If you have kept your eyes on the motoring industry for the last 4-years, you will know about the struggles that the Opel brand has been through. 2017 saw GM elect to pull the plug on the South African market, taking with it the likes of Opel and Chevrolet. Isuzu was quickly rescued and at the end of 2017 (the date that GM stated it would exit for good), Opel found itself in the hands of the Williams Hunt group who passionately took over the brand's local presence until recently.
On the global front, Opel and Vauxhall were acquired by the PSA group, the bunch responsible for the likes of Peugeot and Citröen. This posed a rather interesting question back in SA: What would now happen with Opel?
The question was further complicated by PSA's merger with FCA, the group that houses the likes of Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Jeep. All was answered when it was announced that Stellantis would continue its drive into the South African market with Opel tucked into the same bed as Peugeot and Citröen.
While some may scoff at the idea of Opel sharing secrets and tech with the Frenchies and Italians, it does make Stellantis the 4th largest automotive group in the world. This bodes well for the future as Opel will be able to tap into the resources provided by a larger network.
But what about locally? As it stands, there are currently 35 Opel dealerships and plans are afoot to expand even more. Enough history, let's get to the car in question, the 6th-generation Opel Corsa.
The new Opel Corsa
The Opel Corsa rapidly overtook the Astra sedan as the best-selling Opel model in South Africa and to this day remains the model that has sold the most - not even the legendary Kadette comes close.
The 6th-Generation Corsa now borrows some technology from Peugeot, but we'll dive a little deeper into that a little later on. It's crafted on the PSA CMP platform and is the first model to come from the drawing boards after the formation of Stellantis.
The Corsa F, as many will refer to it, aims to take on the likes fo the Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2 and other, similarly priced B-segment hatchbacks. Initially, there are three models to choose from, and this will likely be expanded in the coming years.
- Opel Corsa 1.2 5MT
- Opel Corsa 1.2 Edition 5MT
- Opel Corsa 1.2T Elegance 6AT
Styling
The new Opel Corsa is an attractive little thing with modern styling cues throughout. The front end features a large grille with a striking badge and grille element, tying into the DRLs that form part of the Opel Wing design, an element carried through from the previous generation.
The side profile carries a familiar Corsa feel and is contrasted with a black roof on the Elegance models, the model pictured here. Standard fitment is a set of 16-inch alloy wheels but the black 17-inch wheels with machined faces complete the ensemble for those wanting a little more pizzaz.
The rear definitely carries some DNA from the larger Astra model and the taillights keep the Opel Wing theme going, even if they do appear somewhat generic, and dare I say, Korean. 7 exterior colours are available, including the pictured Voltaic Blue and a Pepperoncino Red, a colour that will undoubtedly be a hit with the more feminine buyer.
Interior
One is immediately greeted by an air of quality when one sits inside for the first time. While many of the surfaces are crafted from hard-wearing plastic components, soft-touch elements abound and the general fit, finish and perceived quality is rather high. Elegance models get the higher-end leatherette upholstery and a host of creature comforts, including electric heated seats with massaging function (thank you, Peugeot), auto wipers, auto lights and automatic climate control.
The interior styling is inoffensive and relatively conventional, but it retains the practicality that consumers in this area are looking for with large storage spaces and a clean and uncluttered layout. The wiper and indicator stalks take a little getting used to as they're placed fairly far from the steering wheel and angled upwards.
Rear legroom has been increased by 20 mm over the old Corsa model, but will still prove to be a little tight for taller passengers. Boot space is a sizeable 309-litres with a split-folding rear seat allowing for up to 1081-litres total space with them folded forward.
The seating is comfortable and even with the cloth upholstery of the Edition model, pleasing to the eye with no major drawbacks.
Tech
Touchscreen infotainment systems are standard across the range with the Corsa receiving a 5-inch screen and Edition and Elegance models receiving a larger 7-inch unit. The Elegance models benefit from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality and all models will accept USB inputs and Bluetooth connections for audio streaming and hands-free telephony.
The Elegance models borrow heavily from the Astra and feature a digital gauge cluster with traffic sign recognition as part of the advanced safety systems. Elegance models also get Lane Keep Assist, Collision Mitigation Braking, Front Pedestrian Detection, a 180-deg reverse camera, Forward Collision Alert and LED headlights with High Beam Assist.
This is an amazing amount of tech for such a small, compact car and will undoubtedly prove to be a future benchmark in the safety realm.
Engine and Drivetrain
I mentioned the Peugeot connection earlier and it's most pertinent in the drivetrain department. The new Opel Corsa uses the 1.2-litre PureTech engine as found in numerous Peugeot and Citröen models, in both naturally aspirated form in the base Corsa and in turbocharged form in the Edition and Elegance models.
Before you scoff and rush off to find images of the C20XE to soothe your soul, know that the diminutive 1.2-litre engine was awarded the International Engine of the Year award for four years running, from 2015 through to 2018. It produces 55 kW and 118 Nm torque in the Corsa and Edition models, sending power through a 5-speed manual to the front wheels. Fuel consumption is listed as 5.8 l/100km on the combined cycle.
The Elegance model, with its turbocharged engine, produces 98 kW and 230 Nm torque, and this is the one to have. Thanks to the low weight of the new Opel Corsa, coming in at as little as 980 kg, the compact little hatchback positively flies. The 0 to 100 km/h sprint is said to take only 8.7-seconds with a top speed of 208 km/h. This model is only available with a sweet-shifting 6-speed automatic gearbox. Fuel consumption for this one, provided you don't try and achieve the top speed, is listed at 6.3 l/100km for the combined cycle.
Drive
The new Opel Corsa is a pleasure to drive, it's well-bolted together and has great road manners. The handling is predictable and the steering weight is generous, allowing you feedback from the road surface. Our route consisted of rather atrocious road surfaces and I found the 16-inch wheels to offer more compliance and a more comfortable ride as opposed to the glamorous 17-inch wheels.
Even with the 6-speed automatic, the Corsa had more than enough get-up-and-go to keep me well-entertained. I found myself preempting overtaking manoeuvres and switching the gear selector into manual mode and dropping a gear, just to ensure that the engine was in boost. It's here that steering-mounted paddles would have been appreciated, but this is a small omission that hardly any will miss.
Price
| Model | Price |
| Opel Corsa 1.2 5MT | R274 900 |
| Opel Corsa 1.2 Edition 5MT | R294 900 |
| Opel Corsa 1.2T Elegance 6AT | R386 900 |
All models carry a 3-year / 120 000 km warranty, and a 3-year / 45 000 km service plan.
