Vauxhall Corsa and Corsa-e updated for 2021

Vauxhall has updated the Corsa line-up for 2021, with a handful of cosmetic and mechanical tweaks that promise to keep the hatchback competitive with the Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio and Volkswagen Polo.

The revised Vauxhall Corsa is available to order now, with prices starting from £16,440 for the entry-level petrol model. The pure-electric Corsa-e has been subject to a similar range of updates and is now priced from £26,640 – around £1,000 cheaper than before.

Vauxhall’s biggest change for the pure-electric Corsa-e is the introduction of a sporty new SRi Nav Premium trim-level, which sits between the car’s existing SE Nav Premium and Elite Nav Premium specifications.

It’s priced from £27,890 (including the Government’s £3,000 plug-in car grant) and adds 17-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass and a dedicated SRi interior with sports seats, sports pedals and red trim pieces.

Vauxhall has also introduced a new Elite trim for the combustion-engined Corsa. It’s priced from £18,355 and, with the exception of an in-built sat-nav system, features the same level of equipment as the firm’s existing Elite Nav model.

SRi models now come with Vauxhall’s light pack as standard, which adds LED fog lamps, LED tail lights and automatic headlights. Vauxhall has also added a fresh set of two-tone 17-inch alloy wheels to both the SRi and SRi Nav variants.

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Finally, the Corsa can now be specced with a more powerful version of PSA’s turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine. The unit has been available to European buyers of the Opel Corsa from launch, and has now joined the Vauxhall range. It generates 128bhp and 230Nm of torque, which lowers the Corsa’s 0–60mph time to 8.2 seconds. It’s offered only with an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Vauxhall Corsa-e: powertrain and performance

The pure-electric Vauxhall Corsa-e shares the same e-CMP underpinnings as the Peugeot e-208. As such, it’s powered by the same 50kWh battery pack and 134bhp electric motor mounted on the front axle, which provide a 0–60mph time of 7.6 seconds and a maximum claimed range of 209 miles.

The powertrain has a choice of three drive modes – Normal, Eco and Sport. Vauxhall says the 209-mile range figure is achievable with the car in Normal mode. Sport mode unlocks the powertrain’s maximum performance, albeit with a trade-off of around a 10 percent reduction (around 20 miles) in the car’s maximum range.

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Eco mode deactivates most of the car’s creature comforts to maximise the distance between charges, with Vauxhall claiming a 40 percent advantage over the Sport mode’s figure. So, a bit of hasty maths shows the Corsa-e has a theoretical maximum range of around 260 miles – although that’s not a figure Vauxhall lays claim to.

All Corsa-e models can support 100kW DC rapid charging, which will top the car’s battery pack up to 80 percent in around 30 minutes. Buyers can also have their choice of either a 7.4kW or 11kW on-board charger which, when connected to a 22kW public charger, can provide the same level of charge in either five or three hours respectively.

Vauxhall Corsa: combustion engine range

The combustion-engined Corsa range is built around PSA’s familiar 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol and 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel engines. Petrol buyers have their choice of three options – a non-turbocharged entry-level model with 74bhp and two turbocharged units, with either 99bhp or 128bhp.

Vauxhall’s entry-level petrol engine comes with a five-speed manual gearbox, while the middling model features a six-speed manual – although, for an extra £1,770, buyers can opt for an eight-speed automatic. The 130bhp unit is only available with the automatic.

There’s only one diesel Corsa on offer, which develops 101bhp and 250Nm of torque. The unit comes with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard and has a maximum claimed WLTP fuel economy figure of 70.6mpg.

Vauxhall Corsa: trim-levels and prices

This latest update has expanded the Corsa’s trim-level count to eight. The entry-level SE model comes as standard with LED headlights, 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control and a traffic sign recognition system. Inside, there’s air-conditioning, a leather steering wheel and a seven-inch infotainment system with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Corsa SE Premium model is priced from £17,270 and builds on the base model’s specification with heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, automatic windscreen wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and rear parking sensors.

SRi models start from £19,690 and feature a similar level of technology to the SE model. There are some cosmetic tweaks, though, such as 17-inch alloy wheels, a contrasting black roof and rear privacy glass. The makeover continues inside with sports seats, alloy sports pedals and an adjustable steering column with a multifunction steering wheel.

Vauxhall’s SRi Premium model starts at £20,955 and again adds heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, along with climate control, an electronic parking brake, electrically folding door mirrors and keyless go.

The comfort-focussed Elite model starts from £18,355 and features 16-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, a centre armrest for front seat passengers and a seven-inch digital gauge cluster. 

Two option packs are available. Elite Nav spec adds £500 to the car’s price and includes Vauxhall’s in-built sat-nav system with European mapping, while the Elite Nav Premium model is priced from £21,475 and adds 17-inch diamond-cut alloys, climate control and an upgraded 10-inch infotainment system.

At the top of the Corsa range sits the Ultimate Nav model. It’s priced from £25,165 and features all of the aforementioned equipment, along with Matrix LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, Alcantara seat upholstery, adaptive cruise control and an intelligent traffic sign recognition system which can adapt the car’s speed to the current limit.

What does the Vauxhall Corsa have to beat? Check out our run-down of the best superminis on sale in the UK now…