BUT OF CORSA (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_vauxhallcorsa_2024

By Jonathan Crouch

With a little Gallic assistance, Vauxhall has rejuvenated its Corsa supermini to make sure it stays relevant to buyers in this crowded market. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 71

Time, perhaps, to change the way you feel about Vauxhall's Corsa. This fifth generation version has been a huge sales success for the brand, frequently the UK's best selling car. But it needed a bit more showroom appeal, hence the importance of this mid-term update, which brings the front end look into line with the brand's other models and introduces some new electrified drivetrain tech for both combustion and EV variants.

Backgroundword count: 122

The 'F' generation of Vauxhall's Corsa, introduced in 2019, has proved to be a bit of a surprise hit for the Stellantis Group in the UK, frequently the nation's best seller. Which must be gratifying for that parent conglomerate because the costs of developing it weren't too huge, pretty much all the engineering shared with the current Peugeot 208 (as well as with the DS 3), both those French models sharing this Vauxhall's CMP platform. Here, we're looking at the facelifted version of this current Corsa (actually the sixth generation Corsa for Opel but the fifth generation for Vauxhall). This update arrived in mid-2023 and aims to keep this supermini at the head of the sales charts. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experienceword count: 307

There are some key drivetrain changes with this revised model. For the first time, the Corsa gains mild hybrid tech, a 48V system offered with a new generation 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol unit developing either 100PS or 136PS and coupled with a dual-clutch 6-speed electrified auto gearbox that incorporates an electric motor. Most mainstream Corsas though, will still be sold with the old un-electrified 1.2-litre petrol unit from the earlier version of this fifth generation design, offering 75PS, 100PS or 130PS. The other drivetrain option is the full-EV Corsa Electric derivative. That variant's original 50kWh battery and 136PS electric motor combination continues, offering 221 miles of range. But EV Corsa customers can also now choose a more sophisticated 51kWh battery paired with a more powerful 156PS motor, this set-up boosting EV range to 248 miles. Expect moderately rapid performance, with 62mph dispatched in under 9 seconds. Bear in mind that the Corsa Electric is around 350kgs heavier than the ordinary version. Otherwise, things are as before with this MK5 Corsa's drive dynamics. These haven't been tuned specifically to British roads - as the brand has very effectively done with previous generation Corsa models, but that wasn't possible this time round. Something evidenced, for example, by the way the slightly over-light steering hasn't been tweaked for the twistier, more challenging tarmac common in our market - as previously, it might usually have been. The ride quality can't match the kind of thing you get in a rival Volkswagen Polo - few superminis can do that - and the fairly basic torsion beam rear suspension that all small cars feature means you'll certainly feel speed humps and crumbling pot holes. Overall though, what's served up in this Corsa is a firm but supple standard of damping that works as well on the open road as it does around town.

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