One vital characteristic of a supermini is that is has to be cheap to run. Fortunately, purchase prices for the Corsa have been slashed to give it even greater showroom appeal, with the new car costing a good chunk less than the equivalent Fiesta. But don’t think you miss out on standard kit, as USB connectivity, LED daytime running lights, cruise control and a multi-function steering wheel are fitted across the range.

Plus, the sheer volume of Corsas sold means that dealers are more able to give discounts on a Corsa than you’d perhaps get from a rival such as the Volkswagen Polo, SEAT Ibiza or Toyota Yaris. And Vauxhall’s habit of making special editions of the Corsa means there’s always likely to be a tempting offer if you go into the showroom.

The only engine which survived the Corsa’s WLTP-enforced cull was a 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol unit, available in two power outputs and with a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes. The most efficient of these is the lower-powered version with a manual gearbox; Vauxhall claims economy of 42.2 to 44.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 128 to 130g/km depending on body style and wheel size.

The more powerful version manages 41.3 to 44.8mpg when combined with a manual gearbox, with CO2 emissions of 123 to 128g/km. These figures are achieved with help from this model’s standard start/stop system.

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2021 Vauxhall

Corsa

49,012 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £9,495

View Corsa

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2023 Vauxhall

Corsa

20,134 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £11,397

View Corsa

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2021 Vauxhall

Corsa

28,231 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L

Cash £12,699

View Corsa

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2021 Vauxhall

Corsa

28,846 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £10,800

View Corsa

Those in need of an automatic gearbox can only pick the higher-powered engine and will have to put up with a dent in economy versus manual versions. Vauxhall quotes WLTP economy of 37.7 to 40.9mpg, with CO2 emissions of 136 to 150g/km depending on body style and wheel size.

Insurance groups

As you’d expect, the Corsa isn’t especially expensive to insure – and that’s without considering the sort of free insurance offers that lower-end versions are often sold with.

Comparable to the Ford Fiesta, it’s popular with first-time drivers and there are abundant parts available, so it’s not too expensive to repair. Starting in Group 2, most Corsa models sit in single figure insurance groupings, with the more powerful turbo versions in the teens.

Depreciation

There are so many Corsas on the road that there’s no shortage of supply on the used market, which hits used values hard. Nonetheless, you can expect an average-mileage Corsa to be worth just under 40 per cent of its purchase value after three years.

Because the Corsa is better equipped as standard than it once was, spec choice isn’t as imperative as it used to be in keeping values high. However, higher trims equal greater desirability, and therefore better retained value.