The latest Vauxhall Corsa is one of the most prominent small cars ever manufactured in Britain. Being easy to operate, efficient, and most of all, reasonably priced, the Corsa fits the needs of millions of motorists in the United Kingdom. Still, as we all know, the Corsa has been around for a rather long time and it is more than obvious that it has grown somewhat tired with its looks despite the relatively fresh design of the latest update
And that is why the 2015 model year Corsa is a big relief from all the nonsense that has been coming out of Opel recently. Its exterior and interior design is upgraded, which contributes to a modern look; there are many engine options, and this car offers high levels of equipment as standard. In this article, I decided to make an analysis of the updated version of the Vauxhall Corsa to find out whether such amendments will suffice to stimulate the sales of this popular British vehicle.
Exterior Styling Updates
However, it is clearly seen as a Corsa, though there are some changes new to the 2015 model that make it look more updated. The front bumper and grille have been restyled to give the car a more aggressive look and I believe that this was needed as the previous version of Corsa didn’t look very aggressive at all.
Furthermore, the current models have lovely LED daytime running lights as standard in all models. As for me, I think that such thin strips of LEDs give a new appearance to the front end and make it stylistically more modern. Even more, sleeker and enhanced tail lights, together with fresh wheel styles are other exterior visual tweaks. This extends the smart and classy theme of the Corsa that is typical of Chevrolet for an affordable small car.
Interior Improvements
The Vauxhall Corsa’s interior consists of easy-to-read analog dials and is not overly complicated, with a clear and clean layout of its dashboard. However, it is also possible to state that previous models have not been very stylish, or at least not as stylish as one could have desired. Fortunately, body-colored bumpers and grilles, chrome trim around the dash, gloss black accents, and improved plastics added to the 2015 Corsa interior make it more exclusive.
My favorite feature is the IntelliLink infotainment system, which now has an optional 7-inch color screen in higher spec versions. This one looks good and is much more convenient for touch and go uses. Of course, the enhanced smart new exterior design contributes to this idea but at the same time, these interior enhancements make the new Corsa to be a more premium car in some ways.
Efficient Engine Options
Vauxhall Corsa models are mostly fitted with petrol engines – the most common one is 1.4 liters, although 1.2 and 1.6 liters are also available. It is great at delivering performance while at the same time being economical, achieving more than 50 mpg. Of course, I did not find it as sporty as claimed, but then, it was adequately zesty for just cruising around, made excellent by smooth gear shifts from the manual transmission.
However, if the aspect of ultimate efficiency is being sought after, then the models of the ecoFLEX should be it. Factory options such as low rolling resistance tires and stop/start technology helps to make the 1.3-liter diesel engine deliver a remarkable 88.3 mpg. Offering such an immense economy in a small car is testimony to development of technology. However, in my experience, such high mpg figures can be achieved only if the rider has a feather like touch on the right accelerator.
Generous Equipment
In previous models, Corsa went overboard to the extreme in some aspects, leaving the car simple and, at times, bland but the 2015 changes offer good equipment levels. Comforting aspects such as air conditioning, front electric windows, and even a digital radio are now included in the standard package across all models. Moving towards the more expensive models will also get you such features as automatic headlights, rain sensing wipers, and lane departure warning.
In hindsight for a car with its primary target of being an affordable choice, I believe the 2015 Corsa now has the features that consumers in the current era seek. The other models that would be preferable were the SRi or SE models as they offer the best balance of the equipment, performance, and cost. But whatever the model, the Corsa now offers far more car for the money – although the new shape’s high roofline detracts from its sleek looks.
Conclusion
To me personally, Vauxhall has done the Corsa exactly what it needed – a mild facelift. Most of the exterior and interior changes are subtle and meaningful to the buyer, giving it a more up to date look without detracting from the bare bones no nonsense approach that has made it so popular. It now perfectly balances being on the edge of being ahead of time and being quite practical.
The Corsa was always all about offering the lowest possible form of transport to the people, it was just that it wore rather plain clothes. With that packaging becoming more stylish and at the same time making sure running costs remain low, the car’s latest updates in 2015 will ensure that Brits’ love affair with the car continues well into the future. It may not be a car for those who like stylish looks and shiny parts but for affordable and unpretentious motoring, it is hard to come up with a better proposition.
