Review: Vauxhall Corsa

The motoring landscape might have changed immeasurably over the past few decades, but the Vauxhall Corsa remains as steadfastly popular in the UK today as it has been since the mid-1990s.

In fact, in a 2025 UK top ten best-sellers list brimming with new wave SUVs and crossovers, the Corsa – nestled neatly in the number four spot – stands proud as a conventional hatchback that still offers immense appeal in the face of fierce competition from more directions than ever.

Indeed, the Corsa is a veritable institution in automotive terms, becoming firmly established as one of the nation’s best-known and best-loved models since entering the UK conscience in 1993 (when it replaced the similarly ubiquitous Nova).

It’s a testament to the car’s enduring qualities that it remains just as well-regarded today with the current sixth generation model (known internally as Corsa F) recognised for its maturity, practicality, ease-of-driving and generous specification.

And while the core of the Corsa’s wide-ranging demographic – from first-time buyers to families to seniors – remains unchanged, the car itself has been brought right up to date with a full house of petrol, hybrid and electric powertrain options.

It’s time to take a closer look at the nation’s favourite small hatchback, the Vauxhall Corsa…

Vauxhall Corsa Styling

The name might not have changed, but the Vauxhall Corsa itself has certainly undergone myriad transformations over the years.

This is no more apparent than on the surface where the Corsa has in time taken on a cute, bulbous persona, before shifting to a sharper look and even had a rakish coupe-style appearance at one stage.

The ‘Generation F’ Corsa, however, is decidedly more mature looking than its predecessors, a smarter appearance that goes a long way to consolidating its more upmarket positioning in the small hatchback class.

Wider and lower than previous models, the Corsa has a surprising amount of presence on the road with its broad shoulder line and wheel-at-each corner stance.

A handsome blend of curves and edgy lines, the Corsa has some attractive detailing too, including a stylised LED headlight arrangement at the front, the shadowy ‘Vizor’ front grille and trendy gloss black roof/pillars.

All trims get alloy wheels, including the entry-level YES variant, while upper range GS and Ultimate models come with black rims to match the grille and roof palette too.

Coupled with a wide range of metallic paint options – including some vivid options to liven things up – the Corsa cuts a smart dash on the road like never before.

Vauxhall Corsa Interior

Step inside and the Vauxhall Corsa continues to belie its price tag with a comfortable, well-equipped cabin that is solidly screwed together.

The neat, ergonomic dashboard design puts the emphasis on functionality with a split between a 10-inch touchscreen display – which comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – and physical controls that fall to hand easily.

There is also lots of support from the comfortable seats, while flagship Ultimate trims getting full lumbar adjustment and even a massaging seat function.

Space Inside the Vauxhall Corsa

Unlike previous generations, the Vauxhall Corsa is available as an exclusive five-door hatchback, which allows for convenient access to the rear compartment.

Passengers are well catered for with comfortable seating in the front and rear, while there is sufficient room for two adults on the back bench.

The well-shaped boot offers 309-litres of space and is deep to stop items from rolling around, while the rear seats are split 60/40 and can be folded for an increased 1081-litres of room.

Behind the Wheel of the Vauxhall Corsa

What sets the Vauxhall Corsa apart from most rivals is it can be optioned with a choice of three different powertrain options – conventional petrol, mild-hybrid and electric.

Among the petrol and petrol-hybrid engines, the entry-point is a 1.2-litre turbocharged engine generating 100bhp that will sprint to 62mph in a sprightly ten seconds and return a frugal 53.3mpg and 118g/km of CO2 emissions.

Step up to the 1.2-litre MHEV mild-hybrid and you get a six-speed gearbox. While offering similar performance to the non-hybrid version, the addition of a small electric motor improves fuel economy to 62.8mpg and lowers emissions to 103g/km.

The top-of-the-range 1.2-litre MHEV Ultimate, meanwhile, gets an uprated 145bhp engine, capable of 62mph in under nine seconds.

Behind the wheel, the Corsa is surefooted to drive and grips well on the open road, while it feels refined and grown-up when stretching out on the motorway.

However, it is in the city that it really excels. Indeed, with its responsive steering and agile chassis, the Corsa makes light work of heavy traffic, while it is a doddle to park as well.

Vauxhall Corsa Electric

While there are an increasing number of small electric cars hitting the road, the Corsa appeals by giving you a direct choice without a compromise on the actual car itself.

In fact, until very recently it was the only car inside the UK’s best-selling top ten cars in 2025 that was even available with electric power.

Two battery options are available – 50kWh and 51kWh – which can be had across four trim levels, including a Design variant offered only as an EV.

It should also be noted that later in the year will bring the fiery Vauxhall Corsa GSE, an electric hot hatch that will offer unique styling upgrades and generate a whopping 276bhp.

For now, the entry-level 50kWh battery packs 134bhp, while the 51kWh – despite only modestly larger – is more powerful, more efficient and has more range.

Speaking of range, the Corsa Electric proves competitive despite being converted from ICE-to-EV, unlike many of its ‘from-the-ground-up’ small electric rivals.

The 50kWh is capable of travelling 221-miles, while the 51kWh can go all the way to 262-miles according to WLTP combined figures. While real-world driving will impact how much range you’ll actually extract from the Corsa Electric, it’s more than enough to use as a daily driver without the worry of range anxiety.

When you do need to charge it, the Corsa Electric can be rapidly charged from 10-80% using a 100kW DC charger in 30-minutes.

Beyond the figures, the instantaneous throttle response gives the Corsa Electric a perky feel within city limits to complement its quick-witted handling.

Vauxhall Corsa Specification and Equipment

Vertu’s Verdict on the Vauxhall Corsa

The Vauxhall Corsa’s ubiquitous appeal can be traced to its enduring ability to be all things to all kinds of people – young, old, families, individuals, first-time buyers or experienced drivers.

Indeed, the Corsa has always been easy-to-drive, easy-to-live with and very easy to love, but the latest model has never been as multi-talented as it is now.

From the handsome looks to the well-built interior, the Corsa retains the spirit of its predecessors but wraps it up in a more mature package that will roll with the miles on the highway as comfortably as it skips through traffic in the urban jungle.

The Vauxhall Corsa Electric, meanwhile, stands out for being appealingly conventional in its design while still offering penny-pinching running costs to complement its affordable upfront prices too.

It’s also very generously equipped across all trim levels, especially the cracking bargain that is the entry-level YES trim.

In short, when it comes to the Vauxhall Corsa, it’s a big YES from us…

Who is the Vauxhall Corsa Best Suited To?

• First-time buyers wanting an affordable, practical and easy-to-drive vehicle
• City-slickers who want to keep their running costs down
• People who want easy-to-live with electric car that is cost-efficient and quick to charge
• Those seeking a lavish specification at great value prices

Vauxhall Corsa Technical Specifications