Vauxhall Corsa
We try latest version of one of UK’s favourites
THE curtain falls on 2019 with the launch of what’s likely to be one of the UK’s best-selling cars in 2020. It’s the Vauxhall Corsa, and while much news about the newcomer has focused on the all-electric version that’s on the way, the first superminis to arrive will stick with petrol and diesel power – albeit taken from a new source.
That’s because the latest Corsa benefits from technology borrowed from Vauxhall’s new parent company, the PSA Group. Despite a difficult birth, the supermini has undergone quite a transformation; the bonnet is longer and the roof sits 48mm lower at its tallest point. All the surfacing changes significantly, and every model gets LED lights.
One of the main benefits of the switch to the Peugeot 208’s platform – alongside the pure-electric possibilities – is the weight saving. Depending on spec, the new Corsa is up to 108kg lighter than its predecessor. The platform is 15 per cent stiffer, too, while SRi models get more bracing to aid turn-in and agility.
From behind the wheel, the difference between old and new is wholesale, but this new Corsa is not without some of the downsides we’ve found in its new Peugeot siblings. It certainly feels light on its toes, and while the chassis is not up there with the new Renault Clio or Ford Fiesta for outright fun, there’s a nimbleness to the Corsa that was sorely lacking before.
The front end is keen to tuck in, but although there’s perhaps a bit more body roll than in some sportier rival superminis, the ride isn’t any more supple.
The steering is very light, and the additional weight that’s promised by toggling to the Sport drive mode never really arrives. The fake but inoffensive engine noise pumped out of the speakers is much more noticeable in this setting, too. Overall, the controls on the whole are light; perhaps the most noticeable thing about the new Corsa isn’t that it’s better to drive than before, but easier.
The baggy, long-throw six-speed PSA gearbox isn’t the sharpest transmission, but the 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine under the bonnet is brilliant. The 99bhp figure is bang on what you’ll find elsewhere in the big-selling superminis, but the 205Nm of torque is a step beyond.
Combine this with the Corsa’s diet, and that 9.3-second 0-62mph time isn’t to be sniffed at. The engine pulls strongly and feels much faster than a Clio with the same output. Yet while the Corsa boasts an extra gear, it isn’t as refined as the five-speed Renault.
So while mechanically the new Corsa impresses, the interior doesn’t quite live up to aspirations. A seven-inch touchscreen infotainment display is familiar from the rest of the PSA Group, and still slightly flawed due to the reliance on touch-sensitive areas. But at least all the heating controls are easy to use. The design of the dash changes, but material quality doesn’t move the game on.
Ultimately, the one major factor that’ll determine how many new Corsas hit British roads next year is how much one will cost. On list price it’s more expensive than before, but generally, Vauxhall’s PCP terms are pretty flexible and the brand is offering an £850 deposit contribution from launch.
It’s not enough to thrust the Corsa into real contention as one of the best superminis to buy, however, especially when you could be in a Clio R.S. Line for much less per month. That’s just about our favourite small car on sale right now, and the fact it’s more affordable puts it even further ahead.
“The Corsa feels light on its toes, and there’s a nimbleness that was sorely lacking before”