Oppe Corsa supercar has a long history, dating back to 1982, when the car was first sold by Volkswagen. On GM's front-wheel drive (FWD) platform, the early Corsa models were one of the few super-small hatchback on the market until the Peugeot and Renault appeared. From then on, the Battle of Super Ministers began. In 2020, this is Opel’s product: the all-new Opel Corsa 1.2 Turbo Elegance.
Now, I may be harsh, but in recent years the design of older Corsa models seems to be severely affected by French hatchbacks. The Corsa C, produced back in 2000, looked like the intersection of the driver's electric car and the Peugeot 107. Even after a renovation in 2010, the 2006 Corsa D is like a tiny Peugeot 207. The 2014 Corsa looks like it has undergone a major renovation. Its predecessor version. Therefore, it is not surprising that Opel was acquired by the French PSA Group (Peugeot Société Anonyme) in 2017. This is not a good thing for Opel, as they are designing a new Corsa. GM procurement platform. The result of the merger of
is that the existing design is abandoned and the new Corsa has been completely redesigned and rebuilt on the PSA universal modular platform, which is also shared by numerous other French cars such as DS3 Crossback and Peugeot 208. Influenced by the French, the new Corsa has greatly improved its elegance and luxury compared to the old Corsa. From the appearance alone, the Corsa has a much better balance and balance than its predecessor, with a wider bumper that reflects the width of the car. It is actually about 30mm wide. The car is all made of 16-inch alloy and 195/55 cross-section tires, and the body shell looks pretty. It is also longer and taller than before, but now it is only available as a 5-door hatchback.
In the cabin, the attention to details is also obvious. The interior of the new Corsa makes the old style's outdated appearance look simpler. You'll get a 7-inch dashboard set (quite small), but the display is clear and can be customized via the knob on the indicator rod. Unfortunately, these monitors don't show any beautiful graphics or change colors when you switch between various driving modes. It feels like utilitarianism is almost the same. Most buyers of this car may not care too much about it.
infotainment screen is a 10-inch unit lifted from Peugeot 208, although the interface has slightly changed. There are some physical buttons underneath the screen itself, but I actually find myself using the touch screen more often. The matte surface of the screen also reduces glare and reflection, making daytime operation easier.
Other good places in the cabin include: the wireless charging pad below the infotainment screen, buttons for the automatic stop/start and security monitoring system (lane departure warning/active lane keeping assist system and parking sensor), and the gear lever. A fun little thing, gear lever. Although it is perfectly functional, its shape is a bit disturbing. I was embarrassed to admit that I had actually switched to reverse instead of parking multiple times. As with the infotainment screen, you'll find the same gear lever in the 208.
Overall, the cabin is a mixed bag. Literally. A large number of switchgears from PSA. But, like the cabin feels disconnected, I'm going to say: It works well. If it works, why change it?
The passenger seat next to the back row is very firm, but it has a certain supporting role. Two adults won’t have trouble later, but getting three adults to adapt is never easy. The transmission channel is not very wide, but its overall size makes it difficult to accommodate three pairs of legs in foot space. Short drive is good, but if I wear the rear passengers, I won't get stuck in the car. The separate 60:40 seats can be folded down to expand the Corsa's 309-liter suitcase. (One of the best in the class)
On the road, the chassis feels quite stable, and the body rolls on the side when turning. The cabin is also very sound insulation and is quiet, and the engine buzz is almost impossible to hear in the air conditioning sound.Under the hood, it's surprising that this 1.2-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine is also from the PSA. However, this vibrant small unit produces 128 horsepower and 230Nm of torque, which is enough for a car weighing just over a ton. On paper, the car completed the century sprint in 8.7 seconds. But I kind of doubt it is actually faster. Especially when you snap it into sport and manual shift modes.
8-speed Aisin transmission is definitely a treat, comparable to the BMW or Mercedes' ZF units. The paddles on the steering wheel respond quickly, with a delay from pulling the pedal to shifting less than a second. Now, this is where gauge clusters become obstacles.
Because the engine is small and quiet even when driving at high speeds, it is difficult for me to determine when to switch to the higher gear. The speed counter is basically just a thought bar that runs through the bottom of the screen. But there is a shift indicator on the screen that tells you when the best shift time is. Although the car's computer changes speed when you approach the peak RPM, honestly, there is little or no risk of over-rotating the motor. Still, the larger rev dial is comforting. Given that the Corsa has a digital display, this is a huge oversight for Opel/PSA. The electric steering rack is quite numb and has no gloss and has little feedback at slower speeds. But it's as incredible as Opel Astra. Unlike Astra, it's much easier to put this car on the road.
But this is a fast, flexible small car. Given its weight (or lack of weight) and power metrics, you can really take this car on a winding path and enjoy your fullest.
might be a bit far-fetched to say this, but the Opel Corsa has actually become a very popular car. At least for me. Perhaps France's acquisition did pay off.
