The Corsa has been Vauxhall's bestselling car for many years. Strong in retail, it also has a major presence in the fleet sector, appealing to public sector fleets, pool car buyers and as body shop courtesy cars, as well as to the daily rental sector.

The new model is now on sale and is a significant departure from its predecessor for a number of reasons.

Sharing is key

The previous two generations of Corsa were a joint development with Fiat, which also produced the Grande Punto in 2006. A heavy update for the Corsa in 2014 ensured its longevity, although the rapid advancement of technology in vehicles these days means it doesn't take much standing still to fall behind.

The new Corsa aims to address that, and with French automotive giant and Vauxhall owner PSA providing resources for development this time around, the Corsa has been produced in record time for the brand.

As is often the case with small cars, the Corsa was developed from a common platform with PSA which already underpins the DS 3 Crossback and Peugeot 208. This has helped with the speedy process of bringing the car to market, as well as providing Vauxhall with the same versatility of offering petrol, diesel and electric versions of the same car. The electric Corsa-E will come in a couple of months, although it is all over Vauxhall's current marketing.

It is an attractive, if conservatively styled, model, although some of the interior fabric designs help inject a little more character.

PSA engines and gearboxes

We were able to try new petrol and diesel versions, which between them are expected to make up around 90% of total Corsa sales.

Petrol versions from launch include a 75hp 1.2-litre with three cylinders, with PSA heritage. There is also a turbocharged 100hp version available. The entry-level engine comes with a five-speed manual transmission, while the 100hp variant comes with a six-speed manual, or an optional eight-speed automatic.

While PSA has a 1.5-litre diesel engine in its stable that would have been available for the Corsa, the engine deployed in the car was signed off for development under General Motors before the PSA takeover of its European division.

It has one cylinder fewer than the diesel offered in the Peugeot 208, Citroën C3 and DS 3 Crossback, and produces 102hp. Also fitted to the Astra since autumn 2019, on paper it appears to be an exceptionally clean and efficient motor, even under the stringent WLTP regime.

In fact, all the engines are flattered by the new Corsa's crash diet compared with its predecessor. The car is just about as long as the outgoing model, although it is a little wider and significantly lower. However, the car tips the scales at up to 108kg less than the previous Corsa, and the entry-level model is 980kg.

It means the petrol versions launch with CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km, with the diesel achieving 85g/km.

There will be no three-door Corsa in future. Given the low margins in small cars, manufacturers are increasingly sticking to a five-door format, which the majority of customers prefer. It means every car has the same bodywork with less differentiation, reducing costs.

The entry-level Corsa undercuts the Peugeot 208 on price, and although it is positioned a little higher than the Ford Fiesta, the Vauxhall is better equipped. Noteworthy technology includes LED lights as standard across the range, as well as lane departure warning and lane-keeping assistance.