It’s true that the cars we know as Vauxhalls are either German Opels or occasionally Australian Holdens, and the ultimate owner of the brand is the American company General Motors. However, there is a peculiarly British significance to the Corsa.

It's not the best-selling supermini in the country, that's the Ford Fiesta, but it's a consistent top three player overall. Sales-wise it's also more popular in Britain - by around 30 per cent - than it is even in its homeland of Germany.

In one sense, the "new" Corsa is still an old car, since it uses exactly the same bodyshell. Vauxhall says that this is because they didn't want or need to develop a new one. However, it seems clear that the real reason, given the state of GM Europe's finances and the need to invest in creating better engines and gearboxes, is they couldn't afford to.

But is its appeal new enough to pull people away from buying the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo or Renault Clio?

 

Performance

The Corsa is the second car, after the ADAM ROCKS AIR, to be made available with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol. With 89bhp it is both strong at low revs and almost unbelievably quiet, not really making any significant noise until the rev counter needle is pointing at 5,000rpm. It's certainly more hushed than Ford's decorated 1.0-litre EcoBoost.

You can also opt for the splendid 1.4-litre turbo petrol, which we think suits the car very well. The big but here, however, is that if you want decent turbo power then you might as well go for the smaller 1.0-litre unit, as this has two varied power outputs to choose from, therefore making the 1.4-litre feel a little unnecessary.

If you want to avoid a turbo derivative then there are naturally aspirated 69bhp 1.2-litre and 89bhp 1.4-litre petrols, as well as two different versions of the old, but updated, 1.3-litre CDTi diesel (74bhp and 94bhp).

Manual transmission is the norm, but the 89bhp 1.4-litre turbo has the option of the Easytronic semi-automated manual or a conventional automatic.

Ride and Handling

In terms of steering, the Corsa feels quite light, but is now more responsive thanks to Vauxhall doing some tweaking to the electric power steering.

When it comes to comfort, the Corsa is quite flexible as it comes with a dedicated Comfort setting, as well as the option of a Sport chassis - if you want to have a bit more fun. Naturally, the stiffened Sport chassis can get a bit unsettled over bumpy surfaces. If you want uber comfort, go for the Comfort setting with the smallest wheels. In terms of steering, the Corsa feels quite light, but is now more responsive thanks to Vauxhall doing some tweaking to the electric power steering. There is also an optional City Mode button, which makes the steering even lighter for those who want to traverse the concrete jungle. Although there is a reassuring improvement when it comes to feel, the Corsa is still not as confident in the corners as the Fiesta.

Interior and Equipment

The Vauxhall Corsa has been on the car market since 1982, with its first incarnation being better known as the Vauxhall Nova.

In general, the Corsa’s interior is much more grown-up than it used to be. There are fewer trim levels than before, but that still leaves a choice of eight called Life, Sting, Sting R, Excit, Limited Edition, Design, SRi and SRi VX-Line. Standard kit on every Corsa model includes a heated windscreen, Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and Hill Start Assist.  Air-conditioning is standard on all but the cheapest models, and higher up the range several have a heated steering wheel and the smartphone-based IntelliLink system to which you can download apps for satellite navigation and for 70,000 radio stations around the world. Boot space in the Corsa is measured at 285 litres which is decent but not outstanding, as it is comparable to the Fiesta but inferior to the Renault Clio. When it comes to rear passenger space, two six footers will be happy enough, but a middle rear passenger will be a spanner in the works.

Cost

Insurance ratings are generally several groups lower than on previous Corsas.

Both diesels in the Corsa have CO2 emissions of under 100g/km, so you can laugh in the face of road tax. The 94bhp one has the best combined fuel economy in the range at up to 88.3mpg. Insurance ratings are generally several groups lower than on previous Corsas, and prices for equivalent models are down too, in some cases by well over £2,000. The cheapest version is the Sting 1.2-litre three-door, which costs £1,000 less than the entry-level Ford fiesta, while the most expensive for now is the 114bhp 1.0-litre Limited Edition five-door, coming in at just over £16,000.

Our Verdict

The latest Vauxhall Corsa model feels more like a revamped version of the older model with some new bells and whistles. That is not to say it shouldn’t be thrown in the same ring as the Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio when it comes to rivalry - and in fact, the Corsa has never been so close to measuring up to the Fiesta. If you choose wisely in the Corsa range you can get a very affordable motor that is well worth the cash. The added appeal of the frugal 1.0-litre three-cylinder options means that you don't need to sacrifice fun.