Corsa buyer’s guide
FROM £2,000 Heavy depreciation makes big-selling Mk3 supermini a bargain second-hand buy
Vauxhall supermini is now excellent value used from £5k
IT’S 23 years since the first Vauxhall Corsa reached UK showrooms, with the Nova replacement arriving in 1993. Ever since then, the car has been one of the UK’S biggest sellers, thanks to the wide model range and a dealer in every town.
Whether you want performance (the Corsa VXR will do 140mph) or economy (you can squeeze 78mpg from the 1.3 CDTI), there’s a Corsa that will fit the bill, and as a used buy the little Vauxhall makes even more sense thanks to the depreciation that goes with large sales volumes. Unsophisticated suspension means the Corsa isn’t as accomplished dynamically as some of its rivals, but it’s easy to drive, and low running costs ensure it’s also easy to own.
History
THE third-generation Corsa (known internally as the Corsa D) arrived in July 2006, in three or five-door hatchback forms. There were 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 or 1.6-litre petrol engines, along with 1.3 or 1.7-litre diesels.
The 192bhp Corsa VXR debuted in February 2007 as a three-door only; the 150bhp SRI of June 2007 featured the same turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine, in a lower state of tune. The ultra-economical 1.3 CDTI ECOFLEX of April 2009 emitted just 105g/km; this was cut to 98g/km in January 2010, then 88g/km in November 2012.
In January 2011, a facelifted Corsa brought design updates, including standard daytime running lights, plus new colours and an improved cabin. The car was replaced by an all-new Mk4 model in October 2014.
Which one?
THE 1.0-litre engine makes hard going of any journey outside town, so go for at least a 1.2; even better, stretch to a 1.4 or a 1.6-litre engine if you can. Also avoid the 74bhp 1.3 CDTI; the 89bhp version is nippier. The SRI features sports suspension and 17-inch wheels, which make the ride very firm. Entry-level Corsas (Club, Life, Expression, S) are spartan, so home in on a Design, SE or SXI.
The S features remote central locking and the Exclusiv gets a multifunction steering wheel, but you have to move up to the SE to enjoy air-con, alloys, cruise control and heated front seats.
Alternatives
MOST mainstream car makers offer a supermini of some sort. Most popular and probably the best all-rounder is the Ford Fiesta, which is plentiful, practical, cheap to run and handles brilliantly. Other top-value alternatives include the Renault Clio and Peugeot 207, while the Kia Rio and Hyundai i20 offer strong value with good reliability.
The SEAT Ibiza is a cracking small car and so is its Skoda Fabia cousin; both come with some great engines and keen prices. More expensive is the Volkswagen Polo, which is a very desirable supermini, just like the Audi A1 and MINI hatch.
Verdict
WITH the newest examples now at least two years old, the Vauxhall is better value than ever. With thousands to choose from, priced from under £2,000 to more than £12,000, the Corsa is affordable, but many of the cars are quite basic. There are plenty of well equipped Corsas to go round, though, and you shouldn’t need to stretch to buy one – if you want a practical and smart small hatch for peanuts, look no further.