- Corsa model: Petrol and Electric
- Manual gearbox delight
- Electric model pricey
The Corsa hatchback is the best-selling supermini in the United Kingdom, and I’ve been piloting the most recent model, which is 40 years old and runs on petrol and electric power.
Remarkably, spanning more than five generations (if the Nova’s 1982 introduction in the UK is considered), it has occupied a third of the Vauxhall brand’s 120th anniversary this year.
Since its introduction in 2019, Bosses has given the most popular compact car in the country a mid-life facelift, albeit one that is pretty comprehensive and entails significant modifications.
However, do these refinements and enhancements maintain its position as the highest-rated five-seat compact hatchback among Britons? And does the Corsa Electric justify its exorbitant price premium compared to the base petrol model?
Simplified Lineup and Technological Advances
The mid-cycle refresh simplified the Corsa lineup to three specification levels—Design, GS, and Ultimate—along with three petrol engines and two electric motors for selection.
It also features a redesigned alloy wheel design, a completely digital cockpit, and the elimination of chrome.
The touchscreen infotainment system’s display area has been expanded to 10 inches, and its underlying technology has also been updated.
How is the gasoline-powered Corsa to operate?
An unexpectedly delightful experience was assuming control of the agile new Corsa GS 1.2-liter Turbo petrol engine.
For your information, Vauxhall has discontinued selling the Corsa equipped with a diesel engine, so UK purchasers no longer have that option.
Having extensively operated numerous cutting-edge, contemporary, high-tech vehicles featuring intuitive ‘start’ buttons for activating electric motors and steering wheel paddles for shifting gears, I found it momentary to readjust to controls that revert to a state of convention.
Because my vehicle had…a key. An actual key. Insert it into the dashboard’s ignition switch and rotate to initiate the vehicle. How delightful! And an assuage of the fears of prospective purchasers terrified of the ongoing keyless vehicle crime surge!
Then, I placed my foot on the clutch to engage the first gear on the manual stick shift. The delight of six speeds transported me to the fourth generation of the Corsa and brought a genuine grin to my face.
Presently, I am cognizant that numerous individuals continue to operate aging or entry-level vehicles, for whom this is a widespread occurrence daily.
Certainly, savor it as I did because that is not the current trajectory.
New automobiles equipped with a manual gearbox are rare, particularly as the trend toward electric vehicles gains momentum.
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Consequently, shifting gears may soon become obsolete. In fact, according to the most recent DVSA statistics, one in every five driving exams now pertains to an automatic-only license, up from one in every twenty tests a decade ago.
Driving Dynamics and Pricing Details
The AA recently discovered that inquiries for automobiles with automatic transmissions have increased from 9.9% in 2014 to 18.6% in 2018. This trend is more comprehensive than for novice drivers.
It was sufficient notice that it took me a few seconds to regain my bearings.
Yet, what incredible tactile joy! It is a truly engaging experience with the vehicle, unlike operating an automatic gearbox or even a paddle shifter.
The price of the fuel-efficient 100 horsepower three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine powering the mid-spec GS trim on 17-inch wheels was £23,605, which included £700 for the attractive Crimson Red premium two-tone metallic paint with
It has a maximum speed of 120mph, far more than you could ever require, and accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in a respectable 9.9 seconds. Driving it is a pleasure, as it is uncomplicated and relatively raw.
Comparatively low CO2 emissions range from 114 to 117 g/km, and the fuel economy can save you up to 55.4 mpg.
An 8-speed automatic gearbox is also offered for an additional charge, bringing the retail price to £25,606 (which, given how discount-happy Vauxhall dealers are, is hardly ever paid).
The petrol lineup ranges from £28,385 for the feature-rich 130 horsepower 1.2-liter turbo automatic to £19,625 for the 75 horsepower 1.2-liter Corsa.
Vauxhall boasts that a hybrid model will be available in time for the new year.
Then, is the Corsa Electric equally as impressive?
Additionally, Vauxhall offered me a variety of battery-only Corsa’s to test drive.
I mounted the highest-end Ultimate long-range trim level of the zero-emission, 156-horsepower (115 kWh) Corsa Electric.
There is an immediate and substantial increase in performance due to the increased electricity.
It accelerated swiftly and silently from 0 to 62 mph in an astounding 8.2 seconds, which felt considerably quicker than the 1.7 seconds it took to reach 1.2 mph on the fuel I had been driving before it.
The maximum pace permitted [on the German Autobahn, for example] is 93 mph.
However, the most crucial performance statistic is the vehicle’s advertised range of 246 miles. This ought to be suitable for long-distance excursions, local drives, and urban commuting, the latter two scenarios involving the Corsa that its British owners operate the most frequently.
Using a 100kW DC rapid charger fully charges in thirty minutes. However, a complete charge on a domestic 11kW AC charger will take 5 and 15 minutes, while a 7kW charger will require 7 and 30 minutes.
Although it exhibits superior performance and fuel economy compared to the petrol model, this advantage is not without consequence.
Furthermore, a large one!
The vehicle I evaluated cost a substantial £39,285, including £700 for metallic paint. Ouch! That is nearly as much as the base price of a BMW 3 Series saloon (the 320i petrol begins at £40,205).
Vauxhall asserts that this can be alleviated through their competitive PCP (personal contract purchase) financing offers and that the cost reductions achieved by switching to electric vehicles can compensate for the additional purchase price.
Additionally, dealers are slashing the price of new EVs by thousands of pounds, with Stellantis, the parent company of Vauxhall, offering the most significant discounts. This implies that paying the range-topping near-£40,000 RRP for a Corsa battery is improbable.
The least expensive electric model in the lineup begins at £32,445 for the 136 horsepower model, which is still a considerable amount of money for a compact vehicle.
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