Opel Corsa GSi Review - Euro beat intensifies
Opel Corsa GSi Review - Euro beat intensifies
By Lawrence Minnie
We take a spin in Opel’s latest hot hatch, the new GSI Corsa, and find out what makes a badge.
Euro beat intensifies
Saying the letters GSi to a petrol head automatically conjures up images of squealing tyres and high performance. This can be attributed to the legendary Opel GSi cars of the past. Vehicles such as the Monza and Superboss come to mind.
It comes as no surprise then that Opel SA would continue with this trend and have just released the all-new Corsa GSi into South Africa.
The GSi badging is given to Opel cars that evoke a sense of occasion, making the user acutely aware that the car they are about to pilot can very quickly bite them if they are not careful. There are certain elements that you expect from a GSi badged Opel, things like a throaty engine growl, blistering speed off the line and torque steer for days.
We received this hot little Corsa GSi number to test and found that the GSi moniker may not quite match this Euro hot hatch’s temperament but it also cannot be labelled OPC.
Styling
Opel has hit a home run with the design of the Corsa. Relatively small overhangs front and rear, wheels spaced out far into each corner and long door’s. This is indeed a two-door model meaning that the doors have to be larger than normal to allow access to the rear.
This can cause problems in tight parking spaces as the doors need plenty of room to open wide enough to access the interior.
A set of 18” wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport tyres stick the Corsa to the road and coupled with the super stiff suspension can make the ride rather harsh over rough road surfaces. The roof spoiler adds an element of aggression that lets you know this is a performance model.
Overall, the profile and design are pleasing on the eye even if the bright yellow paintwork means you will never be missed in traffic.
The Drive
As mentioned before the Corsa is fitted with a super stiff sports suspension. This enables the car to track around corners as if it were on rails. The sporty handling is the trade-off for comfort though as you will have your bones rattled on more than one occasion. The car is slow off the line but once you get it up to speed and have figured out the gear changes and mapping it becomes an absolute treat to drive enthusiastically.
Performance
The new Corsa GSi is powered by a 1.4l turbocharged petrol engine that delivers 110kW and 220Nm. This can get up to speed relatively quickly but you will find yourself changing of first gear quicker than normal as the best performance in the rev range sits between 2nd and 3rd gear.
The Corsa has a 6-speed manual gearbox that, as mentioned before, delivers its best performance between 2nd and 3rd gears while ultimately cruising in 6th will give you your best drive and fuel consumption.
I am not, however, a fan of the moulded plastic stitching on the gear lever knob as it becomes very irritating underhand while driving through the gears repeatedly such as in stop-go traffic.
Space and Comfort
The interior of the Corsa is something else. Leather bound Recaro sports seats take up the bulk of driver and passenger space. They are comfortable enough and support you quite nicely during spirited driving.
Polished chrome, leather and piano black are the order of the day and the interior comes across as stylish yet functional with everything falling to hand.
The Intellilink infotainment system is also a breeze to use. It is not overly complicated but still has a ton of functionality and also comes with Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
Other standard features include auto A/C, cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity.
Safety
The Corsa GSi meets euro safety standards and comes equipped with no fewer than 6 airbags. EBD, ABS, traction control, stability control, tyre pressure monitoring system and hill start assist are all incorporated to make the GSi as safe as can be,
Fuel Consumption
Opel claims the Corsa GSi should get 5.8l per 100km. By our estimation we returned 6.8l, we say estimation, because at no time were we able to actually check as the onboard computer system did not seem to have a submenu for this in the driver’s binnacle and we had to calculate this by kilometres driven vs a full tank.
Price
The Corsa GSi falls into the performance hatch category and takes on the likes of the Volkswagen Polo GTI and Renault’s Clio RS F1.
The Corsa comes in at R 365 900, about 20 thousand less than the Polo and 60 thousand less than the Clio RS
Opel Corsa GSi - R 364 900
Volkswagen Polo GTi - R 394 500
Renault Clio RS F1 - R 459 900
Verdict
The Corsa GSi is a cracking drive and represents good value for your money. You will get relatively good performance and hot hatch styling that will win prizes. However, the GSi is down on power versus its competitors and it seems to be found wanting when it comes to the badging. It's not an OPC but falls a bit short when it comes to wearing a GSI badge, there is a lot to like about Opel’s GSi Corsa but the badge is not one of them.
A GSI is supposed to be loud and shouty and should at least scare you a little when you mash the throttle.