Available with petrol and diesel engines, plus a pure electric version, the Vauxhall Corsa was the biggest-selling car of 2021, while the Corsa-e was the UK's ninth most popular new electric vehicle. The sixth generation Corsa is one of the fruits of Vauxhall's new ownership and close ties with Peugeot. Easily the best-looking Corsa ever, it was developed alongside its French cousin (the Peugeot 208), sharing a platform and many components including the battery and electric motor. Inevitably, the Corsa-e and e-208 are similar superminis, both with a claimed potential pure electric range of 222 miles.
Specification highlights
The SRi Premium trim for the Corsa-e is one down from the range-topping Elite Premium and is brimming with equipment including LED headlights with high beam assist, rear parking sensors, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers. There’s also keyless start, cruise control with intelligent speed limiter, lane departure warning with lane assist and autonomous emergency braking (AEB), plus 17-inch alloy wheels and sports style front seats.
Comfort
The interior of the Corsa-e is attractive with more of a conventional front cabin layout and driving position than the Peugeot e-208. The Vauxhall's fabric seats are comfy, though only the driver's seat is adjustable for height, while the steering column is adjustable for reach and rake.
Visibility
Apart from the layout of the front cabin, the Corsa-e and e-208 are virtually identical inside and offer good visibility, chunky pillars aside. However, it is worth noting that the SRi Premium Corsa-e spec only has rear parking sensors and does not include front parking sensors or a rear-view camera.
Instrumentation
Though the Corsa-e's 7.0-inch infotainment screen and driver's digital cluster are smaller and not as fancy as the e-208's "i-Cockpit", they are arguably easier to live with. Their simplicity means that they are more intuitive, while separate heating/cooling controls beneath the centre console screen are easy to use. The driver's digital instrument panel couldn't be clearer with a big digital speedometer in the centre and speed sign recognition just above. Naturally, the infotainment system benefits from DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity, plus Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.
Space
There should be no complaints up front, though it is snug for adult passengers in the rear. Storage spaces inside include the glovebox, door bins and a compartment underneath the centre front armrest. Boot capacity is slightly down on the conventionally powered Corsa (267 litres compared to 309 litres), rising to 1,081 litres with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats folded.
On the road
The Vauxhall Corsa-e is an easy car to drive with just one forward gear and the choice of three drive modes - Eco, Normal or Sport. Powered by a 50kWh lithium-ion battery pack (under the car) and a 100kW electric motor up front, it’s capable of accelerating from 0–60mph in just 7.6 seconds. Nippy and pleasantly refined, it’s relatively light up front, so you soon learn that there's no need for a heavy right foot when starting off because there's so much instant torque available. The electronic handbrake disengages manually before pulling away, or it will release automatically, while the brake pedal itself has a progressive feel. The Corsa-e’s steering is light and surprisingly quick, so urban driving is a breeze, while the suspension does a good job of soaking up the bumps and dips encountered in everyday driving. Hustle it and body control is surprisingly good, but despite its superb sprinting ability, it’s no hot hatch.
Charging
The Corsa-e will charge from 0-100% using a 7.4kW home wallbox in approximately 7.5 hours (15–80% in five hours). If you can find a rapid 100kW chargepoint it will charge from 15–80% in 30 minutes, or 45 minutes using a more common 50kW fast charger.
Verdict
The Vauxhall Corsa-e offers a straightforward EV motoring experience. Refined, capable and easy to drive, there’s no gear changing or messing about with a clutch – just select Drive and go.