Ready when you are
Less range, less convenience – and yet the all-electric Corsa can still be a winner for some people.
Electric cars either work for you very well indeed or not at all. There’s rarely any middle ground. Owners need to have a well-defined daily commute that’s aligned with the car’s range; a combustion car to fall back on for longer trips or a deep-seated love of route planning and charging logistics; and unhindered access to their own recharging point, ideally at home or at work.
And then there are the hardto-swallow cost issues. You’ll need to be happy to pay more for less – running costs may well be lower, but you’ll be paying steeper monthly lease costs over an equivalent vehicle for less range and less convenience. That’s a long list of concessions to make to drive a car with a green stripe on its registration plates. But if you do make those concessions and you do come close to the ideal criteria, then electric cars are a revelation. Like strawberries in balsamic vinegar and black pepper, one taste means instant conversion. Over six months and 4659 miles the Corsa-e has deeply impressed on all key levels. Driven in Normal or Eco mode, it delivers a full-charge range of around 190 miles – more than enough for our regular combination of school runs, work commutes, grocery shopping, and visiting family and friends. We have a domestic Chargemaster charger at home, and it quickly became second nature to plug in after every trip, to ensure maximum range.
The combination of a low-slung driver’s seat, accurate steering, powerful brakes and Sport mode’s 134bhp and 192lb ft makes for engaging dynamics, while the stiffened chassis and floor-mounted H-shaped battery pack result in a very low centre of gravity, which effectively camouflages the Corsa’s portly 1530kg. It also floated across our craggy roads with far more finesse and composure than expected for a city runabout. The dark and compact cabin was, we found, accommodating enough for most trips, the ergonomics and perceived build quality were excellent, but we’re still scratching our heads over the weird combination of standard equipment that had costly IntelliLux matrix LED lights sitting alongside a single USB port.
Vauxhall’s goal is to produce an electrified version of every model by 2024. This is a great start.
Count the cost
Cost new £31,810 Part exchange £21,450 Cost per mile 3.0p Cost per mile including depreciation £1.84
Running costs may well be lower, but you’ll be paying steeper monthly lease costs