Seth Walton’s got company for his first six months as a road tester – a 1.2-litre Vauxhall Corsa. One of the UK’s best-loved first cars, it seems a fitting choice, but how well will it hold up after many miles of motorway commuting?

Update 1: introduction

Introducing the Vauxhall Corsa GS Turbo Petrol 1.2 Manual

A new car, for six months! Just a couple of weeks into my career as a road tester and I’ve already been trusted with a long-termer – no pressure. The car itself? A manual 1.2-litre Vauxhall Corsa in mid-range GS trim, finished in a rather fetching crimson red.

My car is the facelifted version that arrived last year, complete with updated technology and a 100hp turbo petrol power unit, which places it in the middle of the Corsa’s engine range. I’ve been running it for several days now, and a few opinions have already started carving themselves out, but let’s kick off with the gearbox.

A manual feels right in this sort of car. I live in central Manchester and so I head south-eastward through the peak district on my commute to the office before turning due south on the A1. Given the modest output of the three-cylinder engine with just 100hp, swift gear changes are occasionally necessary to smoothly manage some of the area’s steeper topography. With a manual, I’m at least able to keep on top of where I am in the Corsa’s rev range, even if it isn’t the slickest in the world.

Though its action is light, the gearbox has a slightly soft-edged vagueness to it, while the throw itself is fairly long. Plus, and this is only a small gripe, the underside of the gear lever head is plated with a piece of cheap-feeling plastic that’s not very comfortable to wrap your fingers around.

All of that notwithstanding, it’s still a highly useable gearbox that’s slick between ratios and with its sixth notch, it’s well suited to motorway cruising, too. That last point is important because after the twists and turns of the Peak District, my commute concludes with an 80-mile motorway slog.

But what about the rest of the Corsa? Well, for just over 23 grand it feels like a lot of car for the money. It’s bigger and roomier than comparable supermini competitors in its class like the Toyota Yaris or the Suzuki Swift, with what feels like a plusher, less scratchy interior.

As previously mentioned, mine is a GS spec car, so it includes sports-style front seats as well as a raft of extra tech features like wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. Quick and responsive, the infotainment system itself is a breeze to use, and I’ve especially savoured the easy phone connectivity during many early starts.

So, I’m happy with my new long-termer. I’ve already found a couple of niggles but so far they’ve been outweighed by the virtues of what is a sound and honest little car. Stay tuned for my experience with the Corsa over the next five months.

Mileage: 2132 miles
Average fuel economy: 47.8mpg
Claimed average fuel economy: 54.3-55.4mpg

Update Two: the big move test

Only 150 miles between my current home and the next – should be fine, right?

Ah, nothing like a major, life-changing move across the country to test the luggage capabilities of a car like the Corsa. It really is the litmus test through which a supermini can prove itself to be more than just a city runaround – how well do the seats fold, how conveniently placed is the boot loading lip, how far will I have to contort my neck around various items laid between the front passenger seats. All important facts I was keen to find out and not just as a means to procrastinate endless bag packing.

The Corsa’s got a luggage capacity of 309 litres with the seats up (under the parcel shelf) and 1118 litres with the seats folded. That lands it in a fairly middle-of-the-road position – 23 litres more than the Toyota Yaris but 42 fewer than a VW Polo – both with the seats up.

However, more importantly for my situation, the maximum length with rear seats folded is 1697mm, compared to 1380mm of the Polo, and I used every bit. Luckily the loading lip isn’t especially high and the rear seats fold down well.

In first went my desk (legs removed) that slipped in comfortably, followed by a guitar amp and a guitar case next to it. I was genuinely quite impressed that the Corsa was able to consume them all, followed not-so-neatly by a handful of bin bags with just about everything I own in the world.

How did it drive with all that weight onboard? Pretty well. The car was fully loaded but it didn’t feel excessively heavy, nor prone to roll through the bends like it was about to tip over. I’d probably hire a van next time to reduce two trips between Manchester and the East Midlands down to one, but the Corsa did well for a little car. Just no more packing any time soon, please.

Mileage: 3216 miles
Average fuel consumption: 47 mpg
Claimed average fuel economy: 54.3-55.4mpg