New Corsa for a new generation

The new Opel Corsa, recently voted Irish Semperit Car of the Year 2000, is set to appeal to a whole new generation of car buyers, including many ‘first time’ buyers. Especially the 1-litre 58bhp, 3-cylinder model I test drove recently and which comes with a £11,350 price tag (pre-Budget) in Comfort spec.

This third generation of Corsas, which come in Standard, Comfort, Elegance and GSi models, is bigger and roomier front and back than before and has a certain amount of panache and flair.

From the onset, let’s get one thing straight. While retaining some of the style cues of the older model it is in fact a completely new car. It’s wider than its predecessors and the engines have been improved as well to provide more power output. But I do think the designers could have made the front end a bit more attractive. It lacks visual impact, unlike its rear end which definitely comes with a lot more appeal. It’s quite outstanding, really, low and distinctive with a large rear window and high rise tail lights. I liked the black door handles and window surrounds which, together with the black rumble strip - wider along the back than on the sides - provide the finishing touches to what is really a handsome car.

It’s not just the outside that looks well. The quality of the interior is also of a very high standard. It’s easy on the eye with high quality plastics complementing the two-tone gray patterned upholstery. The material is repeated along the doors for a nice warm finish.

The centre stack which holds the radio and ventilation controls is very stylish and is a good example of clear and uncluttered design. Another welcome feature is the radio controls on the steering wheel which allow you adjust the volume and change stations with ease. In fact all controls are easy to see and to reach and I especially liked the two raised arcs on the dashboard, the smaller one for the radio screen and the other neatly holding clear-to-view instrumentation.

There’s enough cubby space for most needs and the glove compartment is one of the biggest I’ve seen in any car in the class (and larger in some cases). Other cubbies are on the front doors, in the centre console and a drinks cubby lurks behind the gear shift. For rear passengers in the three-door version, there are two small triangular pockets on the rear doors.

The version I tested came with a large sunroof which was manually operated. It certainly added to the airy feel of the car.

Nice, too, are the comfy and supportive seats. Should more room be required, the 60:40 split rear seats can be folded forward ... just in case you want to bring along the kitchen sink, or all that sports stuff for the kids. This split is standard across the range. Mind you, the boot is really more than ample to cater for a weekly shop or a family day out. There’s also a light provided in the boot which comes into its own in the long winter evenings when you’re unloading the shopping.

But back to basics, and the Corsa comes with electric power steering, which - like the Punto - only comes into play when needed. On trips, which varied from motorways to city roundabouts, I found the car handled beautifully and steering was effortless at all times. Suspension, too, is much improved as it was a weak point in the older car. In fact I became very fond of this car and wasn’t at all happy at giving it back to Opel.

But from the time you turn on the ignition and drive away, you’ll know this car is different in quite another way. The 1-litre has an unusual noise - sounds almost like a diesel. This is because it has a 3-cylinder engine. It’s a sound, though, that you quickly get used to and it could grow on you. Small though the 1-litre unit is, it’s got the heart of a lion so don’t be afraid to let it rev to get the most of the power available ... and it revs very willingly indeed!

Good too is the precise gear box which comes with a rather long travel shift, as does the clutch.

While on footwork, the Corsa has a foot rest ... a little detail which I appreciate especially on long journeys. Some cars do not allow enough space for this piece of, to me, almost essential equipment. More important, though, is being able to adjust the driving seat to suit your height and this bit of usefulness comes as standard in all Corsas.

Safety issues have also been improved. The new Corsa comes with a more rigid body frame for better protection. There are also side protection mouldings and side impact beams incorporated in all versions. Dual airbags are standard across the range. Side bags are optional extras. Air conditioning is provided as standard in the Elegance option while the Comfort, Elegance and GSi models have tiltable steering column and central locking features.

All Corsas carry a 12-year body panel Anti-Perforation Warranty.

Colours come in a number of solid, two-coat metallic, Brilliant or Mica options with names ranging from Casablanca White to Breeze Blue and Barolo Red. However there is an extra cost for the metallic paint versions.

The new Corsa range also includes the 1.2 16v; 1.4 16v and 1.7 DTL models.

With the 1- litre, let’s face it, you won’t be too interested to know that you can do the 0-100km/h trip in 17 seconds! This distance improves to 14.5 seconds with the 1.7 DTL version. I expect that you’ll probably be far more interested in finding out that you can get up to 50 mpg ... if you take the easy route!

However if you have an extra £600 to spend, my advice is to opt for the bigger 1.2-litre engine version which will set you back £11,950. And if you like an automatic, hang in until February when the first of the automatic versions in this engine size becomes available in Ireland.