It seems inconceivable to us but we first drove the latest Vauxhall Corsa in late 2019 just before Covid. Offered with purely petrol or electric drivetrains un 2024 Vauxhall finally added hybrid version which made its way to CC&V Towers recently.
What is it ?
Lifted from other Stellantis model’s the engine consists of a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that has an integrated electric motor. It’s smooth, quiet & very efficient with ourselves averaging nearly 60mpg in our week behind the wheel.
Engine options
Two are being offered. Firstly a 99bhp with 205Nm version & a larger more powerful 134bhp with 230Nm. Both come with the same e-motor that delivers an extra 28bhp & 55Nm of torque.
Battery & regeneration
The 0.9kWh battery is small but actually delivers decent electric support particularly at lower speeds. And the cars regeneration kicks in every time you time you lift off the accelerator pedal. There’s only one setting though which does miss a trick.
Inside & out
Whilst there have been some exterior tweaks; a new grille, bonnet, headlights & diffusers plus & an update of the infotainment system, touchscreen & dashboard layout, not a lot has altered since 2019. The automatic handbrake, gear lever etc.. have been lifted from pretty much all other Stellantis small cars & it all looks okay & works just fine & as it’s still selling really well, why make changes.
Cabin practicality
It’s a small car & if you sit in the back there’s not a lot of room at all. Up front driver & passengers sit quite low but it’s comfortable & easy to see out of. Plenty of seat & steering wheel adjustments help & I found the drivers seat amazingly comfortable. The black headliner that featured on our test carslooks lovely, but can make the Corsa on a gloomy Winter’s day seem little claustrophobic, especially in the rear.
Boot space
The Corsa’s boot offers a decent amount of space with 309 litres available, which increases to 1081 litres with the rear seats folded.
Driving
In town it’s easy to drive with plenty of torque & a really quiet engine. We enjoyed it most ion the motorway where at 70mph it shines. The ride is supple, the steering light & the controls all fall easily to hand. A 400 mile trip of which 350 was motorway was surprisingly enjoyable & again the seats amazed me by keeping my bad back ache at bay, shaming many more expensive cars I’ve driven recently.
The hybrid system is seamless which accounts for the fun & lack of noise in town. The gear changes feel slick & if you accelerate the engines not straining too much as your speed increases. Handlings good as well with tight corners offering up some fun. High speed refinement is very good for a small car.
Competition
Vauxhall have come rather late to the hybrid party so model such a sigh Clio E-Tech, MG3 & T Toyota Yaris offer a similar driving experience but f0r a lower outlay
Pros
Verdict