Used Vauxhall Corsa 2006 - 2014 review

What's the used Vauxhall Corsa like?

We’ve long been fans of the Vauxhall Corsa, going so far as to name it Car of the Year in 2007. This neat looking small hatchback makes even more sense as a used buy, because it suffers from heavy depreciation, so is cheaper than many rivals.

When it was first introduced we were particularly impressed by the interior fit and finish, space and ride comfort. That remains true as a used purchase, with the Corsa still feeling very much a modern car in these respects.

Overview

The Vauxhall Corsa was good enough to scoop the What Car? Car of the Year Award when new, and it makes a great used buy.

Pros

• Classy and spacious interior
• Comfortable ride
• Good build quality

Cons

• Smaller petrol engines feel underpowered
• You won’t stand out from the crowd

Used cars available now

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Vauxhall Corsa

1.2 16V SE Euro 5 3dr

£495

Vauxhall CORSA

1.4i ecoFLEX Sting Euro 6 3dr

£649

Vauxhall Corsa

1.2i 16v Design 5dr (a/c)

£695

Vauxhall Corsa

1.2i 16v Life 3dr

£699

Vauxhall Corsa

1.2i 16v SXi 5dr

£700

Vauxhall Corsa

1.2i ecoFLEX 16V S Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

£795

Vauxhall Corsa

1.4i 16v Design 5dr (a/c)

£795

Vauxhall Corsa

1.2i 16v Design 5dr (a/c)

£795

Vauxhall CORSA

1.2i ecoFLEX 16V SXi Euro 5 (s/s) 3dr (A/C)

£795

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Given its huge sales, there are loads to choose from. Plus, Vauxhall offered a huge number of variants: everything from a 59bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine to a lap time-chasing VXR model with a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine and 202bhp in its most potent form.

http://www.whatcar.com/classifieds/used-cars/Vauxhall/Corsa)**

Ownership cost

What used Vauxhall Corsa will I get for my budget?

The Corsa is old enough for the earliest examples to have crept under the £1500 mark, so there’s plenty out there, regardless of your budget.

Closer to £2000 sees even greater choice, where you can afford to be picky and look for lower mileage, fewer owner examples.

The higher trim levels don’t attract too much of a premium, and there’s no real difference in prices between three and five-door models (the three-door actually has a bigger rear seat, even if access to it isn’t as good as in the five-door).

The cheapest VXRs are currently around £4,000, which is not much money for a lot of fun.

Our recommendations

Which used Vauxhall Corsa should I buy?

If you're buying the car as an urban runaround, then one of the smaller petrol engines will suffice, although the 1.0 and 1.2-litre units do struggle beyond about 50mph.

The 1.4-litre unit is a better choice if you sometimes venture on to the motorway, while the 1.6-litre turbo is available in both range-topping VXR form and with 148bhp in the lively SRi model.

The 1.3-litre diesel is also worth considering, combining decent performance with excellent fuel economy. It was offered in 74bhp and 89bhp outputs, with the latter feeling usefully stronger. The extra 15bhp doesn’t dent economy too much, either, with both averaging more than 60mpg in official tests.

The 1.3-litre diesel is good enough for you not to bother with the larger 1.7-litre diesel, which doesn't achieve 60mpg.

Trim levels are extensive; we’d choose from Design up, although all Corsas come with central locking and a CD player (remember those?). Design has 16in alloy wheels, electric front windows, air conditioning, curtain airbags and, crucially if it’s a family buy, Isofix child seat mounts.

Our favourite used Vauxhall Corsa: 1.4 Design

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Vauxhall Corsa?

The Vauxhall’s chief rival has long been the Ford Fiesta, so if you’re looking at the Corsa then it’s worth considering the Ford, too. It’s more enjoyable to drive, but the Corsa feels classier inside.

There’s a slew of Japanese rivals, including the Mazda 2 and Toyota Yaris, while the Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia and VW Polo are also worth considering. However, we’d still be tempted by the value and all-round ability of the Corsa.

http://www.whatcar.com/classifieds/used-cars/Vauxhall/Corsa)**

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