Vauxhall Corsa 1.0T SRi VX-Line

The Vauxhall Corsa has become an inescapable part of Britain’s furniture. Last year, despite having
been on sale since 2006, the Corsa shifted more units than the entirety of Skoda, Seat and Renault’s lineups in the UK.

So it’s perhaps understandable that Vauxhall has taken an evolution not revolution approach with this, the fourth generation Corsa. While it’s described as ‘all new’, you'd be forgiven a double take on first acquaintance because not all of it’s entirely, well, new. None of the body’s pillars have budged and, apart from some design sleight of hand at the side windows’ trailing edges, the glazing and roofline are the same too.

From the A-pillar forwards is where you'll find the most obvious mechanical changes under the newly Adam ised skin, with fresh crash structure, new suspension pick up points and an updated engine and gearbox range. One engine is all new: the 1.0-litre triple cylinder turbo powering our test car, aimed at the likes of Ford’s EcoBoost range.

In the cabin the essential architecture’s also unchanged but the decorators have been hard at work. Piano black plastic panels (the trim material du jourfor seemingly all new car interiors) frame a touchscreen media system and soft touch polymers but there’s still a subtle but overriding feel of cheapness that the refurb hasn't quite shaken off .

That said, the overhaul has brought the Corsa’s kit levels bang up to date. With the touchscreen standard on all but the cheapest base models and the likes of cornering headlights, blind spot alert, hill start assist and self park making an appearance elsewhere in the brochure, there are now no obvious gaps in the Corsa equipment list. Prices have fallen too, with the new car shedding an average of around £1000 trim for trim against its predecessor. As before, the range kicks off from just under nine grand.

We drove the turbocharged 1.0-litre engine in 113bhp guise (an 89bhp version is also available) and despite a broad torque curve on paper it feels more lethargic than peppy on the road. While not an eager, buzzy bundle of revs, it is silky smooth and whisper quiet at a cruise. Quieter than the rest
of the car in fact, with more boomy road noise finding its way into the cabin than you might hope.

The SRi VX-Line specification we sampled gets a lower ride height and firmer suspension, which deals with large bumps nicely around town but gets a bit too jiggly for its own good at higher speeds, hopping and skimming its way down lumpier B-roads. Regularly sprung models are more soothing but still cope with corners well enough.

Despite commendably neutral handling, the Corsa’s still missing the eager nimbleness of the pin-sharp Ford Fiesta. In fact, it’s missing some less tangible elements of the now six year old Fiesta’s charm too. Though the new car is more a thorough overhaul than a blank sheet of paper design, this isn't a case of The Emperor’s New Clothes. With the right changes made for the right reasons it’s not a poor product, but it still lacks a certain standout spark in a sector that’s as tough as ever.