Vauxhall Corsa Review

• Typical used price (UK): £8,000–£14,000 (2020–2023 petrol cars; higher trims at the top)
• This car: £10,799 (KE72VYR, HPL Motors Oldham)
• Insurance group: 12P
• MPG: 55.4 (official combined)
• CO₂: 120 g/km
• Best for: Low-cost city and commuter driving; a sharp-looking, well-equipped small car on a budget

Is It a Good Choice?

For an affordable, well-equipped small car, the Vauxhall Corsa is a sensible and popular choice. This is the latest-generation Corsa, which is smarter to look at than its predecessors and comes with plenty of standard kit. It's easy to drive, cheap to run and a comfortable size for town, which is exactly what most supermini buyers are after.

This example is the GS, the sporty-styled trim, so it looks the part with 17-inch black alloys, sports styling and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. It's well-equipped too, with a digital instrument cluster, sat nav, automatic emergency braking, LED headlights and cruise control. At £10,799 with low mileage, it's a lot of modern, well-specified car for the money, and a strong value alternative to pricier rivals.

Pricing & Running Costs

The current Corsa has been on sale since 2019, so there's a wide choice of used examples, from early cars to nearly-new. Prices depend on age, mileage, trim and whether you choose petrol or the electric version.

Typical UK Used Price Ranges:

• Early cars (2020–2021): roughly £8,000–£11,000
• Later petrol cars (2022–2023): roughly £10,000–£14,000
• Higher trims and low-mileage cars: toward the top of that range
• This car (2023 GS, low mileage): £10,799

Running Costs

• Insurance group 12P — low, keeping premiums affordable
• An official 55.4mpg, with high-40s to low-50s realistic in mixed driving
• Standard flat annual rate of VED road tax (check the current DVLA figure)
• Vauxhall servicing is competitively priced, with a wide dealer and independent network
• Euro 6 means it's exempt from ULEZ and Clean Air Zone charges

Performance & Driving Experience

This car uses the 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol in its 75ps form, which is the entry engine in the range. It produces 74bhp and takes 12.4 seconds to reach 62mph, so it's geared for economy and easy town driving rather than outright pace. Around the city it's perfectly happy, pulling cleanly and keeping things simple, though you'll need to work it a little on faster roads and when fully loaded. It's worth knowing the GS trim brings the sporty looks while this engine is tuned for efficiency, so it's more about style and low running costs than speed.

On the road the Corsa is easy and undemanding, with light steering that suits town use and a settled, comfortable ride. It's not known for fun driving in the way a Ford Fiesta is for example, but it's composed, quiet and relaxing to potter around in, which is what most buyers want from a car like this.

Key Performance Figures:

• Power: 74 bhp (75 ps)
• Cylinders: 3
• Engine capacity: 1,199cc
• Gearbox: 5-speed manual
• Drive: Front-wheel drive
• 0–62 mph: 12.4 seconds

Interior & Technology

The Corsa's cabin is modern and easy to get on with, and this GS is well equipped. It has a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, a central touchscreen with sat nav, DAB radio, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (standard across the Corsa range), plus sporty front seats and a flat-bottomed leather steering wheel. Climate control, cruise control with a speed limiter, automatic lights and rain-sensing wipers add to the everyday convenience.

It isn't the plushest cabin in the class: some of the plastics feel hard, and cabin storage is a little tight, with a smallish glovebox and shallow door bins. But everything is logically laid out and simple to use, and the overall feel is smart and up to date for an affordable supermini.

Space & Practicality

The Corsa is comfortable up front, with good head and legroom even for taller drivers. The rear is fine for two adults on shorter trips, though the door openings are a little narrow. The 309-litre boot is a fair size for a supermini, a touch bigger than a Ford Fiesta's, but smaller than roomier rivals such as the SEAT Ibiza and Renault Clio, and the folded rear seats leave a step in the floor. For everyday use and a weekly shop it's perfectly practical, if not class-leading on space.

Dimensions:

• Length: 4,060 mm
• Width: 1,765 mm
• Height: 1,433 mm
• Boot: ~309 litres
• Seats: 5
• Doors: 5

MPG, Emissions & Tax

• Combined MPG: 55.4 (official)
• CO₂: 120 g/km
• Euro status: Euro 6
• Fuel type: Petrol
• Engine: 1,199cc, 3-cylinder
• Gearbox: 5-speed manual

Low running costs are a strong point. Euro 6 compliance means it's exempt from London's ULEZ and other Clean Air Zone charges, and real-world economy in the high-40s to low-50s mpg is easily achievable. Road tax is charged at the standard flat annual rate, so check the DVLA's current figure at the time of purchase.

Safety & Reliability

The Corsa comes with a strong list of standard safety kit, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, forward collision alert, a driver drowsiness system and rear parking sensors, plus a full set of airbags. In Euro NCAP testing it scored four stars, with high marks for adult and child occupant protection, missing five mainly on a marginal result for whiplash protection. That rating dates from 2019 and is now dated, so it's best compared with rivals of a similar age.

NCAP Ratings (Euro NCAP, 2019):

• Overall: 4 Stars
• Adult occupant: 84%
• Child occupant: 86%
• Note: automatic emergency braking is standard; rating dates from 2019, so compare with cars of a similar age

On reliability, the Corsa is generally a cost-effective car to own, though it's worth going in informed on two points. First, the 1.2 petrol belongs to the PureTech engine family, where earlier versions used a "wet" timing belt that could wear early; the maker has since moved to a more durable timing chain on newer cars and runs a support scheme, and because that change happened around this car's age, it's worth confirming with HPL which set-up this specific car has and that servicing is up to date. Second, some owners report occasional infotainment or electrical niggles, so it's sensible to check the screen, digital dashboard and warning lights on a test drive. Reassuringly, this is a low-mileage car with service history, and HPL adds its 128-point check and a warranty for peace of mind.

Alternatives

• Ford Fiesta — the keenest driver's car in the class, if fun matters most.
• SEAT Ibiza — roomier, with a bigger boot and a grown-up drive.
• Renault Clio — stylish, with a classy interior and efficient hybrid options.
• Volkswagen Polo — more upmarket and practical, with a quality cabin.
• Toyota Yaris — the hybrid choice, with excellent economy and strong reliability.
• Peugeot 208 — the Corsa's stylish mechanical cousin, with a more distinctive cabin.

Verdict

The Vauxhall Corsa is a smart, sensible and affordable supermini, and this GS adds sporty looks and a generous kit list for a very reasonable £10,799. It's cheap to run, easy to live with and well-equipped, which makes it an appealing everyday car for town and commuting. It isn't the roomiest or the most fun to drive in its class, and it's worth confirming the engine and service details as you would with any car. But for a well-specified, low-mileage small car at this price, it's a solid, value-packed choice.

Overall Rating: ⭐ 4.0 / 5