Supermini gets back on course

Despite a difficult gestation, the latest version of Vauxhall’s best seller brings major improvements, writes Matt Allan

The fifth-generation Vauxhall Corsa has had a “difficult” time on its way to the showrooms.

Initially designed under GM ownership, when Vauxhall was sold to Groupe PSA those plans were binned and the development team told to start again, with a turnaround of less than two years.

That they managed it at all is impressive. That the car isn’t a disaster is even more so.

Despite its difficult gestation, this all-new Corsa is far better than the model it replaces.

Despite being fractionally narrower than the old car it looks wider and squatter thanks to a lower roofline, longer body and design elements intended to trick the eye. It’s quite a departure and overall looks assertive but from certain angles it is a touch ungainly.

Inside, a coloured stripe across the dashboard is intended to enhance the feeling of width. It’s an effective trick and while it’s still not as roomy as a Renault Clio the Corsa feels more spacious and comfortable than before. Most of the switches are from the Vauxhall parts bin - fine to touch but dull to look at - but the media system is new. Boot space is 309l and rear room is on a par with the Ford Fiesta but lags behind the Clio.

Built on a new platform, the latest Corsa is lighter but stronger than before and Vauxhall says it has been set up to combine comfort with dynamism.

The steering is light and quick but not over-endowed with feel and while it’s a fairly chuckable little thing the Corsa can’t compete dynamically with the Fiesta.

The ride is pretty absorbent but can still be jarring over very bad surfaces - better than a Fiesta but not as good as a Clio.

For now the big selling engine is likely to be the 99bhp turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol. It feels revvy and lively and helps give the Corsa a hint of the “sportiness” that everyone loves. There’s also a nonturbo version with just 74bhp and a horribly weedy feeling 101bhp diesel.

The Corsa is priced from £15,500 for the 74bhp SE up to an eye-watering £25,990 for the Ultimate Nav.

All cars get LED headlights, alloys, colour touchscreen with smartphone

mirroring, air conditioning, lane keep assist and autonomous emergency braking as standard. Vauxhall is also trumpeting the “big car” tech on the new Corsa, including brilliant adaptive matrix

LED headlights and adaptive cruise control.

The ludicrously priced Ultimate Nav gets pretty much everything as standard but the SRI feels like the sweet spot. The bright stripes of colour on the sports seats and dash lift it above the subdued higher-spec models and it still comes with an eight-inch media system with Android Auto/Apple Car Play, cruise, air con and the two-tone exterior finish.

The new Corsa is a vastly better car than the one it replaces but that’s not to say it leaps to the head of the class. In terms of space, performance and comfort it can now compete with its key rivals but doesn’t stand clearly above any of them. Its strongest suit is the availability of some advanced technology but these will push the price up significantly.