Name: Vauxhall Corsa (2020 - present) | Expert Rating | The Car Expert
Item: Vauxhall Corsa
Rating: 62

Summary

The Vauxhall Corsa is a small, supermini-class, five-door hatchback. The current model was unveiled in late 2019 before going on sale in the UK in early 2020. It is the first Corsa built under PSA’s ownership of Vauxhall, and it is shares most of its components with the Peugeot 208.

Unlike previous Corsas, the new model is only available as a five-door hatchback, with no three-door model available. The regular model is available with a choice of petrol or diesel engines, while there is also a Corsa Electric (formerly known as the Corsa-e) model that we cover separately.

The Vauxhall Corsa currently has a rather disappointing reviews for a brand new model. As of October 2023, its Expert Rating of 62% places it firmly in the bottom half of all the supermini hatchbacks that we have analysed to date. It’s also significantly lower than the mechanically-identical Peugeot 208, although it’s a clear improvement on the previous Corsa.

However, a relatively low score certainly hasn’t hurt the Corsa’s sales – it has been the UK’s best-selling car almost every month since it was launched, and became the first car to finally dethrone the Ford Fiesta from its 12-year reign as Britain’s best-selling car in 2021. Although it lost that title to the Nissan Qashqai in 2022, it continues to be one of the country’s best-selling new cars.

The Corsa has received praised for its exterior styling and improved handling, as well as for being generally more sophisticated than previous generations. However, there have been criticisms of the interior design and quality, an uncomfortable ride and high prices compared to its rivals.

Like its Peugeot cousin, the Corsa has a four-star Euro NCAP safety rating compared to the five-star scores of many other superminis. It also scored poorly in anti-theft security tests by Thatcham Research.

The Vauxhall Corsa will receive a mid-life facelift in late 2023. The most noticeable aspect of this will be a revised front-end styling that brings the Corsa in line with Vauxhall’s latest design direection.

Key specifications

Body style: Small five-door hatch
Engines: petrol (and previously diesel)
Price: From £19,275 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2019
Last updated: N/A
Next update due: Late 2023

Image gallery

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert+

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual SRi Nav Premium
Score: 7.8 / 10
“The new Corsa is by far the most impressive new Vauxhall we’ve driven for a while. It looks good, performs well on the road and is efficient.”
Read review

Auto Express+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The latest Vauxhall Corsa is miles better than the car it replaced, offering a much more convincing blend of performance, economy, comfort and driving pleasure. It looks good, boasts one of the best petrol engines in its class and has benefited hugely from the thoroughly modern underpinnings shared with the latest Peugeot 208.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual Elite Nav
Score: 7 / 10
“Make no mistake: the Vauxhall Corsa is a massive improvement over the car it replaces.”
Read review

Auto Trader+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Vauxhall Corsa has traditionally been one of the UK’s most popular cars, and we very much doubt that’ll change now that it’s better than ever. It’s fine to drive, with a good balance of comfort and sharpness, while its engines are impressive in both their perkiness and their efficiency.”
Read review

Autocar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“While the Vauxhall Corsa is undoubtedly a ‘nicer’ and more aspiring car, it hasn’t been made better in every respect. Its slightly remote if assured handling, at times restless ride, questionable four-seat practicality and more ambitious pricing may all be obstacles to its success.”
Read review

Model reviewed: SRi Nav 1.2-litre petrol manual
“Make no mistake, Vauxhall’s new supermini is a fine, grown-up, likeable car that deserves to continue the outgoing car’s sales success.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual Elite Nav
Score: 7 / 10
“Being the first mainstream Vauxhall developed under PSA ownership, the latest Corsa supermini is all-new.”
Read review

Car+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s more refined, has a more frugal and interesting powertrain range and has more technology on offer than the previous generation. However, it falls a little short in any area; a Fiesta is sharper to drive, a 208 has a more impressive interior, a C3 is more comfortable and a Fabia more practical.
Read review

Car Keys+

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual
Score: 9 / 10
“With the Corsa being by far Vauxhall’s most popular car, it’s not surprising that this is a model that’s improved across the board next to the old hatchback. Utilising the PSA Group’s many resources has made a lot of difference here – not least with the excellent line-up of new engines.”
Read review

Carbuyer+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.1 / 10
“The Vauxhall Corsa is more sophisticated than ever, taking the fight to its many rivals.” (Charlie Harvey)
Read review

Carwow+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Vauxhall Corsa looks good, has a range of efficient engines and offers a pure-electric version. Its interior is a bit drab, though, and space in the back is tight.”
Read review

Company Car Today+

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual SRi Nav
Score: 7.8 / 10
“The improvements are across the board for the new Vauxhall Corsa, with looks and driving dynamics the most obvious ones, as well as more efficiency and new tech.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic Ultimate Nav
“The Vauxhall Corsa is a competitive, stylish, decent-handling, efficient and well-kitted supermini.”
Read review

Daily Mail+

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic Ultimate Nav
“Would we choose a Vauxhall Corsa over a Ford Fiesta? The Fiesta is a more rounded car. It’s far better to drive, has a more eager petrol engine, and will hold its value better. As practical as the Corsa is, it’s still the runner up in our opinion.”
Read review

Daily Mirror+

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual SRi Nav
Score: 6 / 10
“The new Vauxhall Corsa is an excellent choice – but it doesn’t look as good as its Peugeot 208 sibling and its interior is nowhere near as stylish.”
Read review

Fleetworld+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Vauxhall Corsa is a quietly competent product compared to glitzier newcomers, particularly from Peugeot and Renault. Its most important role could be as a familiar-feeling first step into electrification once the EV arrives.”
Read review

Heycar+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“Cheap to run, well-equipped and easy to drive, the Vauxhall Corsa is the embodiment of the supermini all-rounder. However, while Vauxhall’s latest small car instalment is easily the best Corsa yet, it still can’t match the fun of the Ford Fiesta or the everyday practicality of the SEAT Ibiza.”
Read review

Honest John+

Model reviewed: Range overview
“Happily, the Vauxhall Corsa has grown up from being a teenager’s boy racer into a sophisticated small car.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“Compared to the old model, the latest Vauxhall Corsa does represent a monumental leap forward in terms of handling and refinement. And much of this is down to its PSA partnership. However, while an undeniable improvement, the Corsa’s progress is hindered by its cramped and disappointing cabin.”
Read review

Motors.co.uk+

Score: 8 / 10
“The Vauxhall Corsa has stylish looks, is cheap to run and good to drive.”
Read review

Parkers+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.8 / 10
“French makeover has done popular supermini a world of good”
Read review

The Sun+

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual SRi
“THREE minutes. That’s all it took to decide this is the BEST CORSA EVER. Actually, I’ll go further. It trumps the Peugeot 208, Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Ibiza. And it goes straight on to my small car podium alongside the Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio.”
Read review

The Telegraph+

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic Elite Nav
Score: 6 / 10
“The latest Corsa is a car that’s easy to like but hard to love, thanks to a combination of hit-and-miss interior finish, so-so practicality and an overly jiggly ride. But it will look and feel smart enough for many buyers.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol manual Elite Nav
Score: 8 / 10
“On paper and in the minds of a lot of the motoring press, the new Vauxhall Corsa is a rather boring version of the new Peugeot 208 with which it shares its platform. In practice, however, it has a maturity in its set-up, its details and its shape which might genuinely charm a lot of British buyers.”
Read review

Top Gear+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“At last, a small Vauxhall that’s not tedious to drive! Now, just sort out that dated interior.”
Read review

Model reviewed: 1.2-litre SRi
“The Corsa isn’t radical, but it is well-arranged.”
Read review

What Car?+

Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Vauxhall Corsa is a competent small car, but not outstanding in any area. It isn’t as comfortable or as nice inside as the closely related Peugeot 208, not as fun to drive as a Ford Fiesta, nor as spacious as a Volkswagen Polo.”
Read review

Which?+

Model reviewed: Range overview
“Vauxhall has done a creditable job with the Corsa, which is easy and safe to drive and has a peppy and economical 1.2 turbo engine. However, its cramped rear seats and small boot lose it points and it doesn’t excel in many areas.”
Read review

Safety rating

Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 4 stars
Date tested: November 2019
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 84%
Child protection: 86%
Vulnerable road users: 66%
Safety assist: 69%

Eco rating

Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

Model tested: 1.2-litre petrol automatic

Overall score: 2.5 stars
Date tested: February 2021
Read the full Green NCAP review

Clean Air Index: 3.7 / 10
Energy Efficiency Index: 5.9 / 10
Greenhouse Gas Index: 4.6 / 10

The Vauxhall Corsa 1.2-litre petrol automatic received a 2.5 star rating from Green NCAP in February 2021.

Green NCAP said: “The Corsa is tested here with a 1.2 litre turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine. In the past, such cars would have struggled to limit particulate emissions but, equipped as it is with a gasoline particulate filter (GPF), the Corsa does a fine job in this regard. Indeed, pollutant emissions are generally well controlled in most tests but the car struggles in the more demanding tests such as cold ambient temperature and, here, emissions of several gases are high.

“For such a small car, the Corsa does not excel in energy efficiency but its greenhouse gas emissions are generally low, especially those of the unregulated gases. Overall, the Corsa emerges from Green NCAP’s tests with a 2½ star rating.”

This rating only applies to the 1.2-litre petrol automatic version of the Vauxhall Corsa, and does not imply similar ratings for other engine and gearbox combinations in the range.

Reliability rating

Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

Total claims: 784
Average repair cost: £351.57
Last updated: October 2023

Reliability score

All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims

As of October 2023, the Vauxhall Corsa has a below-average reliability rating of 33%, according to warranty data provided exclusively to us by our commercial partner, MotorEasy. This score applies to both the current Corsa and also to previous generations, which is important if you are considering a used Vauxhall Corsa.

The average overall repair costs are quite low for the Corsa family, but the number of claims is high compared to other cars – hence the low overall rating. As such, a used car warranty may be more important than for vehicles with a higher reliability score.

More than a quarter of all warranty claims to date have been for suspension issues, although these have so far proven to be relatively inexpensive. Average repair costs for engine and gearbox are well below average as well.

Running cost rating

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumption	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	51 mpg	B	49 – 53 mpg	B – C
Diesel models	71 mpg	A	71 – 71 mpg	A – A

CO₂ output	Average	Score	Variation	Score
Petrol models	119 g/km	A	114 – 134 g/km	A – A
Diesel models	107 g/km	A	105 – 110 g/km	A – A

Insurance group	Average	Score	Variation	Score
All models	18	A	10 – 49	A – E

Service and maintenance	Cost	Score
Year 1	£167	A
Year 2	£460	A
Year 3	£721	A
Year 4	£958	A
Year 5	£1,392	B
Overall	£3,698	A

The Vauxhall Corsa should prove to be a very economical car to own and run, according to running cost data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our commercial partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

The diesel models listed above have now been dropped from the range, but you can still find them from used car dealerships. Fuel consumption from the petrol models is good – although some other small cars are better.

In terms of servicing, road tax and insurance, the Corsa’s scores are exemplary.

Security rating

Rating: Superior | Good | Basic | Poor | Unacceptable
Relay Attack: Fail

Date: March 2020
Model tested: Ultimate Turbo 100

The Vauxall Corsa automatically received a Poor rating from Thatcham because it failed a relay attack test, which measures the security of a car’s keyless entry and/or keyless start system. The Corsa is susceptible to thieves intercepting the car’s keyless signal and using it to steal the car.