Is this the best ever Corsa?

The all-new Vauxhall Corsa has arrived with a lot of expectation on its shoulders

The Vauxhall Corsa is a household name and has, throughout the years, come to represent frugal and value-for-money motoring at its most effective. Now, there’s a fifth-generation - and it’s the first all-new Vauxhall since PSA Group took ownership of the company. It means the hatchback is underpinned by a new platform, with fresh engines and technology too. But is it actually any good?

WHAT’S NEW?

As mentioned, the new Corsa uses a new platform as its basis and it’s one shared with the Peugeot 208. It means the car offers more space than before but crucially, the driver sits lower than they would’ve in the older model - so that should equate to a more involved, more sporting-led feeling from behind the wheel. There are engines fresh from the

PSA playbook too and a new multimedia system has been incorporated to keep the Corsa in line with rivals.

UNDER THE BONNET?

Our test car featured a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

It’s likely to be one of the most popular powertrain options, owing both to its relatively sprightly 0-60mph time of 9.3 seconds and, more importantly, it economy figures of up to 52.3mpg combined and 96g/km CO2 output. A single diesel unit sits in the range along with a non-turbocharged petrol unit.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

It’s not too fussy but not lacking in interesting features, either. The front end of the car gets the firm’s new family ‘face’ while the ‘floating’ contrast roof makes the Corsa look less top-heavy. Around the back is where the styling is particularly strong, we think, with cuts to the bodywork giving the impression that the car is much wider than it actually is.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

There was plenty of equipment as standard, with our £20,350 Elite Nav Premium car (£21,000 after options) getting a 10-inch infotainment system as well as electronic climate control, automatic headlights and 17-inch alloys included in the base price. That said, opting for an entrylevel trim level doesn’t mean you’ll be doing without some key creature comforts, either.

THE VERDICT

With over 2.1 million Corsas sold in the UK since launch, you can understand why Vauxhall has packed this new model with technology while improving efficiency and practicality in one fell swoop. More than anything, though, the Corsa drives more convincingly than previous generation cars have and it’s another reason why this latest version will go down so well.