Vauxhall Corsa

The neatly styled Vauxhall Corsa looks the part and has a quality cabin, but it’s off the pace compared to its supermini rivals

Auto Express Car Reviews

Rating:
Latest deal price: from £7,506 to £11,917
For : Stylish looks, solid cabin, decent practicality
Against : Wooden driving experience, rough engines, high prices

When the current Vauxhall Corsa made its debut in 2006, it turned the supermini sector on its head. With its mix of eye-catching style, upmarket cabin and big car features, it went straight to the top of the class, easily beating the Ford Fiesta and Peugeot 207 – it even scooped the Auto Express Car of the Year award. But the competition has improved in the last few years, meaning the Corsa has slumped to also-ran status. A recent facelift improved the car’s chances, but a line-up of gruff engines, an uninspiring driving experience and high prices means both three and five-door versions of the Vauxhall still struggle to make an impact.

Our pick: Vauxhall Corser SRi 1.7CDTi (130PS) ecoFLEX (a/c)

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the Vauxhall Corsa

Styling

The Vauxhall Corsa exudes kerb appeal with its bold, swept back headlamps, a rakish nose and neat details. Best is the coupe-like three-door, which features a low slung roofline and steeply raked tailgate. However, neither bodystyle matches the head-turning charm of the Ford Fiesta. Buyers get a host of trim levels to choose from, including Expression, S, Exclusiv, Excite, SXi, SE and SRi. There’s also a rapid VXR version for hot hatch fans. Models from SXi upwards have alloy wheels as standard. Inside is a thoughtfully designed dashboard and decent quality materials. Entry-level models do without air-con, but range-topping SE features kit such as heated steering wheel, cruise control, auto headlamps and wipers.

Driving and Performance

The Corsa is off the pace, with lifeless steering, wooden responses and average front-end grip meaning it’s a generation behind Ford Fiesta and Suzuki Swift. Go for the SXi or SRi, and the lacklustre driving dynamics are further hampered by a rock hard ride. To make matters worse, the engine line-up is packed with below par powerplants. The petrol units – a 64bhp 1.0-litre three cylinder, 84bhp 1.2-litre and 98bhp 1.4-litre – lack straightline pace, while the 1.3-litre CDTi diesel is gutless and loud. Best is the smooth and flexible 128bhp 1.7-litre CDTi, although it's only available in the SRi. However, a comfortable driving position, light controls and compact dimensions make the Vauxhall a stress-free urban runaround.

MPG and running costs

Superminis should be to be cheap to run – and, on the whole, the Corsa doesn’t disappoint. Most frugal is the stop-start equipped 1.3-litre CDTi EcoFlex, which emits just 94g/km of CO2 and returns a fuel-sipping 80.6mpg. Even the least efficient, the 1.4-litre petrol, is good for 50mpg and emissions lower than 130g/km. Sadly, Vauxhall charge a high price for the Corsa. The entry-level Expression is sparsely equipped, and while the range-toppers are groaning with standard equipment, they are pricey. Depreciation is also a killer. Resale values are well beaten by the desirable VW Polo, and it can’t even match mainstream competition such as the Ford Fiesta.

Practicality

At least the Vauxhall is a practical choice. There’s a decent amount of head and legroom for occupants in the rear – although back seat access is tricky in three-door models – and the cabin is packed with useful storage. Opening the tailgate reveals a usefully low loading lip and a class competitive 285 litres of luggage space. Fold the rear bench flat and carrying capacity increases to 1,100 litres (1,050 in the three-door). A false boot floor adds extra flexibility, but is only available as an option on higher specification versions. As is the clever bicycle rack, that slides out from behind the rear number plate at the touch of a button.

Safety and reliability

It’s getting on a bit, but the Corsa is a strong and sturdy choice, as its five-star Euro NCAP result proves. Exclusiv models upward get six airbags as standard, while curtain and side bags are available as an option on entry-level Expression and S trims. Sadly, electronic stability control is an expensive option on all versions – it’s standard on the Ford Fiesta and VW Polo. However, expect decent reliability as most of the glitches and bugs have been ironed out. What’s more, the first owner of the car benefits from a unique warranty that lasts the lifetime of the car, or up to 100,000 miles.

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