Opel Corsa GS Line – tasty orange

The small urban hatchback with a lightning bolt in its emblem was waiting for the biggest change in its almost forty-year history in the new sixth generation. We recently tested the version of this successful car with a weaker engine with a power of 74kW (100k), so we were very happy to be able to compare the most powerful version that the Corsa has received so far.

The integration of Opel into the PSA concern is already in full swing and the new Corsa now shares technology with the French models of the B segment. Its closest relative is the current Peugeot 208, which we have already tested , but also only with the weaker motorization. But before we get behind the wheel of the new Corsa, let's see how the French-German merger actually happened…

Opel was part of the American concern GM (General Motors) for almost 90 years. Subsequently, only in 2012, Opel informed the public about the creation of an alliance with the PSA group, which five years later, in March 2017, completely bought it from the original American owner for a price of €2.2 billion. At that time, the new Corsa was already being worked on and the first test prototypes were seen. The new ownership was not to change anything significantly and the Corsa was to be completed on the platform of the larger Astra. But the PSA group realized that for every new Corsa sold on the original GM platform, it would have to pay a license fee to this concern for the use of its components, just like for Astra or Insignia.

While there was nothing that could be done with Astra as she was only halfway through her life cycle, it was different with Corsa. The originally developed model was redesigned on the PSA platform, specifically on the CMP base, on which the Peugeot 208 or Citroen DS 3 Crossback stands. The advantages of this step are clear, and the subsequent profits from Corsa will be much greater for the car company. The platform from PSA also allows for a purely electric installation, so the little Corsa has the prerequisites for full electrification.

But let's finally go to the tested piece in GS Line equipment, that is, with an optical package that gives it more ferocity. Two-tone painting, a low roof, a wide grille in the front bumper, cloudy LED headlights and a decent rear spoiler – it looks nice. The Corsa has its own unmistakable face, and at first glance, you can attribute its similarity to the Peugeot 208 only by the side silhouette.

Corporate infotainment, which fortunately does not have air conditioning controls on the sides like in Peugeot, which we appreciate, but its implementation in the instrument panel instead of in the space above the dashboard is a little less so. The similarities continue with the identical selector of the automatic transmission, to which the electronic parking brake is linked. Opel has kept its multifunctional steering wheel, and because the Corsa does not have an i-Cockpit, you look at the alarm clocks through the rim of the steering wheel and not over it. We like the preservation of the classic buttons for important functions including the start / stop system shutdown, the classic round steering wheel, the comfortable seats and the overall workmanship. A point for more conservative customers.

Of course, the new Corsa is also equipped with a number of assistance systems. Here we must first advise that they do not return to their original settings after restarting. In other words, if you turn off lane assist in the evening, it will still be off in the morning. Thumb up.

The only thing that always turns on again is the stop / start system, but it has its own physical button, so you don't have to click through the infotainment and look for an item in some small menu. The rest of the thumbs up.

The tested car was equipped with Matrix LED headlights, the function of which we were more than satisfied with. The automatic switching of dipped and high beams works perfectly and not once did someone flash me from the opposite direction. We also praise the additional function of the adaptive cruise control with adjustable distance and automatic start in the column. We don't have thumbs up anymore, but we would give them all the thumbs up again…

The version we tested was equipped with a 1.2 Turbo unit with an output of 96 kW (130 hp) with 230 Nm at 1,750 rpm. It can officially handle 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds and push the orange little one to speeds approaching 200 km/h. At the moment, this is the top of the range, and it is a question whether the OPC will eventually come with a classic engine, or whether it will be a version reserved for a purely electric drive. We advocate the first option. We are also probably conservative customers…

The drive unit is through and through concern, and the sound and performance are therefore almost identical. The engine grumbles a bit when starting out, but it quiets down at steady speed and you wouldn't guess it has an odd number of cylinders. It goes behind the gas as soon as you think of acceleration and at higher revs it plays on such a small half-six cylinder. There is also a sports mode, in which the sound of the engine is enhanced by the speakers, just like in the sister Peugeot 208.

However, we were most pleased with the eight-speed automatic transmission, which simply fits such a city car. It does not confuse, it does not choke the engine at low speeds, and its overall tuning is without exaggeration one of the best in this category.

Also thanks to the gearbox, it is not a problem to drive along the highway at a constant speed of 130 with a consumption of up to 7.5 liters. The engine settles easily above 2,500 rpm in eighth gear and purrs quietly. The total consumption was stabilized at a weekly average of 7.2 liters per 100 kilometers. And 90% in Sport mode. If you move more on the highway, the value will of course be higher, but if you are more of a suburban type, it will reward you with much more favorable values even under the 6 liter limit.

The chassis was tuned by Opel itself, and for the sake of comfort, it was set to a softer setting. Comfort on the road is a bit better than the sportier Peugeot 208, but that doesn't mean that the softer-feeling Corsa can't lean on the inner wheel and carve out a turn. On the contrary, when you press the gas pedal, it will surprise you with its certain expression, and it is thanks to the chassis that it sweeps the county roads and curves brilliantly.

The latest Corsa tells everyone who is afraid of the PSA concern or three-cylinder engines to come and try this great little car. Perhaps because of this, the new Corsa is better than ever before and has a great chance of becoming a worthy competitor in this crowded segment. For a price slightly above €18,000 in this equipment, you will get a full-fledged car with all today's assistants and gadgets, which will make driving more and more enjoyable every day.

[rl_gallery id=" 9700 "]