Vauxhall Corsa

What is the Vauxhall Corsa?
The Vauxhall Corsa is a supermini. It is based on the same platform as the Fiat Grande Punto and the Alfa Romeo MiTo. The Corsa may lack the visual presence of either of these vehicles, but it makes up for this by offering good value and a large range. There is, in theory, a Corsa to suit everyone, from basic city car buyers to hot hatch enthusiasts. It is available in 3- and 5-door hatchback bodystyles, with a wide selection of engines. Petrol power ranges from 1.0 3-cylinder units to 1.6 turbocharged performance. 1.3 and 1.7 turbodiesel feature, with the 1.3 also available in 'green' ecoFLEX guise.

What do we think of the Vauxhall Corsa?
The Vauxhall Corsa lacks the dynamism and style of the latest entrants into the supermini market, such as the Ford Fiesta. But it counters by offering slightly more space, and plenty of value and choice. Most versions ride fairly firmly, in an effort to give the Corsa a 'sporty' feel. This works well enough at low speeds, but you may find it slightly uncomfortable over longer journeys. The Corsa is also quite a heavy little car, so the smaller engines do feel quite slow. The interior features lots of yellow illumination, and car has clearly been designed for youthful appeal.

What is the Vauxhall Corsa like for the family?
As with most superminis, access to the Vauxhall Corsa's rear seats isn't brilliant if you pick the 3-door. Families with smaller children may be better looking at 5-door models. Safety levels, however, are excellent. The Corsa has a 5-star Euro NCAP crash rating, and every version comes with at least 4 airbags. Most get 6. Air conditioning isn't even available on the very cheapest model, but relatively affordable or standard elsewhere in the line-up. 285 litres of bootspace is fair for a car of this size. The interior is generally well constructed, but does feel a bit cheap in places.

What do we think of Vauxhall Corsa as a buying proposition?
The Vauxhall Corsa offers a wide range of engine and specification choices, catering for many different kinds of car buyers. Its equipment levels represent fair value for the prices asked, and the Corsa has an excellent safety rating. Avoid the smallest petrol engines, if you can, which feel rather sluggish; the 1.3 turbodiesel is pricier but worth it for improved response and economy. However, the Corsa lacks the style and panache of many rivals, appearing rather plain and boring in comparison. If you want no nonsense motoring, it's fine, but there are better choices in this sector.