Opel Corsa – loves the city

The birth of the currently sixth generation Corsa was quite thorny and complicated. Literally at the last moment, Opel had to switch to the Common Modular Platform (CMP), which is also used by the Peugeot 208, for this car, so all work on the development of the chassis and bodywork had to start anew. However, the new Corsa hides its origins perfectly. The design of this, once born German, is in the spirit of the last Opels and does not lack a sporty line, but it is no longer classically German austere. The design of the new Corsa has been very successful and the unsightly low-mounted headlights of the previous generation are gone.

Despite the fact that the Corsa from the promotional materials convinces that it is one hundred percent German, it has mainly French blood in its veins. It uses the PSA modular platform, which made it possible, for example, that the wheelbase is two millimeters shorter than that of its sister Peugeot 208 , and they also differ in the rest of the external dimensions. It benefited the car very much between generations, it is bigger and has more athletic proportions. As a bonus, the new Corsa is also significantly lighter than its predecessor.

However, the Corsa does not hide its belonging to the French concern even inside, especially according to some drivers. However, the interior architecture is peculiarly German, which will definitely appeal to many people. Forget the Sci-Fi interior of the Ála 208 with a flattened small steering wheel and control via touch screens. The Corsa has a classic steering wheel, a classically shaped dashboard and completely ordinary air conditioning controls. It's great when you get behind the wheel and get your bearings in no time. Ergonomics per unit.

What the Corsa doesn't get plus points for are some of the materials used. Half of the dashboard is covered by shiny plastic and as a result it looks quite cheap. Or at least much cheaper than in the relative Peugeot, which, on the other hand, managed to get the most out of materials and quality. The display is placed elegantly in the central part, and the infotainment system itself is no different from the rest of the PSA models. It has nice and modern graphics, but it could definitely be a bit faster.

Seats focus mainly on comfort and your back won't hurt even after a long drive. At the same time, there is no danger that they won't hold you in your place in the first corner that you take faster. With a place in the back (as it usually is in this category) there is no terno, and the new Corsa does not deviate in any way among compact hatchbacks. The rear doors are small, so it takes a bit of gymnastics before a tall adult can fit in. However, sitting in the back is quite comfortable. It's not perfect for a trip to the sea in full occupancy, but you can definitely manage a shorter trip here. Taller passengers will have a bit of a problem with headroom.

The trunk here is defined by the value of 309 liters, so the Corsa has improved between generations. This is a decent number for the class, and above all, this luggage compartment has a regular shape, so you will use it to the fullest. Otherwise, there are no miracles here and there are at least pressed hooks for hanging shopping bags. Everything just flies like this, and you can't avoid finishing some of that mesh.

In contrast to the larger Astra, the Corsa's engines are completely under the direction of PSA. The offer is exactly the same, and we saddled a medium-powered gasoline engine that produces 74 kW / 100 hp and 205 Nm. It reaches 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds and can (supposedly) run up to 194 km/h. The dynamics are decent, but don't expect too much sporting ambitions from this engine. Overtaking or speeding through the highway can be done without blinking an eye, also thanks to the connection with a great 6-speed manual transmission. However, the ideal territory for her is city traffic, where she feels like a fish in water. It takes off from intersections without hesitation, and it is most evident in the Sport mode, where it sharpens the tuning of the gas pedal a little and a nicer and more predatory "engine sound" starts pouring into the speakers. Not that the three-cylinder doesn't have its characteristic slurred expression. It even suits me here and doesn't bother me like it does with some more sporty cars.

The chassis is conceptually the same as its French siblings, so you'll find McPherson struts up front and torsion bar trailing arms at the rear. However, its tuning is significantly different and you can tell it especially on worse surfaces. Who would have ever said it, but the Opel is more comfortable this time and absorbs bumps better without having a negative effect on handling. In turns, the chassis is more stable and does not let itself be thrown by bumps like its sister 208.

The consumption will depend a lot on the driving style and it is not a problem to drive at a brisk pace even for 10l//100km. In the city, count on eight, but outside the city you can easily reach values starting with five. Combined, it drew 6.1 l/100 km from the tank, which is a very decent value considering the test conditions.

In Slovakia, the new Corsa will have to deal with strong competition, because it falls into the still swallowed segment B, i.e. small hatchbacks. The leader in this category has traditionally been Skoda Fabia for many years. Other rivals include, for example, the Peugeot 208, VW Polo, Toyota Yaris or, for example, the Renault Clio . However, after a week of driving, we know that the Corsa has the prerequisites to rank among the top sellers.

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