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The Vauxhall Corsa is the ideal choice if you want a small car that’s reasonably spacious, practical, comfortable, efficient and good value for money. There’s a huge range of models to choose from, so there’s a Corsa to suit just about anyone’s needs. It’s no wonder, then, that the Corsa is one of the best selling cars in the UK.
Here, we’re focusing on two versions of the Corsa: the current, fifth-generation version sold in the UK since 2019 and the older, fourth-generation version sold new from 2014 to 2019. (The first Vauxhall Corsa came on to the market in 1993.)
The current Corsa has a five-door body and is available with 1.2-litre or 1.2-litre Turbo petrol engines, or a 1.5-litre diesel, which range in power from 73bhp to 128bhp. Some models have an automatic gearbox, if that’s what you prefer. The trim levels start at SE and go up to Ultimate. There’s also the electric Corsa-e, which we’ll tell you more about below. It’s worth noting that this generation of Corsa shares many components with the current Peugeot 208 including engines, gearboxes and electrical systems. The two brands are owned by the same firm – Stellantis.
There is a wider variety of the older Corsa models to choose from, including three- and five-door bodies, a greater range of engines and a slightly bewildering selection of trim levels. Petrol engines range in size from 1.0 litres to 1.6 litres and in power from 69bhp to 202bhp (the high-performance Corsa VXR is at the top end), and there are two versions of the 1.3 CDTi diesel engine, with 73bhp or 93bhp. Some models have an automatic gearbox.
The current version of the Corsa is well-equipped with standard features including an infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, air con and cruise control. ‘Nav’ models have sat nav, as the name suggests and many models have parking sensors. Top-of-the-range models even have leather upholstery and heated front seats.
Some models of the older Corsa are similarly well-equipped, though entry-point models have relatively few features included as standard. Still, all Corsas have DAB radio, a CD player and front electric windows. Many models also have sat nav, air con, cruise control, parking sensors, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
Both versions of the Corsa are very fuel efficient. In the current version, models with a petrol engine can give you an average fuel economy of 45mpg to 54mpg and diesels can give 62mpg to 70mpg, according to official figures. In the older version, petrol models can give 37mpg to 61mpg and diesels can give as much as 88mpg.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are correspondingly low which means that your annual (car tax is very affordable – just £30 or even zero in many cases with the older version. Insurance and servicing costs are very low, too.
There are many other small hatchbacks you might want to consider alongside both versions of the Corsa including the Ford Fiesta, the Citroen C3, the Renault Clio and the Skoda Fabia. The Ford feels great to drive, the Citroen gives a really comfortable ride, the Renault is very stylish and the Skoda is surprisingly spacious. Vauxhall splits the difference between them all, which makes it a very good all-rounder.
The current version of the Corsa is reasonably spacious by small hatchback standards. Four six-foot-tall adults fit comfortably enough, although those in the back might not want to be there for very long because there’s not much room to stretch out. Back-seat room is much more generous for children, though, and there are two sets of Isofix mounts for child seats. The boot is a decent size, big enough for your weekly food shopping or a weekend away. The back seat folds down if you need more space.
There’s a similar amount of passenger space in the older version of the Corsa, though access to the back seats can be tricky in three-door models. On the other hand, the boot is a bit smaller, by an amount equivalent to a couple of shoeboxes.
In 2022, the Corsa was the smallest car Vauxhall made. But there have been smaller ones in the past, including the Vauxhall Viva. There’s also the Vauxhall Adam, which is a more stylish and upmarket, but less practical, version of the Corsa. There are two larger Vauxhall hatchbacks – the Astra and the Insignia. Looking at Vauxhall’s SUVs, the Corsa is similar in size to either the or the .
Both versions of the Corsa that we’re looking at here were given a four-star safety rating out of five by safety organisation Euro NCAP. The current version has lots of standard driver-safety features including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and traffic sign recognition. Because of its age, the older version doesn’t have these more advanced features but it’s still equipped with systems like anti-lock brakes that are designed to help the driver deal with emergency situations.
The current version of the Corsa is available with electric power. The Vauxhall Corsa-e has a 50kWh battery which can give you a range of up to 209 miles, according to official figures. If you mostly drive in town, using the Eco driving mode can stretch that closer to 300 miles. A full recharge using a home wallbox charger takes around 7.5 hours. Using public rapid chargers, getting up to 80% takes 45 minutes from a 50kW charger, or 30 minutes from a 100kW charger.