After 32 years and four generations, almost 12 million Corsa were sold in Europe, including 2.8 million Corsa cars.Opel Corsa is one of the most Popular timeless models of its class. So the question is whether the car of the year for Greece can remain a best seller. And if it is worth it.
The necessary recommendation with the Corsa is as follows: It is, if not the friendliest, a of the friendliest perhaps, to the Greek user cars that the global automotive industry has to offer. And it's not just the menu in Greek, but also the rich equipment, the economy, the quality, the price at which all this is offered - and more.
Inside
The new Corsa, apart from the obvious - successful - attempt to raise the level of construction, shows from the first hour that it is focused on comfort and the creation of a friendly environment for the driver and his passengers.
The design, which is reminiscent of the Adam, inside, what does it show us? A modern two-tone paint scheme, a beautiful three-spoke steering wheel with controls on it (my only objection is the position of the radio controls, which I think would be more usable on the left side) and a state of the art screen in the middle of the dashboard, which runs through a stylish piano black line, which also gives a touch of luxury. In general, at first glance one understands the very good quality of plastics of the board. But that's not the pleasant surprise, neither the menu nor the ergonomics.
It is the fact that the driver, on the instrument panel and on the display in the middle of the dashboard, sees all the necessary instructions and indications in Greek. From the menu on the -excellent- touch screen, to the fuel, tyre pressure, oil, etc. That alone makes you think that Opel honors you as its customer, since this is also a form of personalisation that should be taken for granted.
Otherwise, the Corsa is of very good interior quality, with good materials, nice colours and design, plenty of space and usability, ergonomics and a good interior design.equipment that... no more. "Dissonance" the fact that the light is missing from the locker of the passenger.
And now that we've said equipment: From our test Corsa, only the... coffee maker was missing. Its equipment is more than Top: Screens, reversing camera and radar-sounding indicators that make (and) parking a game. And the steering wheel is already lightweight, and has a "city" mode, making it so light that twists with one finger!
The dashboard is very well designed, not only in terms of practicality but also in terms of appearance (colours, font, etc.). The seats deserve praise as well, offering good support and, above all, comfort. Among the... oddities of the test, the fact that it has a mirror in the driver's sunshade, but not in the passenger's! And how will the passenger seat be painted?
On the road
We said that the new Corsa is focused on comfort. So, the rolling quality and comfort provided by the suspension is one level up from the category. Very good sound insulation. But how is it on the road in general?
The engine 1.3 litre, 95 hp diesel has fit the car like a glove. Its torque helps it move swiftly, to the point where it approaches the performance, or rather the feel, of a 1.6 petrol. Nimble and economical at the same time (with a drive that included city centre commutes and very pressured starts, average fuel consumption didn't exceed 5,6 litres per 100 km) the engine, with the operation of the Eco (contains start-stop) drives the Corsa very quickly, if necessary and... even cheaperwhether you have to or not. In short, the 1.3 in our test, has very good pulling power, while being superior, terrible on fuel consumption, without being noisy.
What about road behaviour? The Corsa is safe and predictable. It is friendly for the driver, tilts within reasonable limits and understeers within reasonable limits if pressed on closed tracks, but warns the driver earlier and gives scope for "picking up", before electronic aids stepped in to do the job instead. On open tracks, however, these understeer tendencies recede, while at very high speeds and on poor road surfaces, cruising tendencies can occur, but even if you... fight it, the Corsa refuses to get off course.
Honorable mentions deserve however the brakes his. They are among the strongest in its class and are capable of bailing you out of any difficult situation.
In conclusion, then, with a price close to the psychological limit of 10,000 euros, with equipment found in larger classes, but without being able to find the area in which it is lacking, the new Corsa has every reason to put itself in the "elite" of its class and can expect an equally impressive, if not more impressive, run than its predecessors. And, to close with a thought I had while driving it: after all, perhaps the hardest audience when it comes to cars is women. If you can find a car that satisfies a woman in everything, then you've hit the bull's-eye. I think that's what Opel has achieved with the new Corsa...
