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 an electric model called the Corsa-e that we cover separately.
The Vauxhall Corsa currently has a rather disappointing Expert Rating for a brand new model. As of August 2021, its score of 63% 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 was the UK’s best-selling car for the second half of 2020 and has carried that form through the first half of 2021. It looks like this year could see the Corsa finally dethrone the Ford Fiesta from its position as Britain’s best-selling car for more than a decade.
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.
- Vauxhall Corsa-e (the electric version) – Expert Rating
- Vauxhall Corsa (2014 – 2019) – Expert Rating
- More Vauxhall ratings, reviews, news and features
Key specifications
Body style: Small five-door hatch
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price: From £16,815 on-road
Launched: Autumn 2019
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
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.”
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Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Vauxhall Corsa is fun to drive, well-equipped and a great all-rounder, but steep prices hold it back”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.
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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.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Vauxhall Corsa is more sophisticated than ever, taking the fight to its many rivals”
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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.”
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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.”
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Model reviewed: 1.2-litre petrol automatic Ultimate Nav
“The Vauxhall Corsa is a competitive, stylish, decent-handling, efficient and well-kitted supermini.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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Motors.co.uk
Score: 8 / 10
“The Vauxhall Corsa has stylish looks, is cheap to run and good to drive.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7.8 / 10
“French makeover has done popular supermini a world of good”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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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.”
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Model reviewed: 1.2-litre SRi
“The Corsa isn’t radical, but it is well-arranged.”
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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.”
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Which?
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6.7 / 10
“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.”
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Safety rating
Eco rating
The Vauxhall Corsa 1.2-litre petrol automatic received a 2.5 star rating from Green NCAP in February 2021. We are currently updating our Euro NCAP database, as the organisation changed its rating system and we need to change our database accordingly to be able to display the new scores.
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.
Security rating
Rating: Superior | Good | Basic | Poor | Unacceptable
Relay Attack: Fail
Date: March 2020
Model tested: Ultimate Turbo 100
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Vauxhall Corsa has received
2021
- Fleet World Awards – Best Fleet Supermini
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Vauxhall Corsa, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Citroën C3 | Dacia Sandero | Ford Fiesta | Honda Jazz | Hyundai i20 | Kia Rio | Mazda 2 | MG 3 | Mini hatch | Mitsubishi Mirage | Nissan Micra | Peugeot 208 | Renault Clio | SEAT Ibiza | Skoda Fabia | Suzuki Swift | Toyota Yaris | Volkswagen Polo
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