Vauxhall Corsa - Engines, performance and drive

Under Stellantis ownership, Vauxhall has utilised the group’s CMP small car platform to build the latest Corsa. In contrast to the underpinnings of the previous Corsa that dated back to the early 2000s, the latest architecture is bang up to date, being both stiffer and lighter overall thanks to lighter seats, an aluminium bonnet, and some weight-reduction on its engine range. All these weight-saving measures benefit the way the Corsa accelerates, brakes, and handles, as well as reducing how much fuel it uses.

Around corners, it feels more agile and responsive than before, and its grip level is strong. Sadly, the numb steering lets it down a little, meaning it doesn’t feel as sharp as a SEAT Ibiza. The steering is at least very light, making the car easy to manoeuvre into a tight car park space.

The ride is indeed firmer than the previous Corsa, but it’s by no means uncomfortable at low speeds over speed bumps and sunken drain covers. It has a tendency to feel a touch bouncy at higher speeds, meaning it doesn’t feel as settled on long motorway runs as rivals like the Hyundai i20, Renault Clio, or the Volkswagen Polo.

The non-hybrid petrol options use a 1.2-litre three-cylinder that can be had without a turbo in base 74bhp form with a five-speed manual, or you can go for our preferred 99bhp version, which has a turbo and either a six-speed manual or optional eight-speed auto. The 99bhp engine makes the most sense to most buyers because of its excellent mid-range pulling power, meaning you don’t need to thrash it to keep up with traffic. The most potent 128bhp version is overkill in comparison and can only be had with an eight-speed automatic, which gets caught out by its stop/start system and makes for jerky progress around town.

You can also opt for a mild-hybrid 1.2-litre, which comes in 99bhp or 134bhp forms. If they’re anything like the standard petrol, then flexibility shouldn’t be an issue because the mild-hybrid system assists the engine when accelerating. This should mean you’ll burn less fuel because the engine doesn’t have to work so hard. When trundling through stop-start traffic, the electric motor is just about powerful enough to move you along using only electric power for short distances.  

But if you want to drive under electric power all the time, then you’ll need the Corsa Electric. You’ve a choice of the entry-level 50kWh version using a 134bhp electric motor, or a 51kWh version with a more powerful 154bhp electric motor. Both do an admirable job of keeping up with traffic, and you can read more about the Vauxhall Corsa Electric in our dedicated review.

Models higher up in the range – both combustion and electric - are available with a selectable driving mode. By switching to Sport mode, petrol models get an artificial engine note piped into the cabin, plus extra weighing to the steering. Prodding the Sport button in the Corsa Electric allows the driver full access power; otherwise, you’ll find it throttled back slightly to improve range and efficiency further.

Refinement is a Corsa plus point. The cabin is more hushed than ever, and so are its engines. Turbocharged or not, the 1.2 petrol is a sweet unit. Power delivery is smooth and predictable; these units only make their presence felt audibly under hard acceleration. Most three-cylinder units are a little thrummy at higher revs, and this one is no exception – but the cabin and the controls are well insulated against vibrations. Naturally, the electric models are quieter still, offering the most refined Corsa driving experience.

0-62mph acceleration and top speed

Compared to the last one, the Corsa’s weight-saving measures haven’t just resulted in raised performance levels well beyond those of the old car; they’ve shunted the Corsa towards the top of the supermini class.

Even the entry-level 74bhp petrol doesn’t feel out of its depth in town, but you’ll need to work it hard to keep up with traffic on faster roads: officially, it’ll cover the 0-62mph dash in 13.2 seconds and go on to a 108mph top speed. Our preferred 99bhp 1.2 turbocharged petrol slashes those numbers to 9.9 seconds and 120mph, a little quicker than the slightly pricier 94bhp 1.0 TSI Volkswagen Polo. When paired with the eight-speed auto gearbox, the 1.2 petrol’s figures drop slightly, with 0-62mph taking 10.8 seconds and a 119mph top speed. The 1.2 Hybrid models are swifter still, with the 99bhp version having a 10.7 second 0-62mph time, while the 134bhp cuts this down to 8.6 seconds.

The entry-level electric version with 134bhp takes 8.9 seconds from 0-62mph, while the 154bhp version takes just 8.2 seconds. Both top out at 93mph, although that’s more than enough for our roads.