• Lightweight body means impressive mpg
• Electric model has good range
• 100hp petrol is fuel economy champion

What are the running costs?

The Corsa’s three petrol engines are all based on the same 1.2-litre three-cylinder unit, which means their economy figures look broadly similar on paper. The naturally aspirated 75hp base-model is the most frugal according to WLTP testing.

The turbocharged 100hp mid-range model is the second-most efficient, losing very little in terms of mpg at the top end over the cheaper engine. However, because this engine doesn’t need to be worked as hard to get up to speed, it’s a little more efficient in the real world. We see no reason why 50mpg shouldn’t be achievable.

It’s also worth noting that the optional eight-speed automatic gearbox is slightly worse for fuel economy than the standard six-speed manual. Our testing resulted in slightly lower mpg than the manual counterpart. We were bumbling around the mid-40mpg range during our time with the higher-powered car.

If it suits your lifestyle, you could have the pure-electric Corsa Electric. Vauxhall says it can cover a maximum of 222 miles on the WLTP cycle. During our testing, we found that to be more like 180 miles, which is perfectly acceptable for local journeys and commuting.

Servicing and warranty

Vauxhall offers a service package which covers the cost of the Corsa’s first MoT and three years servicing. You even get two years of roadside assistance thrown in as part of the deal. Prices start from around £20 per month for petrol cars or roughly £12 per month for electric cars.

You can also sign up to the Vauxhall Service Club, which provides you with a 15% discount on approved accessories, up to 25% off servicing and repairs and a 25% saving on MoTs. Registering to the service is free – just download the MyVauxhall app and create an account to take advantage of the scheme.

Vauxhall offers a three-year/60,000-mile warranty with the Corsa, which is fairly average for the segment. The Hyundai i20 comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, while the Kia Rio is covered for a seven years or 100,000 miles.

Reliability

• Proven chassis and engines from Peugeot
• Build quality seems quite sturdy
• No major recalls

Previous Corsas have average reliability records. The last couple were built using well-proven (or, to be more mean, old) components that dated back to 2006. But this new model is bang-up-to-date, built using modern parts from Peugeot and Citroen.

Peugeot has used the engines for a while now, and they’ve returned few problems which bodes well for the Corsa. Vauxhall’s enormous dealer network should also ensure that you’re never be too far from somebody who’s capable of maintaining and repairing the car.

There have been a couple of recalls, but they were related to minor electrical gremlins such as a problem with the indicators and a grounding issue with one of the airbags. You can also check out our owners review section for feedback from real buyers.