Vauxhall Corsa

was two points away from the title of “The European Car of The Year 2007,” and for good reason. A well-made hatchback, the Corsa feels strong and solid. It grips and handles well, but has speed sensitive steering.  

With some of the best economy figures achieved by any car, the Corsa is a sporty looking vehicle that steers better, allows you to experience the drive, and feels less artificial. Inside, the Corsa is a neatly laid out car with enough convenient features to make driving fun and safe.

To test its durability, Euro NCAP ran a frontal Offset Crash test on Vauxhall Corsa and received a 5-star rating based on its performance and protection in high-speed front and side crash tests.

Watch the Crash test video here.  

Child Safety

The Euro NCAP recommends that children 18 months and older be forward-facing. This is to avoid the impact on the chest.

The Corsa is a safe vehicle to drive. In both a frontal and side impact crash, the driver and passenger are both well protected. Pedestrian protection, however, varies between good and marginal.  

Maintenance & Repair Costs

Repairs made to the Corsa will require high quality parts. The great news is that these parts can be found at many dealers within the same price range and time commitment of any normal car.

Service parts:                   £70 – £140             (MANN, German)

Oil filter, Oil, Air filter, Fuel filter, Pollen filter

We recommend Genuine or similar, such as Mann filters & Ford Genuine oil, for Ford.

Cam. Belt change:         £250 – £300   every 75,000mi

Cam belt kit:                    £70 – £90

Cam. CHAIN change:         £350 – £400   every 100,000mi  1.2L engine 

Cam CHAIN kit:                   £60 – £150

Br. Disc & Pads ch.:       £90 – £150    (FRONT, Pagid, German)

Diagnostic:                       £40 – £120

Labour rates:

• Independent:            £45 – £125 / hour

• Main dealer:             £125 – £170 / hour

The Service & Repair process, however, can be more time consuming and will require an experienced mechanic and occasionally special tools. As a result, the price here may exceed costs of a typical vehicle.  

Safety Features:

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES

Anti-lock brakes, or ABS brakes, will automatically sense when a tire has abruptly stopped rotating and modulate the brake’s pressure to allow the tire to continue rotating safely. With ABS brakes, the vehicle is capable of turning while in brake mode.

STABILITY CONTROL

Stability control will sense when the vehicle has reached or exceeded its limit. It will reduce the engine power and/or apply the appropriate brakes. This feature helps prevent the driver from losing control of his or her vehicle.

FRONT, SIDE, AND OVERHEAD AIRBAGS

The vehicle is loaded with airbags for protection of its driver and passengers. Front airbags protect the head in a frontal crash. If the vehicle experiences a side collision or rollover, the side airbags protect the torso and the overhead airbags protect their heads.

PRETENSIONERS

Pre-tensioners on the seatbelt automatically tighten the seatbelt to secure the occupant and ensure minimal injury.

SEATBELT REMINDER

Pre-tensioners on the seatbelt automatically tighten the seatbelt to The seatbelt reminder monitors whether there is an occupant in the seat and communicates this information to the seat restraint system in the vehicle. If the seat belt is not buckled, it sends a reminder to remind the occupant to put the seatbelt on.

ANTI-WHIPLASH

In the event of a rear collision, anti-whiplash head restraints in the vehicle cradle the occupants head to minimize any whiplash injury.

SECURITY SYSTEM

The ignition disable device prevents the engine from starting without the original manufacturer’s key.