Vauxhall Corsa review

Our opinion on the Vauxhall Corsa

The latest Vauxhall Corsa improves on previous versions with solid levels of equipment, decent fuel economy, good comfort and – above all – attractive pricing. That does mean the Corsa feels cheap in places, though, and this isn’t the most spacious supermini, either.

The Vauxhall is also short of thrills behind the wheel - it’s competent, but if you’re looking for a dynamic supermini that plugs the gap left by the Ford Fiesta, the Corsa isn’t it. On the other hand, the Corsa has a wide appeal, thanks to its Stellantis platform accommodating petrol, mild-hybrid and pure-electric powertrain options. 

About the Vauxhall Corsa

In 2017, GM sold Vauxhall to PSA (which later became part of the Stellantis empire). The Corsa's planned replacement was scrapped in the process. A new Corsa arrived in 2019, based on the Peugeot 208’s platform, along with plenty of other similar models from the Stellantis group, including the larger Vauxhall Mokka, the Citroen C4, the DS3 and the Jeep Avenger.

The Corsa comes in four trim levels; Yes, Design, GS and Ultimate. Rather than reserve the more potent engines for the top trims, each specification is offered with the full range of powertrains, from a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine to a 108bhp 1.2-litre mild-hybrid. Then there are the two Corsa Electric options, one with a 50kWh battery and 134bhp, one with a 51kWh battery and154bhp. 

Used - available now

2023 Vauxhall

Corsa

36,802 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £10,900

View Corsa

2019 Vauxhall

Corsa

32,000 milesManualPetrol1.4L

Cash £4,500

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2021 Vauxhall

Corsa

20,167 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £10,300

View Corsa

2023 Vauxhall

Corsa

37,808 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £12,197

View Corsa

Aside from its many supermini-sized Stellantis siblings that share the same platform and powertrains, the Vauxhall Corsa has competition from further afield, despite the supermini segment losing some big names recently. There’s the excellent Hyundai i20, Renault Clio and Volkswagen Polo, for instance, plus the Dacia Sandero for those really prioritising price.

Vauxhall Corsa prices and latest deals

How much does the Vauxhall Corsa cost? Well, official ‘on the road’ prices range from £19,690 to £30,850 but you can currently save an average of £4,780 through the Auto Express Find A Car service, where prices start at £16,207. You can lease a Vauxhall Corsa from £209 per month or buy a used model at prices starting from £13,850.

Check out our latest new car deals, leasing deals and used car deals for the top offers available now on Auto Express. And don't forget we can help you sell your car, too.

Official ‘on the road’ for the Corsa prices range from £19,410 to £33,720, but you can currently save an average of £4,846 for the petrol Corsa and a whopping £9,663 for the Corsa Electric through the Auto Express Find A Car service, where prices start at £16,207. Alternatively, you can lease a Vauxhall Corsa from £196 per month or buy a used current-generation Corsa from under £8,000.

Plus the Vauxhall Corsa Electric is eligible for the Government’s Electric Car Grant of £1,500. 

Check out our latest new car deals, leasing deals and used car deals for the top offers available now on Auto Express. And don't forget we can help you sell your car, too.

This Corsa drives well and comes with a solid range of engines that give buyers a good array of choice. The comfortable low-speed ride is a highlight that we found particularly impressive on our tests. There are more thrilling superminis from a driving point of view but the Corsa is an accomplished all-rounder offering composure as well as comfort. 

Corsa models from the top end of the range – both combustion and electric – are available with selectable driving modes. By switching to Sport mode, petrol models get an artificially enhanced engine note piped into the cabin, plus extra weight to the steering - though it's not very noticeable. Prodding the Sport button in the Corsa Electric allows the driver to access the car’s full power; otherwise, you’ll find it throttled back slightly to improve range and efficiency.

Performance, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed

The non-hybrid petrol models use a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo engine with 99bhp mated to either a six-speed manual or optional eight-speed auto gearbox. This engine comes with decent mid-range pulling power, meaning you don’t need to thrash it to keep up with traffic. It has a 0-62mph time of 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 120mph, which is perfectly adequate for most people in the real world. The automatic gearbox option adds nearly a second to the spring time and feels noticeably more sluggish.   

Those looking for a bit more punch will be well served by the latest 134bhp hybrid. It has an 8.6-second time for the 0-62mph sprint and a top speed of 133mph. It’s a lot swifter and more satisfying for those who regularly venture out of town for longer trips. 

If you want to drive under electric power all the time, you have 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 feel more than powerful enough and come with the benefit of near-silent running. The entry-level electric version takes 8.9 seconds to go from 0 to 62mph, while the 154bhp version takes just 8.2 seconds. Both top out at 93mph, which is below the petrol cars but fairly typical of small electric cars.

Town driving, visibility and parking

The ride is firmer than on the previous generation Corsa, but it’s by no means uncomfortable at low speeds over speed bumps and drain covers. 

Like most cars these days, the Corsa features a stop/start system, but we found it to be particularly intrusive and sluggish to respond in the 1.2-litre turbo model, which became annoying around town. 

The hybrid models are good in urban driving but the electric motor is only small and powered by a tiny 0.9kWh battery, so EV running only happens for a short time at low speeds. The petrol engine kicks-in fairly seamlessly when you need to go faster. There is also a regenerative braking function that helps to recharge the battery, but as in the all-electric Corsa models, it isn’t strong enough for one-pedal driving in stop-start traffic.

Country road driving and handling

Thanks to its Stellantis platform, the latest Corsa is much better to drive than previous versions. Around corners, it feels more agile and responsive than before, and has strong grip. 

Sadly, the numb steering lets it down a little, meaning the Corsa doesn’t feel as sharp as a SEAT Ibiza. At least the steering is very light, making the car easy to manoeuvre and visibility is great - it’s no surprise the Corsa is popular with driving schools.

Motorway driving and long-distance comfort

The engines all deliver reasonable refinement with the three-cylinder 1.2 a little vocal at higher revs and the hybrid far more hushed. The electric models are, predictably, the best.  

The ride has a tendency to feel a touch bouncy at higher speeds, meaning the Corsa doesn’t feel as settled on long motorway runs as rivals such as the Hyundai i20, Renault Clio, or the Volkswagen Polo.

The Corsa is a relatively frugal supermini. In 99bhp 1.2 Turbo guise it’s rated at 52.3mpg on the WLTP tests with the automatic gearbox. In manual form it officially gets 55.4mpg. During six months with one on our test fleet we averaged a respectable 51.3mpg in mixed driving. 

As you’d expect, the Hybrid model is more efficient with 61.4mpg and 104g/km. That’s on a par with the Honda Jazz, but can’t quite match the MG3, or the Toyota Yaris, which drops below 100g/km and gets up to 68.9mpg. The all-electric Corsa models will cover buyers who prioritise low running costs.

Insurance groups

The Corsa should be a cheap car to insure. Entry-level Yes models with the turbocharged 1.2-litre engine start in group 22, although weirdly the better-equipped Ultimate model starts in group 19.

Those looking for a supermini that’s cheaper to insure might want to look at the Volkswagen Polo, which starts in insurance group three for the entry 1.0-litre petrol engine.

As described in the separate Corsa Electric review, insurance for it is pricier than for its petrol counterparts. However, the same is true for its rivals.

Tax 

The Hybrid model would be desirable for company car drivers compared with the petrol-only counterpart. However, they should consider going fully electric with the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, because its zero tailpipe emissions mean paying even less tax thanks to being in an even lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax band.

Depreciation

Depending on the model, a combustion-powered Corsa should retain between 45 and 49 per cent of its value after three years and 36,000 miles of motoring. The all-electric Corsa Electric is more expensive to buy than a petrol model and depreciates much more quickly, with the majority of the range only maintaining 40 per cent over the same time period. 

Using the Stellantis group CMP platform – which also underpins the Peugeot 208 and 2008, among others – this Corsa is 19mm wider and 44mm lower than the previous model, which makes it look more squat on the road. The design is nothing revolutionary, but we think it’s well proportioned and looks smart.

The Corsa features Vauxhall’s ‘Vizor’ design at the front – incorporating the headlights and the grille into a horizontal strip across the nose. This update also added new trims to the range.

There’s a lively colour palette to choose from. Alongside the predictable greys and silvers, the far more vibrant Voltaic Blue and Power Orange offer buyers more eye-catching options. Some colours are available with a contrasting black roof and door mirrors. 

The Corsa range kicks off with the Yes trim level that includes the following:

• Seven-inch driver’s display
• 10-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Heated steering wheel
• LED headlights 
• Cruise control 
• Contrasting black roof

The more expensive Design versions don’t actually get the seven-inch driver’s display, instead having a 3.5-inch unit. There’s also no heated steering wheel or option of a black roof but rear parking sensors are standard. 

GS trim adds front parking sensors and a reversing camera while the range-topping Ultimate adds adaptive cruise control and heated front seats. It’s also the cheapest Corsa with integrated sat-nav so you don;t need to pair your phone.

During our long-term test of a Corsa in GS trim, we thought the 17-inch wheels suited the car’s look and the high beam assist came in handy on a regular basis. Our car’s rear-view camera display was pretty grainy - though strangely if you get GS trim in a pure-electric Corsa, the camera’s quality is much better. 

Materials and build quality

The Corsa has never offered the highest quality in the supermini segment and that continues here - though the current model is a big improvement inside over previous versions. 

It’s neat, tidy and we like the robust-feeling physical bank of switches for climate controls, but there are some areas letting the interior down. It’s quite gloomy inside the Vauxhall and you don’t have to look hard to find cheap, scratchy plastics. However, after several months of living with a Corsa, we didn’t notice any trim coming loose and the materials didn’t show signs of damage either. 

Infotainment, sat-nav and stereo

The Corsa’s 10-inch touchscreen display has clear graphics and is much slicker than what’s gone before. It comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, and there’s a cubbyhole at the base of the dash that allows you to connect a smartphone via a USB port – although it isn’t big enough for some of the larger smartphones.

However, it’s not the most straightforward system to use. The menu layout isn’t as logical as the systems you’ll find from the Hyundai group. Apple CarPlay also looks like a bit of an afterthought on the main touchscreen with blank areas either side. 

Wireless phone charging is standard on the top-of-the-range Ultimate, or if you specifically opt for the longer range 51kWh Corsa Electric in GS trim. 

“The technology onboard was improved as part of its recent facelift, including a new snappier infotainment system. However the 10-inch touchscreen is angled more towards the roof than the driver, and the view of the screen is blocked slightly by their hands on the steering wheel, and the wheel itself.” - Ellis Hyde, news reporter.

This latest model comes exclusively in a single five-door bodystyle, much like the rest of its supermini rivals. The supportive seats up front have plenty of adjustment, while all-round visibility is pretty decent.

Storage is acceptable rather than spectacular for the class. The front door bins can each hold a big-ish bottle, while a pair of cup-holders is in the centre console in front of a small closed storage bin.

The smartphone tray ahead of the gear selector is a nice touch to position your phone out of sight, and most devices will fit (apart from the largest ones). The glovebox is small, though, and isn’t even big enough for the slim guidebook. Rivals like the Hyundai i20, Skoda Fabia, and Volkswagen Polo have much bigger glove boxes.

Dimensions and size 

The latest Corsa measures 4,060mm long. That’s 39mm longer than its predecessor and 14mm longer than a Volkswagen Polo. At 1,765mm wide (not including mirrors) and 1,435mm tall, it’s grown 19mm wider and dropped 44mm lower than before. The wheelbase measures 2,538mm – 14mm less than the Polo.

Seats & passenger space 

Even before you get in, things become a little tricky. The door openings are pretty narrow – particularly in the back – which means it’s more challenging to get in than some rivals and more difficult to install a child seat.

Things aren't much better once you’ve squeezed through the back doors. Compared with rivals such as the SEAT Ibiza and Hyundai i20, the Corsa feels cramped. The low roof means anyone nudging six feet tall will brush their head against the ceiling, while kneeroom isn’t great, either. The seats are comfy, though, and ISOFIX child seat mounting points are provided on the outer positions. They have fiddly zipped covers that are hard to remove, though.

Boot space

The Corsa’s boot capacity is 309 litres. That’s 24 litres more than the old car, but it comes up short against the Hyundai i20 (326 litres), SEAT Ibiza (355 litres) and particularly the Renault Clio (391 litres). Unlike the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, which has a lower boot volume of 267 litres, the Hybrid model maintains the same luggage capacity because the tiny battery pack lives under the front passenger seat, like most mild hybrids such as the Suzuki Swift. The Corsa’s opening is relatively small, too, with quite a high loading lip to lift heavy items over. The rear seatbacks fold in a 60:40 split. Drop them both down and you get a maximum 1,118-litre boot space.

“My dog, who is growing fussier with her automotive transport as the years go by, seemed to be able to jump in and out of the Corsa’s boot and was pretty happy on a short journey. However, the massively thick C-pillars don’t allow for much natural light back there.” - Alastair Crooks, senior news reporter. 

The latest Vauxhall Corsa achieved a four-star rating (out of a possible five) from Euro NCAP in its crash tests, with scores of 84 and 86 per cent, respectively, for adult and child occupant protection. Poor whiplash protection for rear-seat passengers brought the overall score down, meaning the Corsa trails five-star rivals like the Audi A1 and Renault Clio, all of which were tested under the same criteria.

Every Corsa comes with a lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist system to help keep you within your lane on a motorway and speed-sign recognition to warn you of changing speed limits. There’s also automatic emergency braking as standard to try and mitigate – or even prevent – low-speed collisions with other vehicles. Top-spec Ultimate cars add adaptive cruise control to keep you at a safe distance from the car in front.

Vauxhall as a brand did very well in the Driver Power manufacturers’ survey, coming a respectable fourth out of 31, up from 23rd just two years ago. This improvement can be attributed in part to the Corsa, which itself ranked well in the Driver Power best cars to own survey this year - ahead of cars such as the Volkswagen Golf and even the Corsa’s sister model, the Peugeot 208. Owners highlighted the Vauxhall’s infotainment screens and overall design as positives, but didn’t like the lack of practicality or comfort as much. 

• Best buy: Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Turbo Manual Yes

The Vauxhall Corsa is best in Yes trim, given the amount of equipment you get from under £19,500. After that it’s a toss up of priorities. There are more efficient hybrid superminis out there than the Corsa Hybrid, so we’d opt for the 1.2-litre turbocharged engine with the six-speed manual. 

The Corsa Electric is well worth a look now, thanks to the latest battery and electric motor combination providing up to 266 miles of range in Long Range guise. 

Vauxhall Corsa alternatives

We’ve lost the Ford Fiesta and the Mazda 2 from the supermini class, but the Corsa still has plenty of rivals. The Volkswagen Polo remains a great option for those prioritising interior quality and refinement, although the German supermini sits at the upper end of the segment on price. 

The Toyota Yaris is also a great option for fuel economy, thanks to its hybrid powertrain providing almost 70mpg on the combined cycle. Then there’s the Skoda Fabia, which does a similar job to the Polo for less money, and the budget-focused MG3, which has a stonking 193bhp hybrid system. 

Deals on the Vauxhall Corsa and alternatives

Vauxhall Corsa

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Volkswagen Polo

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Skoda Fabia

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