Families have a particular set of needs when it comes to cars. There are certain boxes that need to be ticked in order for new cars to make the short-list of finalists.
There are many that are making the switch to crossovers and SUVs as the raised ride height promotes better visibility and the perception of additional safety. There are those though that still like the easy-of-use provided by a compact hatchback. They're easier to park, generally use less fuel and still provide an exciting drive for those times when you don't want to be a grown-up.
Opel has a long and illustrious history in South Africa and despite the recent drama around the brand, behaving like a cat that wants out, but doesn't actually leave, the brand is here to stay. We are assured that Opel and their products are not going anywhere for the foreseeable future.
Related: Is the Opel Corsa good for new drivers? Here’s our verdict.
That brings us onto the popular Opel Corsa, a staple on our roads for many a year and for many, a student car with fond memories. But time moves on and if you've started a family then you may be wondering if an Opel Corsa will do the trick.
We're here to find out.
Space and practicality
The first port-of-call for all, new family car purchases is the quest for space and convenience.
The Corsa is a compact car and one cannot expect SUV levels of space, but despite this, the Corsa offers ample space in both the storage and passenger departments. The boot measures in at 265-litres with the rear seats in their upright position and this increases to a sizeable 1120-litres when you fold them down. The 60/40 split rear seat means that you can still transport two back-seat passengers (albeit at a pinch) with the smaller of the two backrests folded flat. The low boot sill also means that lifting the stroller and bags into the boot requires minimal effort.
Rear legroom is fair for this segment of the market and rear headroom is said to be as much as 940 mm. This, combined with the 5-door arrangement of the 1.0T Enjoy and 1.4 Enjoy Auto models makes the Corsa rather practical for those with young children and even older teenagers. The is a 3-door format though and with the large front seats, ingress and egress to the rear will require a deft touch and getting a little one into the child seat will be rather uncomfortable.
All Corsa models are equipped with ISOFIX mounting points on the outers of the rear seats for secure fitment of an ISOFIX ready child seat.
Convenience
Convenience may not be the first thing that new car buyers, who are shopping for a family car consider, but certain features help ease the strain of daily life with children.
The Opel Corsa is fitted with a few creature comforts that will make life more pleasant. All models are equipped with air-conditioning and the GSi model has automatic climate control for temperature perfect conditions.
Bluetooth connectivity is not only a convenience but a safety feature as well. This will allow you to place or take calls without having to use your phone while driving (please don't use your phone while driving, ever) and will also allow for music streaming to the touchscreen infotainment system. The primary infotainment functions can be controlled with the multifunction steering wheel which means that your hands never have to leave the wheel either.
The two Enjoy models are fitted with cloth upholstery while the GSi gets a leather upholstery. The cloth, while susceptible to marking and stains are hard-wearing and less prone to show fatigue. They will also remain cooler in the summer months if your car stands outside when parked.
Safety
Sadly, safety doesn't always feature as high on the list of requirements as space or convenience and we think that this should be the first consideration when buying any car. Fortunately, safety is not a worry in the Opel Corsa as the German firm has made sure that their compact hatchback gets a comprehensive 4-star Euro NCAP crash test rating.
It scored a 79% for adult occupants with child occupants rated at 77%. Pedestrian safety registered 71% while it scored 56% for safety assist systems.
You will get no less than 6 airbags in the Opel Corsa and all Corsas are equipped with ABS antilock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA). Only the GSi model gets traction control but the others still benefit from stability control to help avoid a loss of control.
Verdict
We believe that the Opel Corsa is a perfectly suitable family car for a small family with young children. Taller individuals may start to feel the pinch and if you have kids that insist on partaking in sports with outrageous amounts of gear, you may struggle a little.
The 5-door variants allow for easy access to the rear and the large tailgate opening makes life that much easier.
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