Car Star of the month: Vauxhall Corsa

The Vauxhall Corsa was the first ever car I drove. Back in 1998, when I was just 15, I enrolled on an off-road driving course so I could get behind the wheel for the first time, two years ahead of my friends. And by off-road course, I don’t mean the type with Land Rovers and mud- but simply a bus depot used by a driving school to give youngsters a safe first try at driving, ahead of their 17^th birthday.

Even back then, with zero experience, I was capable of deducing that the Corsa was a lack-lustre model, which at the time I compared to driving a cardboard box, even after taking it across the skidpan of the depot at what felt like breakneck speed (but was probably only 30mph) and pulling my first side-ways for the camera skid (not entirely on-purpose, but nonetheless, a satisfying experience).

Thankfully the Corsa of today has come along way from the box of 1998, I longed to outgrow. Now in its third generation the Corsa, is now not only less box-like to look at, but more refined and dynamic in its driving experience too.

Three-point turn over time

Still a firm favourite of driving schools, I can positively envy today’s youngsters who get to drive the updated and sleek new model. Since its 2007 facelift, Vauxhall has continued to improve the Corsa with a series of enhancements, making me completely change my opinion of this car. One of the latest revisions saw the entire Corsa range, minus the VXR model, achieve above 50mpg, leading to its manufacturer to claim that in 2010, it was set to sell more sub-125g/km CO2 models than any other car maker. As one of the top selling cars of the year so far, there are few who will dispute this claim.

As a popular car it might scarcely need the spotlight of the Car Star feature, but it is a car that is frequently overlooked despite being so commonplace, it is just so pedestrian in its presence on our roads. Being popular with new drivers and single mums, it’s often seen as a cheap runaround; but let me assure you it is a lot more than that.

For starters while the starting price of the Corsa is identical to the Ford Fiesta base price at £9,995, I would recommend new drivers plum for the Corsa everytime, partly because there is a good chance they are already familiar with the Corsa but also because the visibility inside the Corsa all round is a whole world better than that of the Fiesta. The Fiesta might be the set to become the number one selling car of the year again, but it is let down by its odd slanting and broad A-pillars, small rear and side windows, low driving position and long sloping profile.

View of the road ahead

The Corsa meanwhile, presents a wider view of the world from within the cabin, without compromising on its stylish and non-box like profile. Its A-pillars are also a little broad but sadly it is an all-too common disease of today’s cars. An elevated driving position and shorter nose nonetheless means it is easier for you to see any road hazards around you and have a better perspective of your own position on the road.

Compared to other rivals the Corsa stacks up well too, for example the range starts at lower price than the Yaris and while similarly priced to the Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo, it is prettier than either.

Even better, the Corsa’s range starts with the Expression 1.0i Ecoflex which achieves 56.4 mpg combined and emits just 117g/km of CO2, meaning that it has low running costs as well as a competitive price-tag. Opt for the 1.3 CDTi 95PS, priced from £13,690 starting on the S-level trim, and it achieves a staggering 78.5mpg and emits just 94g/km of CO2, making it VED free. Meanwhile the base model Fiesta, the Studio 1.25 achieves a less impressive 51.4 mpg and emits 127g/km of CO2.

For a small car, the Corsa has the road holding ability of a much bigger car and the engines are refined and quite. It is also big enough in the rear seats to sit the kids, making it an ideal family solution.

If that is not enough to persuade you that the Corsa is a great buy then maybe one of the owners of one of the 65,000+ Corsa that have sold in the UK since the start of the year, will succeed where I fail. And it is this success in the sales charts, coupled with its genuinely now respectable driving dynamics that make it this month’s Car Star.

Author: Faye Sunderland, November 1st, 2010
Filed under: Car Star, Vauxhall | No Comments »