• EcoFlex diesel was the most economical
• VXR particularly thirsty at 37.7mpg
• Many Corsas are cheap to run

Small cars should be inexpensive and Vauxhall Corsa running costs were pleasingly low initially: most of the range fell within the least expensive bands for VED car tax, while all the diesel versions are sub-100g/km of CO2.

Choose the three-door Corsa with the 95hp 1.3-litre CDTi engine and run it on 16-inch wheels for the least impact on your finances: Vauxhall claimed in this guise it averaged an impressive 88.3mpg, emitting just 85g/km of CO2 in the process. Vauxhall’s EcoFlex brake energy recovery and standard start/stop boost the figures.

Like the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrols, the diesel engines were discontinued in spring 2018, which made the 100hp 1.4-litre Turbo the most fuel efficient on paper at 51.4mpg.

At the opposite end of the Corsa scale is the 1.4-litre 90hp engine, mated to the six-speed automatic gearbox and fitted with 16- or 17-inch wheels. Official figures rate this model at 44.1mpg.

Worst offending of all is, unsurprisingly, the Corsa VXR – officially it will register 37.7mpg but expect this to drop to around 25mpg in the real world when driven spiritedly.

Green credentials

• Just 85g/km for discontinued EcoFlex diesel models
• 2018 line-up all produce 128g/km or higher
• VXR worst of the line-up at 174g/km

Before the paring back of the Corsa range in 2018, tthe majority of the line-up emited less than 120g/km of CO2, with most versions being relatively inexpensive in terms of VED car tax, but the diesels perform best, all below 100g/km.

Least polluting was the Corsa 1.3-litre CDTi, in 95hp, three-door guise running on 16-inch wheels, at 85g/km.

However, from spring 2018 that changed, meaning the lowest-output model – the 100hp 1.4-litre Turbo, was hardly a paragon of greenness at 128g/km of CO2.

For the highest-emitting mainstream Corsa, specify one with the 90hp 1.4-litre engine and automatic transmission; it’ll post a figure of 149g/km of CO2 if you fit it with 16- or 17-inch alloy wheels.

The one to avoid if low CO2 is an essential buying factor is the Corsa VXR at 174g/km of CO2, singnificantly higher than the Ford Fiesta ST.

Reliability

• Three steering recalls for this model
• Mix of new and old components
• Owners have reported few problems

The Mk5 Vauxhall Corsa has proved itself as a reliable workhorse. This is thanks in part to Vauxhall’s decision to heavily modifying the previous-generation car rather than creating an all-new model and potentially introducing new gremlins.

There are significant numbers of fresh components in the suspension and steering systems, as well as new and revised engines and gearboxes, but overall the potential for significant problems should be significantly reduced.

Indications are that a small number of those revised steering components have suffered maladies, resulting in three recalls by the vehicle inspectorate VOSA, all of which should now have been rectified on the affected models.

Those optional safety systems too are found in other Vauxhalls and haven’t proven to be troublesome.

Parkers’ Owners’ Reviews section suggests customers of the Mk4 Corsa were broadly positive, and few cited issues of concern, save for the less powerful engines struggling to cope with out-of-town driving.