Opel Corsa Review: 2011 Model | Corsa | Car Buyers Guide

I'm not going to lie to you: the 'new' Opel Corsa is not exactly a radical departure from the model it replaces. No doubt you worked that out for yourself after a glance at the car in the pictures. This is more of a mid-life nip and tuck, carried out in a bid to ensure that small car buyers don't forget the Corsa in a pool of talented opposition.

Sales figures from 2010 emphasise the Corsa's predicament: it was outsold in Ireland by the Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio, Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen Polo. Despite the focus on value in the market right now it's clear that small car buyers still want a bit of panache. Sure, it absolutely has to be in Band A or B for tax, but it also must have the latest gadgets and, well, it must look good.

Enter the updated Corsa. It's always been a sharply styled car, so Opel has tweaked the shape rather than revamping it. The most obvious alterations are found up front, though you need to see the new car alongside the old to appreciate the sportier appearance given by the redesigned headlights, grille and air intakes. It's effective nonetheless.

If you really want your Corsa to stand out then you'll opt for either a Limited Edition model or the Linea Stripes Pack. The former upgrade includes tasty dark 17-inch alloys, sports suspension, front fog lights, darkened rear lights, tinted rear window glass, heated door mirrors, sports front seats, a leather steering wheel, cruise control, body coloured interior details and a distinctive black roof. It really transforms the Corsa.

The Linea Stripes Pack features less, but stands out just as much thanks to two bold white stripes running the length of the car, complemented by white door mirror caps and 17-inch alloys - in white naturally. Opel will only allow you to apply this pack to some of the paint colours and a quick play with the car configurator on Opel Ireland's website suggests that the cool Lime Green hue of our test car in Amsterdam is not available here with the stripes. Not that many Irish car buyers would be so daring.

Most would sensibly put the extra cash into Opel's new infotainment system. It's called Touch & Connect and is based around a neatly integrated colour touch-screen interface. It's very easy to use and features Bluetooth connectivity, 28-country satnav along with iPod and USB inputs. While it's no cheaper than a portable satnav system, it's far better value than Opel's previous offerings and it really lifts the ambience of the interior.

The cabin itself has received a minor refresh, though it appears to be mostly down to colour and trim changes than any redesign - and the bolder colours are reserved for more expensive versions. As ever it's a comfortable car in which it's easy to find the perfect driving position. Over-the-shoulder visibility in the three-door Corsa is an issue though.

On the road the Corsa is best described as average. There are no major flaws in the chassis, but neither does it excel in any one area. The Fiesta is more engaging for instance, while the Renault Clio is more comfortable. That's especially true if you opt for the sports suspension on the Corsa as part of the Limited Edition package.

Hot OPC version aside, all Corsas sold in Ireland fall into Band A or B for tax. The best seller is the 1.2-litre petrol model and it's all the engine the car needs really. Pity then that the manual gearbox has only five ratios, as it's a little noisy at motorway speeds.

Only if you cover a lot of distance should you consider the 1.3-litre CDTi turbodiesel. It's a good partner for the Corsa, but its higher purchase price means it makes economical sense only if you pile on the kilometres. Its torquey delivery suits the relaxed character of the car in general though and it's quiet at speed.

The new Corsa offers buyers more choice than before, particularly in terms of colours and specification. It deserves to be considered alongside the class leaders, but it doesn't move the small hatchback game on.

Have you seen the 2011 Opel Corsa on our roads yet? If not get yourself down to your local Opel showroom to see the revised model, which is available, nationwide. Earlier this year I flew to Amsterdam to see firsthand what changes were made and how they would stack up to other competitor’s in this class. First things first, the new model is all about being expressive and what better way to do this than with some fresh paint options and funky interiors. There are a number of new engine options available but like most petrol heads the first model I found myself drawn too was the turbocharged OPC.

Like all Corsa’s the OPC has had a slight facelift. The model was originally launched in 2007 and has sold 13,000 units to date although I doubt too many were sold in Ireland. Not a lot has changed with the engine. The same 1.6 turbo with 192 hp and 265 Nm in over boost mode powers the hot hatch but it has received a number of changes that have improved the efficiency. It now has a reworked turbo, larger intercooler and a remapped ECU with economy in mind. If you take last year’s car for example the fuel consumption in combined cycle has been lowered down to 7.3 liters per 100 km which is -7.6% and the CO2 emissions are down to 172 g/km which is -9.5% from the previous model. On the Autobahn it will still reach 225 km/h and 100 km/h comes up in just 7.2 seconds. The same six-speed manual transmission is smooth although the gear knob is still ridiculously big. Out on our first test route the car handles well although a little light when pushed though corners. The oversized blue calipers clasp at 308mm front ventilated and 264mm normal rear discs, which scrub speed off well and show no signs of fatigue even after a spirited drive to say the least.

Through some sleepy towns of Amsterdam and heads begin turning, drawn by the pearl white paint, center exit exhaust and 18-inch OPC rims the new Corsa is a little looker. With a redesigned nose featuring new chrome grills and fashionable 'eagle eye' headlights the Corsa is bang up to date and certainly one of the best looking supermini’s in this sector. There is no doom and gloom inside either, the OPC has very comfortable sport Recaro bucket seats and a cool three-spoke flat-bottom leather covered sports steering wheel with the OPC logo.

The usual sport alloy pedals and OPC trim detailing is also flanked around the interior. On my return journey to drop the OPC back I began reflecting on the Corsa and how far it has come. I was a Corsa or Nova SRI owner many moons ago. I have always liked how the small Opel’s handle and look on the road and if you are in the market for a hot hatch, you could do a lot worse that test one of these little beauties.

Opel Corsa OPC

RATING: 7/10