Opel Corsa E - completely redesigned
Better equipment, finer materials and a much more pleasant driving experience. Opel has made sure that the fifth generation Corsa is a strong player in the increasingly even competition in the B segment.
Corsa is an important component of General Motors' portfolio. Over 32 years, five generations of the model were developed and 12,4 million cars were sold. In many markets, the Corsa is one of the most popular models, and sales in Europe of more than 200 cars per year place it in the top ten.
In 1982, the angular Corsa A hit the showrooms. After 11 years, it was time for the crazy Corsa B, which immediately became a favorite of women. It is also the most selected Corsa in history with 4 million cars produced. In 2000, Opel launched the Corsa C. The car retained the characteristic shape of its predecessor, but with fewer curves, it became much more serious. For some too serious for a B-segment car, the Corsa D designers let their imagination run wild. The body and interior of the car are outlined with bolder lines.
Corsa E is an attempt to develop a well proven formula. Looking at the car in profile, we notice that the shape of the body does not differ from the known Corsa D. Just like the contours of the window lines or the shape of the doorways. The analogies are the result of the technical relationship between the two Corsa generations. Opel engineers have kept the body, replacing most of the bolted parts. The decision divided the automotive world into two camps - one for a completely new model, the other for a deep facelift.
Adam's outgrowths also appeared in the fifth generation Corsa - especially noticeable in the front apron. Are links to a smaller model a good idea? A matter of taste. On the other hand, the considerable variety of 3- and 5-door versions deserves praise. The five-door Corsa is a proposition for those interested in buying a practical or even a family car. Those looking for a more stylish car with a sporty twist can opt for the three-door Corsa. We don't have exact statistics, but considering the cars you see on Polish roads, we dare say that the three-door Corsa are more popular than the three-door Polo, Fiest or Yaris, whose designers limited themselves to lengthening the front end. doors and rearrangement of the central pillar of the roof.
B-segment buyers are full of young people looking for driving pleasure. The previous Corsa's suspension didn't provide above-average cornering traction, and the inaccurate steering system didn't improve the situation. Opel took the criticism to heart. The Corsa's suspension has been completely rebuilt. The car also received an improved steering system. The changes made the Corsa much more responsive to commands, fitting into corners more readily and sending more information about the situation at the points of contact between the tires and the road. The better matching of the spring and damper characteristics also improved the damping method.
The previous generation Corsa was praised for its spacious interior. The situation has not changed. The car can easily accommodate four adults with a height of about 1,8 m. The luggage compartment holds 285 liters. The value is not a record - this is a typical result for a B-segment car, which is more than enough for everyday use or vacation trips for two. Opel did not forget about the double floor, which in the upper position eliminates the threshold of the trunk and the displacement that occurs when the seats are folded.
Corsa does not disappoint with the quality of the finishing materials. The upper part of the dashboard is sheathed with soft plastic. Similar material as well as fabric can be found on the door. However, Opel could work on a one-piece assembly, especially on the elements located at the bottom of the cab. These Adam inspirations are not limited to the front end. The lower parts of the Corsa and Adam dashboards are doubled. The differences begin with the height of the ventilation grilles. Corsa received longitudinal, more elegant deflectors, as well as a more serious instrument panel and a larger display between them. The highlight of the program is the IntelliLink multimedia system. The Mirror Link function allows you to send an image from the smartphone screen to the car display. It also provides access to various applications.
IntelliLink has a clear and intuitive menu. The navigation app available in the tested vehicles didn't always give directions ahead of time. The screen of the multimedia system should be higher. You must take your eyes off the road while following the navigation directions. To see the information on the left side of the display, you have to tilt your head or remove your right hand from the steering wheel - provided that we are in the lead in the textbook three-three layout.
Forward visibility is good. It is reinforced by additional windows in the A-pillars and rear-view mirrors attached to the door trim. You can see less from the rear, especially on the three-door Corsa with its slanted window line. Those who do not like to maneuver “in mirrors” can buy parking sensors (front and rear) and a rear-view camera. Importantly, Opel has not decided to significantly limit the freedom of bundling with add-ons. Many brands make the availability of options dependent on the level of equipment. Opel sees no reason for a buyer to buy cruise control, a leather steering wheel, automatic air conditioning, parking sensors, LED daytime running lights, a heated windshield, a rearview camera or an IntelliLink infotainment system for the base Corsa Essentia.
Another plus for rare and unique items of equipment in the segment - a bike rack hidden in the rear bumper, bi-xenon headlights, heated steering wheel and windshield, blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, parking assistant and lane departure warning systems, and also the possibility of crashing into the rear of the vehicle in front.
The range of power units is wide. Opel offers petrol 1.2 (70 hp), 1.4 (75, 90 and - 1.4 Turbo - 100 hp) and 1.0 Turbo (90 and 115 hp), as well as a diesel 1.3 CDTI (75 and 95 hp). I think everyone will find something for themselves. Fuel-efficient diesels are best suited for long-distance travel. Naturally aspirated 1.2 and 1.4 engines with indirect fuel injection - a tribute to customers worried about the high maintenance costs of turbocharged engines or planning to install LPG. The three-cylinder 1.0 Turbo, on the other hand, is a good compromise between good performance and reasonable fuel consumption - we dropped below 5,5 l/100 km when driving slowly outside of the city.
The three-cylinder engine received very good sound insulation, and the balance shaft and support pads with the desired characteristics effectively dampen vibrations. In the comfort category, the Corsa 1.0 Turbo leads the B segment with three-cylinder engines. The new bike is so successful that it strongly influences the feasibility of buying a Corsa 1.4 Turbo. The four-cylinder engine puts 30 Nm more to the wheels, but in practice the amount of extra traction is hard to determine. Moreover, the 1.0 Turbo unit reacts more spontaneously to the gas, and its lighter weight has a positive effect on the car's agility.
Those who are looking for a car for a comfortable city ride can order a 90-horsepower Corsa 1.4 with an "automatic". A choice of automated 5-speed Easytronic 3.0 transmission, as well as a 6-speed gearbox with torque converter. The latter shifts gears more smoothly, but slightly increases fuel consumption and costs PLN 2300 more than the Easytronic gearbox, which in turn increases the car's price by PLN 3500.
The price list starts with a 3-door Corsa Essentia 1.2 (70 hp) for PLN 40. Air conditioning and audio equipment are available at an additional cost. Therefore, you need to prepare PLN 800 for a good start. A 45-door Corsa with similar equipment costs PLN 100. It makes no sense to retrofit the basic version of Essentia - for almost the same money we get a higher Enjoy level. Versions with more powerful engines also take off from this ceiling. The most interesting proposal is the new 5 Turbo engine. We will spend at least PLN 46 on a Corsa with a 400 hp variant.
Thus, the new version of the urban Opel is not an offer for customers who care about every zloty. Smaller amounts will be enough, for example, for the recently introduced Fabia III. Ford is also fiercely fighting for its customers. The advertising campaign gives you the opportunity to buy a 60 hp Fiesta. with air conditioning and audio system for PLN 38. For a similarly equipped Fiesta with a three-cylinder 950 EcoBoost engine, you need to spend PLN 1.0. In the case of B-segment cars, a difference of several thousand zł often determines the purchase decision. However, Opel has accustomed customers to advertising campaigns - and in the case of Corsa, they seem to be a matter of time.
The new generation Corsa drives well, has a nice and spacious interior, and the 1.0 Turbo engines provide very decent performance with reasonable fuel consumption. The car doesn't shock with body styling, which in an era of increasingly attractive B-segment will be seen by some would-be buyers as the Corsa's trump card. As well as a wide range of options, there are amenities that a few years ago were only found in high-end cars.
