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2015 Opel Corsa Review

OUR TEST CAR: 2015 Opel Corsa 5-Door 1.0 ECOTEC Turbo ecoFLEX (115 PS) Start/Stop 6MT

 
Before we get acquainted with the 2015 Opel Corsa, also known as the 2015 Vauxhall Corsa in the United Kingdom, something needs to be said about Opel AG. More precisely, about how the Corsa morphed from the new kid on the block to the pivotal model in Opel’s lineup.
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The month was September and the year was 1982 when the Corsa A was first shown to the public. Underpinned by the GM4200 platform and launched as a competitor for the hugely popular VW Polo, the subcompact hatchback soon became the biggest sales success story in Opel’s history.

A little-known fact about the first-gen Corsa is that its provenance isn’t German. It was exclusively assembled in Zaragoza, Spain. Due to the huge volume moved by the A, higher-ups decided that the Corsa B (1992 - 2000) would be produced in many locations around the world, including Germany.

The same thing happened to the Corsa C, which was assembled from 2000 to 2006 (2012 in Latin America). From the fourth-generation onwards, Opel adopted the SCCS platform for the supermini model that was manufactured only in Germany and Spain without cutting down on production output.

From generation to generation, the nameplate grew on Opel due to its impressive commercial appeal. As such, the 2015 Opel Corsa we test-driven has some pretty big shoes to fill. When it was presented to the automotive media, Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann declared that he’s confident in the new, fifth generation.

Neumann highlights that the level of comfort, driver assistance, and infotainment systems of the Corsa E represent the elements that will continue the model’s success. The 2015 Opel Corsa is marketed as an all-new generation (fifth in Opel’s case, Mk 4 if it’s wearing Vauxhall badges).

So is this little urban dweller indeed all-new? Well, it is from the A-pillar forward. Behind that, we deal with more than less the same tried and proven 2006 - 2014 Corsa D. For starters, the boot’s 286-liter (10.1 cuFT) cargo volume with the rear seats up is bang on identical.
The Corsa D and Corsa E share many exterior visual cues, but hey - if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Blending quintessential Corsa design elements with Opel’s new, more dynamic styling language, it’s the smallest visual details that make the difference between the E and its honorable predecessor.

The A, B, and C-pillars, along with the windshield, side windows, window frames, and roof are nearly indistinguishable to the previous generation.

Up front, the 2015 Opel Corsa is treated with a pair of wing-shaped LED daytime running lights and redesigned headlight clusters. The round fog lights feature black-painted plastic bezels and chrome surrounding trim, masterfully flanking the lower bumper’s trapezoidal grille.

The distinctive chrome bar that supports the Opel emblem up front and the radiator grille’s two-pattern plastic mesh are the elements that give a bucket load of character to the fifth-generation Corsa.

Try to look at a frontal photo of our red-painted test car with your eyes nearly closed. Yes, the chrome bar is a mustache while the wing-style LED DRLs resemble a pair of bushy eyebrows.

The cheerful face convinced me to baptize the test car Hansel for stereotypical reasons I find redundant to explain. Then you gaze over the beautifully sculpted bonnet, and it hits you: what a great-looking B-segment hatchback!

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All good things come to an end, and the new Corsa’s visuals abide by that general rule. Once you look at the thing from its side profile, the eye candy is limited to the blade-style sculpting of the doors.

Curiously, I found it extremely uncanny that the rear passenger doors’ outer rubber seal ends a few centimeters lower from the C-pillar’s curvature. Was it that hard to offer a few centimeters of more rubber? In this state, the Corsa’s weatherproofing gives you the impression that it's a job half-done.

Once you glance at the rear fascia of the new kid on the block, you’ll be hard pressed to find anything new or updated over the fourth-gen. The tail lamps appear to be inspired by the units that adorn the Astra J’s rear end, giving the impression that the 2015 Opel Corsa’s bottom is a run-of-the-mill design afterthought.

To round things off nicely, adding chrome on the exterior door handles opposes the concept of visually enticing. The moment you hop in the driver’s seat you’re able to see and feel a thorough update over the old-gen, especially if you opt for the touchscreen infotainment system.

Additionally, the round air vents of yesteryear are replaced by trapezoidal units. The instrument cluster and dashboard are also thoroughly modern-looking and made from better-than-average quality plastics, even the black, glossy bits.
To put it bluntly, being seated in the Corsa feels like you’re onboard a bigger Adam.

It’s only when you closely inspect the cabin that you find a few slip-ups but nothing that can be called a deal breaker. Look at the not-so-small gaps between the seats and handbrake lever. Observe the seating system’s wires bundled together with black electrical tape next to the seat rails?

If it weren’t for a parking ticket that fell into that tight place, I wouldn’t have discovered this either. I thought that the fifth-gen Corsa carries some weight on its shoulders, more so if you consider that the nameplate is the fifth best-selling automobile in Europe after the Golf, Fiesta, Clio and Polo.

To be frank, we’ve seen wires bundled together by black electrical tape on bigger cars, the type of automobiles that are edging into premium territory. What about pricing? Well, a 2015 Opel Corsa costs as little as €11,150 if you opt for the barn basic Selection with the 1.2-liter four-pot.

In UK-specification, the 3-door 2015 Vauxhall Corsa Life 1.2 is priced at £11,080. That’s £200 less than the cheapest UK-spec Volkswagen Polo and €400 less in the rest of Europe.

The 2015 Renault Clio is similarly priced in both situations while the 2015 Ford Fiesta is almost £1,000 less expensive than the 2015 Corsa in Her Majesty’s United Kingdom.

Upon further pondering on the financial side, the most basic 2015 Opel Corsa is good value for money. On a different note, that can’t be said about our top-of-the-range Cosmo with the 1-liter three-pot and some options.

In terms of technical updates, the fifth-gen model is underpinned by the GM Fiat Small architecture you also get on the 2006 - 2014 Opel Corsa D. The suspension features redesigned pick-up points, front knuckles, and geometry yet the roof and floor pan are pretty much the same as before.

Last but not least, the new-gen Corsa boasts with a lower center of gravity, thus promising improved driving dynamics on paper. But were these differences notable during our test-drive with the E?

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If you ignore the Fiat-developed City steering mode, then yes - the 2015 Opel Corsa feels pointy in the urban jungle, like an agile fly buzzing through a swarm of bees.

The steering system’s improvements are obvious if you’re acquainted with the former generation, but the Corsa still doesn’t cut it as fine as the Fiesta on the handling front.

I admit that those fifth-gen Chevrolet Camaro indicator stalks had me fooled for a moment that the Corsa’s role model is an American muscle car. The truth is that the 2015 Opel Corsa is a nippy little runaround with softly sprung suspension, slightly more mature handling-wise than its predecessor.

Despite our test car’s generous trim level, parking sensors are an optional extra, as are rear electric windows, the IntelliLink 7-inch touchscreen media system, fog lights and Magma Red paint job.

For a supermini that costs €16,565 in the range-topping Cosmo configuration, this editor isn’t the only one that was expecting rear parking sensors to come as standard.

By the time you get out of the city, you’ll be somewhat stunned by the noise generated by the windows’ rubber seals and door mirrors. At highway speed (130 km/h or 80 mph), the 1-liter ECOTEC turbo three-banger and the six-speed stick shift do their job perfectly, but the wind noise is ear-popping.

That isn’t an exaggerated statement. I kid you not - take a Corsa E for a drive at highway speeds to understand how rowdy it is inside. On the upside, even when you fling it in the twisties, the front wheels do what you want them to do. However, don't expect steering feel and feedback on par with the OPC/VXR-branded Corsa.

It’s genuinely fun to drive in a sporty manner, especially when you realize that the torsion beam rear axle stays put and grippy, aiding traction mid-corner. As it’s the case in the city, the suspension is compliant on imperfect B-roads and highway roads too. It’s a darn shame the wind noise spoils the 2015 Opel Corsa’s credibility as a daily commuter though.
Towering above all else, what impresses most with the fifth-gen Corsa is the all-new 1.0 ECOTEC three-cylinder turbocharged engine.

Have you ever wondered why Opel offers a 1.4 turbo four-pot with 100 horsepower alongside a 999 cc three-banger with 115 horsepower? I did as well. I’m no stranger to the 1.4 yet the truth is that the One-Oh turbo feels creamier, more willing to rev and more frugal than its bigger brother.

My guess is that Opel tries to convince its buyers into the downsizing trend. If you were to ask us, we got a combined fuel consumption of 6.5 liters/100 km (43.4 UK mpg or 36.1 US mpg) in rainy weather.

That figure is applicable including extra consumers turned on at all times, creature comforts such as the heated steering wheel, seats and air conditioning.

I admit I’m a big fan of what the Blue Oval managed to do with its EcoBoost technologies lately, including the soon-to-be-detailed 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 of the 2017 Ford GT.

However, I have to admit that the 1.0 EcoBoost is lagging one step behind Opel's 1.0 ECOTEC.

Be that as it may, the six-speed manual transmission is at the halfway point between perfect and a letdown. The short, sharp shifting travels are a pure gearhead’s delight, as is the mechanical clickety-clack you hear when you row through the gears.

As for the downside, if you don’t have a firm hand when shifting back into a rather vague-feeling neutral, the gearbox will remain halfway engaged into third or fourth gear. This scenario leads to a bad type of grinding noise when you back off the clutch pedal.

Since we’re on the subject of pedals, if you look at them closely, you’ll be surprised to observe that Opel used three kinds of plastic or metal for every one. Don’t ask why.

Another niggle that isn’t fitting for a city car is that the IntelliLink touchscreen infotainment system does sat nav only if you connect your smartphone to it. Isn’t that a bit redundant? We all have 24/7 Internet connectivity and Google Maps installed on our phones, dear Opel.

To top things off, as an Opel Corsa owner myself, the plastic used for the HVAC unit is probably the most low-quality material I laid my eyes upon inside the 2015 model. A detail I found welcoming in this car segment comes in the guise of the recessed backside of the front seats.

Thanks to this simple solution, engineers cleared a few valuable centimeters of legroom for two adult rear occupants or three passenger of a shorter stature. Cargo capacity for a weekend's trip with the family isn't bad either, albeit the VW Polo and Skoda Fabia swallow up an extra backpack over what the Corsa can.

Speaking of those two, just like the Corsa’s updated platform, the Polo and Fabia too use reworked underpinnings from their predecessors. The 2015 Opel Corsa in top specification and the best petrol-fed engine available is close but no cigar to being a proper supermini hit.

As it’s often the case in this segment, there’s room for improvement regardless of how unpretentious a potential customer may be. In the car’s defense, you get the feeling that Opel did its best, without trying to cut corners.

Without a shadow of a doubt, we’re in the presence of a more-than-average all-rounder and a competitive package for a supermini. If you’re planning on buying one as a family hauler, the standard assortment of airbags will please you with the curtain-type inflators integrated with the rear pillars for extra peace of mind.

Depending on the market, the smart and nippy 2015 Opel Corsa has two serious advantages over its main rivals: the 1.0 ECOTEC engine and a few hundred euros/pounds better value. Are these two plus points enough for the fifth-generation Corsa to pose a proper threat to the usual supermini suspects?

At the moment, it’s enough to build up on the Corsa D’s sales momentum and customers’ expectations. On a side note, we have high expectations from the sixth-gen Corsa and its G2XX/Global Gamma platform.
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Our OPEL Testdrives:

autoevolution Apr 2015
66
Value for money: 7/10
History
6
Exterior
6
Interior
6
In the city
8
Open road
6
Comfort
6
Tech facts
6
Gadgets
6
Safety
9
Conclusion
7
74user rating 65 votes
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Key Specs
USEU
Engine
999 cm3 L3
Fuel
Petrol
Power kw
85
Power hp
114
Power rpm
5000
Torque val
125
Torque rpm
1800-4500
Transmission
6-speed manual
Traction
FWD
Acceleration
10.1
Top speed
121 mph
Length
158.3 in
Width
68.7 in
Height
58.3 in
Wheelbase
98.8 in
Ground clearance
6.3 in
Cargo volume
10.1 CuFT
Weight
2643 lbs
Seating
5
Power
85 KW/114 BHP @ 5000 RPM
Torque
125 Lb-Ft @ 1800-4500 RPM
Engine
999 cm3 L3
Fuel
Petrol
Power kw
85
Power hp
115
Power rpm
5000
Torque val
170
Torque rpm
1800-4500
Transmission
6-speed manual
Traction
FWD
Acceleration
10.3
Top speed
195 km/h
Length
4021 mm
Width
1746 mm
Height
1481 mm
Wheelbase
2510 mm
Ground clearance
160 mm
Cargo volume
286 L
Weight
1199 Kg
Seating
5
Power
85 KW/115 HP @ 5000 RPM
Torque
170 Nm @ 1800-4500 RPM
fuel efficiency
mpgOfficialOurs
City38.628.6
Highway54.749
Combined4736.1
fuel efficiency
l/100kmOfficialOurs
City6.18.2
Highway4.34.8
Combined56.5
base price
11150
Photo gallery (44)
2015 Opel Corsa driven in the city2015 Opel Corsa side profile view2015 Opel Corsa rear three-quarter view2015 Opel Corsa driving2015 Opel Corsa going fast2015 Opel Corsa front three-quarter view2015 Opel Corsa accelerating2015 Opel Corsa side profile view2015 Opel Corsa rear three-quarter design2015 Opel Corsa2015 Opel Corsa driving in the city2015 Opel Corsa front fascia2015 Opel Corsa2015 Opel Corsa front three-quarter view2015 Opel Corsa front fascia design2015 Opel Corsa headlight2015 Opel Corsa Opel insignia2015 Opel Corsa silhouette2015 Opel Corsa profile design2015 Opel Corsa front profile design2015 Opel Corsa 15-inch alloy wheels2015 Opel Corsa rear fascia2015 Opel Corsa exhaust pipe2015 Opel Corsa 2015 Opel Corsa driver headroom2015 Opel Corsa rear passenger headroom2015 Opel Corsa half-leather seats2015 Opel Corsa door panel and front seatbacks2015 Opel Corsa boot capacity2015 Opel Corsa rear legroom2015 Opel Corsa legroom for front passenger2015 Opel Corsa front passenger power window button2015 Opel Corsa handbrake lever and gearbox lever2015 Opel Corsa cabin design2015 Opel Corsa dashboard2015 Opel Corsa IntelliLink infotainment system2015 Opel Corsa hazard light button2015 Opel Corsa steering wheel2015 Opel Corsa rear seats2015 Opel Corsa instrument cluster2015 Opel Corsa indicator stalk2015 Opel Corsa wiper stalk2015 Opel Corsa headlights controls2015 Opel Corsa 1.0 ECOTEC engine