Opel Corsa wins title ‘Best Buy Car of Europe in 2020’

THE new Opel Corsa ticks all the boxes: In September, the sixth generation Corsa celebrated its world premiere at the IAA Motor Show in Frankfurt – it was also the world debut of the battery-electric Corsa-e. Now the best-selling small car has won the prestigious title of ‘Best Buy Car of Europe in 2020’.

The AUTOBEST jury, made up of international journalists from 31 countries, chose the new Corsa as the winner and therefore the car offering the most value for money.

The experts confirmed this during conclusive test drives at the final in Istanbul. And with the Corsa-e, Opel offers an electric small car for everyone, which combines the practical Corsa qualities with CO2-free operation and an electric range of up to 337 kilometres.

At the same time, the award for the new Corsa completes an AUTOBEST hat- trick: no other model has been named ‘Best Buy Car of Europe’ in three successive generations.

‘We are very happy to receive this award,’ said Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller.

‘The verdict of the independent specialist journalists shows that with the Opel Corsa we have created a future-oriented car for everyone. A car that is state-of-the-art, efficient, and well-equipped, with strong driving dynamics. At prices you can afford. At the same time, the Corsa, as a three-time AUTOBEST winner, shows that with each new generation of vehicles we are delivering on our promise to make top technologies available to a wide range of buyers.’

Thanks to the multi-energy platform, the new Corsa addresses everybody in Europe by offering both ICE and EV versions. The new Corsa is the first to democratise the future of electric motoring, making people in Europe embrace the future confidently as the next normality,” said Dan Vardie, AUTOBEST Founder & Chairman.

In 2007 and 2015, Corsa generations four and five took overall victory; last year the Opel Combo Life received the AUTOBEST award. Now the new Corsa and Corsa-e are continuing the tradition. The recipe for success: the new Opel Corsa combines high everyday benefits with top technologies, economy, an exciting design plus lots of fun behind the wheel.

Every Corsa variant is equipped with numerous state-of-the-art assistance systems. These include forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection as well as intelligent speed control, lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition.

More modern, dynamic and efficient than ever before, the sixth generation of the Opel Corsa comes with particularly economical petrol and diesel engines featuring power outputs ranging from 55kW (75hp) to 96kW (130hp); fuel consumption: urban 5.4-3.7 l/100 km, extra-urban 4.1-2.9 l/100 km, combined 4.6-3.2 l/100 km, 105-85 g/km CO2; combined: 6.4-4.0 l/100 km, 144-104 g/km CO2).

The new model is also available for the first time as a purely battery-electric Corsa-e with a 50kWh battery pack, 100kW (136hp) output and a range of up to 337 kilometres. Moderate fuel consumption and an engaging drive are characteristic of all powertrain options and the emission values reach all the way to zero when driving the Corsa-e.

The sporty overall impression is matched by the reduced weight – the lightest Corsa even undercuts the thousand kilo mark – and the low seating position of the driver. Active and passive safety are also at a high level, and Opel engineers have finely tuned the chassis and the steering. In the new Corsa, Opel offers technologies and assistance systems that customers otherwise only know from higher vehicle classes. A real highlight is the adaptive, glare-free IntelliLux LED matrix light, which Opel is making widely available for the first time in the mainstream small car segment. Other Corsa innovations include sensor-controlled Flank Guard, 180-degree panoramic rear view camera and automatic parking assistant, as well as systems such as Forward Collision Alert with Automatic Emergency Braking and pedestrian detection, intelligent cruise control and Lane Keep Assist.

Corsa drivers and passengers are well connected and entertained with the new range of infotainment systems comprising Multimedia Radio, Multimedia Navi with 7.0-inch colour touchscreen and the top-of-the-line Multimedia Navi Pro with 10.0-inch colour touchscreen, up to the fully digitised cockpit in the Corsa-e. In addition, the Corsa also offers the optional new ‘OpelConnect’ service with live navigation, a direct link to breakdown assistance, emergency call and many other functions.ogether with the Opel Grandland X plug-in hybrid, the Corsa-e marked the starting signal for the Opel electrification-offensive this year.

All Opel models will be electrified by 2024 – customers can then choose an ‘e’ version of each model. The Vivaro-e van will launch in the coming year. Electrified versions of the Opel Combo Life, Combo Cargo and Zafira Life will then arrive in 2021.