Vauxhall Corsa VXR (07 on) - Review

Review by Ben Wall on
Last Updated: 03 January 2012
There's no shortage of hot hatches on offer to buyers looking for performance and sharp handling - it seems that we can't get enough of them in the UK. But with so much choice a car has to stand out to get noticed and that's exactly what the Corsa VXR does. It's no shrinking violet with it's aggressive bodykit, rear diffuser and plenty of spoilers and skirts - clearly this is unashamedly a no holds barred hot hatch. It has the power to back up it's looks too thanks to a 192bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged engine which delivers storming performance and a 0-60mph time of just 6.8 seconds. Agile and composed handling, a raspy exhaust note and bucket sports seats complete the package and make the Corsa VXR one of the best small performance cars around.
4 out of 5

Other Vauxhall reviews

4.5 out of 5

Safety

The Corsa scores the maximum five stars out of five in official crash tests. In order for the VXR to match this, Vauxhall had to incorporate special side airbags into its front bucket seats as side airbags are a must for a five-star safety rating. It also has electronic stability and traction control systems, which helps the driver regain control in emergency situations. A tyre pressure warning system gives advanced notice of slow punctures.

NCAP Test

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  • Adult Occupant Rating

    5 out of 5

  • Child Protection Rating

    3 out of 5

  • Pedestrian Test Rating

    3 out of 5
4 out of 5

Reliability

It feels solidly built, and other recent Vauxhall products seem to be performing reliably enough, so we see no reason to expect any problems with the VXR.

Car check problem points

Body

No problems reported.

Engine/Gearbox

No problems reported.

Other

No problems reported.