiny roof spoiler, the company's engineers have cut the Corsa's drag coefficient. Coupled with a modified version of its 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine and a semi-automatic Easytronic gearbox, Vauxhall claims to have created the most economical petrol-powered supermini money can buy. So should rivals be worried?

The Corsa Eco will easily top 50mpg round town if you're considerate with the throttle and gearchanges. But that doesn't make it a brilliant choice for high-mileage drivers. The trade-off for all its environmental benefits is lethargic performance, with the 0-60mph sprint taking 18 seconds even if you drive the car in a very ungreen manner.

Take it gently and the Eco is far more pleasant. Despite a lack of power, it cruises ably on the motorway, the buzzy engine settling down to a refined hum, while the altered aerodynamics help cut wind noise. The Easytronic system is irritating to use, though, with manual changes seeming to take forever and automatic ones occurring randomly if you're maintaining a steady speed.

The Eco costs

Tell us about your car in our Driver Power survey.

For an alternative review of the latest Vauxhall Corsa visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

What Next

For more breaking car news and reviews, subscribe to Auto Express magazine. We'll give you 6 issues for £1 and a free gift!

< Previous   Next >

Sponsored Results

0 Comment

Be the first to comment on this article

You need to register to post comments. Existing members can log in below to comment, otherwise click here to join.



Sponsored Results

- Advertisement -

Pictures

Sponsored Results

Find New Cars

Find your new Vauxhall Corsa with our new car search:

Find New Cars
Find Used Cars

Find your Vauxhall Corsa with our used car search.

Find Used Cars

FIRST OPINION

    The Corsa Eco is a brave move and Vauxhall should be praised for bringing such green technology to the showroom. It's bound to tempt some buyers with its low running costs and fuel consumption, but it fails to offer much in terms of driving pleasure. A good city car, but too flawed in other ways to be a serious alternative to a modern diesel supermini.
 

AT A GLANCE

    New Vauxhall Corsa Eco goes on sale 17 May, priced
 
- Advertisement -