Vauxhall Corsa review

Chances are you’ll find it relatively easy to get comfortable in the Corsa. All versions have a steering wheel that adjusts for both height and reach, along with a driver’s seat that moves up and down.

The regular seats don’t hold you in place particularly well through corners, and while the sports seats that feature on the racier trims are better in this regard, they still don’t provide much in the way of lower back support. Adjustable lumbar support isn’t available, even as an option.

The dashboard is mostly logical, including the air conditioning controls, which feature big, clearly labelled buttons and dials.

The Corsa’s thick front window pillars are rather raked back, so your view out of junctions is more obscured than in, say, the Fabia or Polo. Similarly, chunky pillars at the rear hamper your over-the-shoulder view, although the same is true in many rivals.

Only range-topping SE trim comes with parking sensors (both front and rear) as standard, although you can add these to lesser trims for a reasonable fee. You can also pay extra for a rear-view camera on all trims.

There’s also an Advanced Park Assist option available on certain trims that can automatically steer the car into a space while you operate the pedals. This comes as part of a reasonably priced pack that also includes parking sensors and a blindspot warning system.

Active models get a very basic FM/AM stereo with a CD player, Bluetooth and a USB port. The tiny display means lots of scrolling if you have a hefty music collection or loads of phone contacts.

Every other trim level gets Vauxhall’s Intellilink infotainment system with a 7.0in colour touchscreen. This includes a DAB radio, but its main trick is to function as an extension of your phone, whether Apple or Android, thanks to smartphone mirroring.

The system isn’t as intuitive as that in the Polo and Ibiza, but it isn’t far behind the Fiesta’s. There is sometimes quite a long pause between you pressing the screen and the system responding, though.

Sat-nav is available as an option, but we wouldn’t bother, because you can use the smartphone mirroring feature and an app on your phone to get directions.

A variety of textured materials, including gloss-finish trim and cushioned rests on the front doors, make the Corsa’s interior look smart and prevent it from feeling too cheap. It’s much classier inside than budget options such as the Dacia Sandero and Ford Ka+, for example.

That said, quality is a long way behind that in Ibiza and Polo, and even the Fiesta just has the edge over the Corsa for general fit and finish.