VAUXHALL CORSA HATCHBACK REVIEW

For The Corsa is refined, comfortable and good to drive. Running costs are affordable, there's warranty that could last a lifetime, and the cabin is spacious.

Against The smaller engines are short of motorway pace. Resale values are poor and the bulky windscreen pillars obscure your view.

What Car? says

3 out of 5 stars

A great-value car that’s best in the higher-spec trims. It’s also comfortable and good to drive, and has a roomy, high-quality cabin.

Reader review rating

3.506849

The Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback full review Read in full

Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Adequate pace, rather than nippy
Ride & Handling
4 out of 5 stars
The composure of a much larger car
Refinement
4 out of 5 stars
One of the refined refined 'minis
Buying & Owning
4 out of 5 stars
Keenly priced
Quality & Reliability
3 out of 5 stars
Some major question manrks
Safety & Security
4 out of 5 stars
Stability control costs extra
Behind The Wheel
4 out of 5 stars
Bulky front pillars can be annoying
Space & Practicality
4 out of 5 stars
Big enough for a family
Equipment
3 out of 5 stars
Exclusiv spec is best bet

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There are 114 Vauxhall Corsa versions available

Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.0 ecoFLEX Expression 3dr	£9,495	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.0i 12v ecoFLEX S 3dr	£11,625	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT S 3dr	£11,970	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.0i 12v ecoFLEX S 5dr	£12,050	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.0i 12v ecoFLEX S AC 3dr	£12,135	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i 16v VVT ecoFLEX S S/S 3dr	£12,235	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT S 5dr	£12,400	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT S AC 3dr	£12,480	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT Exclusiv 3dr	£12,530	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.0i 12v ecoFLEX S AC 5dr	£12,565	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT ecoFLEX S auto 3dr	£12,595	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i 16v VVT ecoFLEX S S/S 5dr	£12,665	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.0i 12v ecoFLEX Active 3dr	£12,685	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i 16v VVT ecoFLEX S AC S/S 3dr	£12,745	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i 16v e'FLEX Exclusiv S/S 3dr	£12,795	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT S AC 5dr	£12,910	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT Exclusiv 5dr	£12,960	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT ecoFLEX S auto 5dr	£13,025	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT Active 3dr	£13,030	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT Exclusiv AC 3dr	£13,045	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.4i VVT Exclusiv 3dr	£13,070	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT ecoFLEX S AC auto 3dr	£13,105	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.0i 12v ecoFLEX Active 5dr	£13,110	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT ecoFLEX Exclusiv auto 3dr	£13,155	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i 16v VVT ecoFLEX S AC S/S 5dr	£13,175	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i 16v e'FLEX Exclusiv S/S 5dr	£13,225	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i 16v e'FLEX Exclsiv AC S/S 3dr	£13,310	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT Active AC 3dr	£13,335	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.0i 12v ecoFLEX Active AC 5dr	£13,420	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT Active 5dr	£13,460	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT Exclusiv AC 5dr	£13,470	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.4i VVT Exclusiv 5dr	£13,495	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT SXi 3dr	£13,520	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT ecoFLEX S AC auto 5dr	£13,535	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX S 3dr	£13,570	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.4i VVT Exclusiv AC 3dr	£13,580	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i 16v e'FLEX Exclsiv AC S/S 5dr	£13,735	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT Active AC 5dr	£13,765	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT ecoFLEX SXi S/S 3dr	£13,785	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX S S/S 3dr	£13,835	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.4i VVT Active AC 3dr	£13,875	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT SXi 5dr	£13,945	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX S 5dr	£14,000	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.4i VVT Exclusiv AC 5dr	£14,010	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT SXi AC 3dr	£14,030	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.4i VVT SXi 3dr	£14,055	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX S AC 3dr	£14,080	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT ecoFLEX Excl AC auto 5dr	£14,095	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX Exclusiv 3dr	£14,130	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT ecoFLEX SXi S/S 5dr	£14,210	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX S S/S 5dr	£14,265	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT ecoFLEX SXi AC S/S 3dr	£14,295	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.4i VVT Active AC 5dr	£14,300	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 95 ecoFLEX S S/S 3dr	£14,340	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX S AC S/S 3dr	£14,345	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX Excl S/S 3dr	£14,395	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT SE AC 3dr	£14,435	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT SXi AC 5dr	£14,455	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.4i VVT SXi 5dr	£14,485	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX S AC 5dr	£14,510	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX Exclusiv 5dr	£14,560	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.4i VVT SXi AC 3dr	£14,565	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX Exclusi AC 3dr	£14,640	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT Limited Edition AC 3dr	£14,650	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT ecoFLEX SE AC S/S 3dr	£14,700	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT ecoFLEX SXi AC S/S 5dr	£14,720	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX Active AC 3dr	£14,770	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 95 ecoFLEX S S/S 5dr	£14,770	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX S AC S/S 5dr	£14,775	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX Excl S/S 5dr	£14,825	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 95 ecoFLEX S AC S/S 3dr	£14,850	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT SE AC 5dr	£14,865	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 95 ecoFLEX Excl S/S 3dr	£14,900	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75ecoFLEX Excl AC S/S 3dr	£14,905	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.4i VVT SE AC 3dr	£14,975	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.4i VVT SXi AC 5dr	£14,995	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX Excl AC 5dr	£15,070	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT Limited Edition AC 5dr	£15,080	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.2i VVT ecoFLEX SE AC S/S 5dr	£15,130	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX Active AC 5dr	£15,200	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX SXi 3dr	£15,220	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 95 ecoFLEX S AC S/S 5dr	£15,280	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 95 ecoFLEX Excl S/S 5dr	£15,330	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75Ecoflex Excl AC S/S 5dr	£15,335	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.4i VVT SE AC 5dr	£15,400	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 95ecoFLEX Excl AC S/S 3dr	£15,410	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 95 ecoFLEX SXi 3dr	£15,450	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX SXi S/S 3dr	£15,485	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.4i VVT SRi AC 3dr	£15,600	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX SXi 5dr	£15,645	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX SXi AC 3dr	£15,730	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 95ecoFLEX Excl AC S/S 5dr	£15,840	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 95 ecoFLEX SXi 5dr	£15,875	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX SXi S/S 5dr	£15,915	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 95 ecoFLEX SXi AC 3dr	£15,960	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX SXi AC S/S 3dr	£15,995	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.4i VVT SRi AC 5dr	£16,030	What Car? says:4 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX SE AC 3dr	£16,135	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX SXi AC 5dr	£16,160	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3CDTi 75 ecoFLEX Ltd Ed AC 3dr	£16,165	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 95 ecoFLEX SE AC 3dr	£16,365	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 95 ecoFLEX SXi AC 5dr	£16,390	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX SE AC S/S 3dr	£16,405	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX SXi AC S/S 5dr	£16,425	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX SE AC 5dr	£16,565	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3CDTi 75 ecoFLEX Ltd Edi AC 5dr	£16,590	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 95 ecoFLEX SE AC 5dr	£16,795	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.3 CDTi 75 ecoFLEX SE AC S/S 5dr	£16,830	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.7 CDTi 130 ecoFLEX SE AC 3dr	£17,020	What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.7 CDTi 130 ecoFLEX SE AC 5dr	£17,450	What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.7 CRDi 130 ecoFLEX SRi AC 3dr	£17,650	What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.7 CRDi 130 ecoFLEX SRi AC 5dr	£18,080	What Car? says:2 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.6 VXR 3dr	£18,900	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.6 VXR Nurburgring 3dr	£22,295	What Car? says:3 stars out of 5

Vauxhall Corsa Hatchback 1.4i VVT Exclusiv 5dr

The engine of choice. Exclusiv trim is a good compromise on price and equipment, but many buyers will pay extra for the (AC) model, which gets the all-important air-conditioning.

What Car? says:4 stars out of 5

Read review

Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

When it came out, the Corsa was What Car?’s Car of the Year, and even now it’s still an impressive little thing, offering great value for money.

The Ford Fiesta and VW Polo have overtaken it at the top of the class, but its blend of space, quality and refinement means it’s still up with the best.

The Corsa is quite a heavy car, however, so you’re best to steer clear of the smallest engines, which struggle once you’re out of town.

The punchy 1.3 diesels suit the car well, but they’re expensive to buy, so we think the best balance overall is the 1.4-litre petrol engine. It gives decent performance at the same time as returning more than 51mpg on average.

Similarly, you’re best off avoiding the most basic trims, which look rather spartan. Instead, go for the mid-range Exclusiv with air-con, which supplies the best balance of kit and cost.