Is the competitive Corsa a supermini worth owning? We find out.

Inexpensive driver enjoyment

We can’t all afford a “luxury supermini” like the Opel Adam (read our review here) but the good news is, a fun and lively, relatively inexpensive car like the new Opel Corsa, is a worthy alternative and within the grasp of the more average Joe.

Looking good

The Opel Corsa’s design sees many design elements similar to the Opel Adam, but with regards to size, it is just as big as the outgoing Corsa, with impressive amounts of leg and headroom in the back, and space for three adults on the rear seat. From the front, the Corsa looks like it’s smiling, thanks to the upturned corners of the chrome strip on the grille. Daytime running lights create a modern front end.

Smart Interior

The interior feels young and fun, but not outrageously so, and the surfaces feel a little more upmarket than the inside of the Opel Mokka (click here for our review). If you specify Option pack 1, you’ll get Opel’s advanced IntelliLink system, which is also found in the Adam. Apart from adding some glamour to the cabin with its 7-inch inch touch screen, it’s intuitive and easy to operate, much easier than the more premium systems such as Mercedes-Benz’s COMAND online. Once I plugged my iPhone into the USB port to charge, it immediately accessed my iTunes app and started playing my music. If you download free apps like Bringo and TuneIn, you can stream Internet radio live, and you’ll have onboard navigation as well. With Android and iOS compatibility, there’s quite a lot IntelliLink can do. But if you don’t have money for all the extras, hands-free radio and Bluetooth (with Auxilliary and USB ports) is standard in all derivates, even in the entry-level Essentia variant at R185 000.

Available Extras

Our Corsa 1.0T Enjoy (R 216 200) was fitted with Option Pack 2, which comprises IntelliLink, Advanced Park Assist 2, Side Blind Zone Alert and parking sensors in the front and rear. With these boxes ticked, the Corsa’s price goes up to R 224 200. Blind Side Zone Alert will warn you if you’re about to change into a lane when it isn’t safe to do so, while Park Assist 2 will ease the Corsa into its chosen parking spot with minimal driver input. Fortunately the paranoid parking sensors can be deactivated, because they’ll drive you nuts with the amount of perceived dangers they react to, such as leaves, and they seem to go crazy when you’re still quite far away from most obstacles. But let’s say I was lending my car to my 18 year-old niece, who just got her driver’s license. Then they’re worth their weight in gold.

Small engine, Large ambitions

The biggest highlight in the new Corsa is without a doubt the new 1.0 litre EcoFlex engine, also in the Opel Adam. The outgoing Corsa’s engines weren’t much to write home about, but the gutsy 85 kW turbocharged engine in the new Corsa is a whole new bag of tricks, and it’s super quiet as well. My husband called me via Bluetooth while I was driving about 120 km per hour, and he couldn’t even tell that I was driving - that also proves how little road noise there is.

Road manners

The Corsa goes head to head with the Ford Fiesta, which also features a 1.0 litre turbocharged engine. The Fiesta is the benchmark for nippy handling, so Opel had their work cut out in improving the Corsa’s driving dynamics. As a result, the Corsa’s suspension has seen a bit of an overhaul to give it a more sporty feel and better ride quality, and it’s a little lower to the ground than the outgoing model as well. I drove the Corsa home via a twisty mountain pass, and even though there’s a bit of body roll, it always felt sure of itself. The suspension is quite comfortable and bumps in the road did not have much effect on the easy-going Corsa. The steering isn’t excellent, but not overly vague either. In town, City Steering mode makes light work of all kinds of urban manoeuvres.

Family First

The Corsa comes packed with all kinds of safety features, such as stability control to complement ABS with EBD and brake assist. Standard Hill Start Assist is perfect for Cape Town’s city bowl, where pulling away at an incline happens a few times per day. Six airbags assure that the kiddies in the back are kept safe too – an important factor when moms and dads buy cars. When my husband bought his Chevrolet Cruze in 2012, the amount of airbags was the deal-maker.

Good value

Even if you can’t afford the Corsa 1.0T Enjoy or any of the optional extras, rest assured that the lovely 85 kW engine and all the safety kit (Except for those in Option Pack 2) are also in the entry-level Essentia variant, which is great buy at R 185 000.

Facts & Figures

Price	:   R216 200
Transmission	: 6-speed manual
Engine	: three-cylinder, 1.0-litre, turbocharged petrol
Power	: 85 kW
Torque	: 170 Nm
Top speed	: 195 km/h
0 to 100 km/h	: 10.3 sec.
Fuel tank	: 45 litres
Realistic fuel consumption	: About 6.5 – 7.2 litres per 100 km’s (combined)
Boot size	: 285 litres
Warranty	: 5-years / 120 000 km, 3 year / 60 000 km service plan.
Also consider	: Ford Fiesta, VW Polo