The Corsa car offers unbeatable low running costs, a great cabin, tidy handling and smart stylish looks, but what happens when you board up the rear windows and throw away the rear seats?
On paper, you have the making of a fine small delivery van, that’s what.
There are two engines to choose from, an 80PS 1.2-litre petrol and a 75PS 1.3 diesel that is capable of an incredible combined 61.4mpg. Both sit in the lowest insurance group.
Inside it’s pure Corsa car, which is great, but the van gets miserly spec levels. For example, to have steering wheel adjustment cost an added £85.
Making up for the poor kit-count is the large rear flat floor that boasts a class best 550kg payload and the ability to swallow 920 litres of air. There have been some thoughtful touches, too, with the option of a full-length parcel shelf to conceal the load without robbing rear vision.
On the road and in the city the Corsavan excels, its diminutive proportions making the most out of every opportunity while parking is a cinch. Despite the hefty payload, the cosseting ride remains unlike other vans, and removing the rear seats has done little to effect refinement and noise levels. The same goes for the drive – it all feels very Corsa car-like, and like the car the 75PS diesel suits the van well: what it lacks in power it makes up in torque.
The only criticisms with the van apply to the car too – the steering is too light and lacking in feel. Our van also had a noticeable tendency to lift-off oversteer mid-bend. It’s not dangerous but consider optional skid-control (£225) for hard-charging drivers.
Vauxhall’s supermini van is competitive on costs. At 13p per mile (chk1) only a stolen supermarket trolley is a cheaper way of carting stuff around. Stacked up against the competition only arch-enemy Ford’s Fiesta pips it (chk2), but the Corsavan’s the better vehicle.