Crisply confident Corsa is Vauxhall’s defiant statement of intent

Lighter, livelier and more likable, the all-new baby Vauxhall earns its on-road stripes with dynamic grace, more space and a smiling face, factors that enthuse Iain Robertson immensely, as they demonstrate Vauxhall’s strength of purpose to PSA.

As the company’s biggest volume model, Corsa has a vital role to play in the brand’s forward survival programme. It has always been a little charmer, since its first appearance no less than five model generations ago. Yet, this doyen of the learner driver, used car and both private and business sales arenas has seldom presented such a positive message, one that is essential to securing its place in PSA Group’s firmament.



All new models undergo intense development schedules but those of the Corsa may have been the most involved ever. No single aspect of the new model range is carried over from before and it is seldom more obvious than partaking of a drive to experience its class-leading characteristics. Believe me, this is the Corsa that underscores Vauxhall’s commitment to the competitive compact car sector.



Compound finite analysis of its bodywork optimises torsional rigidity but cuts weight by over 10%, while an outstanding Cd of 0.29 ensures that it is one of the most aerodynamic small cars on sale today. Both of these factors aid frugality and are supported by judiciously re-engineered running gear that includes both familiar petrol and diesel engines but also Vauxhall’s first all-electric and zestiest variant. An engine dependent choice of five and six-speed manual, or eight-speed automatic gearboxes (single-speed for the Corsa-e), highlights the breadth of effort expended.



The 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine develops a modest 97bhp, which is enough to whisk Corsa from 0-60mph in just 9.3s and onwards to a top speed of 121mph, while returning up to 52.3mpg and emitting just 96g/km of CO2, all of which keeps running costs within affordable bounds. However, it is the enticing driveability that impresses most. The Corsa is well-insulated from both road and wind noise and the willingness of its compact engine to pull from surprisingly low engine speeds, in every gear, is a measure of its excellent torque spread.



While the earliest Corsas could be criticised for possessing nuggety handling characteristics, there is no such lack of fluency in the new models. The ride quality is excellent for a compact hatchback, while bump absorption, steering accuracy, ride resilience and cornering agility are all positively engaging and make every drive experience highly satisfying.



Finally, again to highlight the value of the new range, the Corsa is a techno-fest, featuring both camera and radar support systems for lane discipline, crash mitigation and various alert mechanisms, some of which are driver switchable. Adaptive speed control and state of the art infotainment and connectivity are all elements of the most comprehensively equipped Corsa ever. However, especial credit is given to the adoption of Vauxhall’s advanced Intellilux LED Matrix headlighting, normally a feature of the bigger Astra and Insignia models, now available illuminatingly on Corsa.

FCD Summary

Mainstream, large volume models can be yawn inducing but Vauxhall has invested heavily in its new Corsa, not merely to maintain affordability but mostly to turn its most popular small car into a genuine star turn that is the class of the field.

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