Over the years, the Vauxhall Corsa has been a solid choice for those after a first car or a simple city run around. A great all-rounder, the Corsa offers immense value with a good list of features. Although it lacks the premium feel and driving experience of some rivals, it continues to be an easy car to drive, and it certainly does this all without hurting you wallet.
Tony says when buying used “I’d start by checking the clutch and gearbox – especially on manual Corsa models. The 1.4 petrol engine is generally solid, but heavy urban use can wear the transmission components prematurely, especially the gear linkages. I’d also inspect the suspension for knocks or creaks, particularly from the front – worn bushes and drop links are common but inexpensive to fix. Water ingress around the rear light clusters and boot seals is worth checking too. Interior plastics can start to feel a bit flimsy over time, so look out for loose trim or rattles as well”.
Tony brought a wealth of frontline experience to the AA Press Office, having spent many years as a dedicated AA patrol. His time on the road included the honour of being named AA Patrol of the Year.
Read bioFor old Corsa models, you should keep an eye on the coolant level regularly, as we have seen small leaks from the radiator and hoses with age. If fitted, the Intelli Link infotainment can suffer from lag or freezing - but this is an easy fix with a software update. Parking sensors are usually dependable, but reverse cameras can suffer from condensation or poor image quality over time.
Coil packs and spark plugs may also need replacing earlier than expected, especially if the car’s been run on lower-grade fuel. Check for any engine misfires or hiccups when pulling away. With the Corsa, suspension components like drop links and anti-roll bar bushes tend to wear out around the 50,000-mile mark. To inspect this, do a thorough test drive and listen for any creaks or knocks from the front/rear suspension area.
• 1st Service (Oil & Inspection): 10,000 miles or 12 months
• 2nd Service: 20,000 miles or 24 months
• Brake Fluid Change: Every 2 years
• Air Filter & Spark Plugs: Every 30,000–40,000 miles
• Coolant Flush: Every 5 years
Make sure you stick to regular oil changes – every 10,000 miles or annually and use decent fuel to keep the engine clean and avoid premature spark plug wear. Other than this, front tyres tend to wear quickly on Corsa’s due to their light steering and city use – budget for replacements every 20,000–30,000 miles. Otherwise, running costs are low and predictable.
Corsa’s are built to be affordable and practical, and with regular servicing they’ll easily see past 100,000 miles. That said, they do tend to show their age a bit earlier than rivals in terms of interior wear and minor electrical niggles.
“Few cars are as well known in the UK as the Vauxhall Corsa, but while this model may have created a name for itself as a cheap and cheerful option, in recent times it has evolved into something with a more upmarket feeling than before. An electric version gives the Corsa a whole new appeal, too”
Jack is an experienced motoring journalist who has been covering the latest new-car releases for the last 10 years.
Read bioPrices for the Vauxhall Corsa have always aimed to make this car appealing to those who need a good-value option. When shopping new, prices start at £20,225 for an entry-level petrol-powered model, rising to £30,570 for a top-spec car with a petrol engine.
Switch to the Corsa Electric and things start at £26,005 after the electric car grant has been applied, increasing to £32,945 for a range-topping Ultimate model. However, there are some savings to be had in the used market. On AA Cars, you can find a very recent Corsa Electric in range-topping Ultimate spec for £26,499, or an Ultimate-grade petrol version for £22,999 with low mileage.
There’s a good range of engines available with the Corsa. The bulk of the petrol-powered line-up is focused around a 1.2-litre turbocharged unit that comes with or without hybrid assistance. You can get it with a manual or automatic ‘e-DCT’ gearbox, with the latter being a better option for long-distance drivers or those who often find themselves crawling through traffic.
You’ve also got the Corsa Electric. It’s available with either 50 or 51kWh battery packs, delivering respective ranges of 221 and 266 miles. Thanks to a rapid charge speed of 100kW, you could take the Corsa from 10 to 80% charge in around 30 minutes, though you’re looking at around seven and a half hours for a complete charge via a standard 7kW home charger.
The Vauxhall Corsa delivers quite a lot of excitement for those behind the wheel. It manages its size and weight well, which means you’ve got the confidence to push through the bends. The steering is relatively light, but this helps to make it feel nippy and agile when you’re heading through town.
The 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine is a little loud when you’re accelerating hard but, in most instances, it isn’t too obtrusive. The electric version, meanwhile, gives the Corsa a whole other dimension. It brings an impressive amount of zip to the acceleration but also makes the Corsa feel quieter and more relaxing than the standard petrol model.
Though cars on bigger wheels can feel a little firm at times, most Corsa models have a comfortable setup which takes the worst out of lumps and bumps in the road. Good visibility helps when you’re driving on the motorway or in more urban environments, while both wind and road noise aren’t too pronounced either.
Some might find the steering of the Corsa a touch light to begin with, but you soon get used to it. Plus, because of this car’s compact dimensions, it’s really simple to park and makes navigating a multi storey carpark a breeze.
The interior of the Corsa has certainly been smartened up over recent years. It now has more soft-touch materials than before, helping to make it feel like a classier place to be overall. All versions get comfort-focused features like air conditioning as standard, and you’ve got a good number of silver-coloured elements which help to brighten up the interior. Physical controls for the heating and ventilation are intuitive to use when you’re on the move, while a large rotary knob for the volume is handy too.
The seats themselves are relatively comfortable and well-padded, though they’re not quite as well-finished as those in something like an Audi A1, for instance. That said, the steering wheel is a nice shape and gets multifunction controls for various functions.
Though the Corsa is quite a compact vehicle, it still offers a decent level of space and practicality. Naturally, a car of this size isn’t going to bring the highest amount of rear-seat headroom, but it’s not all that bad and you can, at least, comfortably get your feet under the seat in front of you. There are pockets and storage points dotted throughout the cabin, too, to help keep the car as tidy as can be.
In terms of boot space, you’ve got up to 309 litres to play with, or 1,118 litres with the rear seats folded flat. The Corsa Electric, meanwhile, suffers a slight penalty in this area due to the location of the batteries and can only bring 267 litres as a result, or 1,081 litres with the back seats lowered.
You’ve got plenty of features to explore with the Corsa. All cars get a 10-inch colour touchscreen as standard, alongside smartphone mirroring systems Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition, there’s a 3.5-inch digital instrument cluster ahead of the driver that can help relay key information through clear graphics and easy-to-change menus.
You’ll also find plenty of features designed to make everyday driving a bit easier, such as rain-sensitive windscreen wipers, automatic lights and electric front and rear windows. It’s a comprehensive amount of equipment on what is a relatively budget-focused car.
Volkswagen currently offers five main trim options for the standard Corsa: Life (base), Match, Style, R-Line, and the Black Edition. The PHEV version is available as the GTE. The R-Line is the one to get if you want your Corsa loaded with all the toys, plus the styling upgrades.
As for colour options, there are five metallic choices: Anemone Blue Metallic, Crystal Ice Blue Metallic, Dolphin Grey Metallic, Grenadilla Black Metallic, and Oyster Silver Metallic. There are also two premium options: Kings Red Premium Metallic and Oryx White Premium Mother-of-Pearl. In addition, there are three solid paint options and nine two-tone paint options.
Vauxhall has simplified its range of specifications over the years to make it easier to decide between them. Things kick off with Design, which includes the 10-inch infotainment system, 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels and a variety of gloss black styling elements. New Yes trim, meanwhile, brings a seven-inch digital instrument cluster, heated steering wheels and black-painted 16-inch alloy wheels. You’ll also get chrome badges at front and rear for a classier look.
Sporty GS introduces a more dynamic look with 17-inch alloy wheels and a range of black elements, while inside there are alloy-effect sports pedals on automatic models. A black roof also helps to contrast the primary colour of the body, too. Finally, you’ve got Ultimate grade at the top of the range. This gets the highest level of standard equipment, including massage chairs up front, rear USB chargers and 17-inch diamond-cut gloss black alloy wheels. Electric versions get slightly different grey-insert wheels to help differentiate them, too.
All models within the Corsa range are clean-running and efficient. In fact, even standard non-hybrid 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol models should return up to 53.3mpg, while Vauxhall claims that you could get up to 62.8mpg from hybrid models equipped with the automatic gearbox. Emissions range between 118 and 103g/km CO2, so nothing within the Corsa range is that heavily emitting.
Of course, the electric version is the cleanest of the lot emissions-wise and if you’re able to access cheap home charging it’ll be the most cost-effective to run, too.
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Overall rating 4/5
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