Used Vauxhall Corsa 2006 - 2014 review

We’ve long been fans of the Vauxhall Corsa, going so far as to name it Car of the Year in 2007. This neat looking small hatchback makes even more sense as a used buy, because it suffers from heavy depreciation, so is cheaper than many rivals.

When it was first introduced we were particularly impressed by the interior fit and finish, space and ride comfort. That remains true as a used purchase, with the Corsa still feeling very much a modern car in these respects.

Given its huge sales, there are loads to choose from. Plus, Vauxhall offered a huge number of variants: everything from a 59bhp 1.0-litre petrol engine to a lap time-chasing VXR model with a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine and 202bhp in its most potent form.

http://www.whatcar.com/classifieds/used-cars/Vauxhall/Corsa)**

The Corsa is old enough for the earliest examples to have crept under the £1500 mark, so there’s plenty out there, regardless of your budget.

Closer to £2000 sees even greater choice, where you can afford to be picky and look for lower mileage, fewer owner examples.

The higher trim levels don’t attract too much of a premium, and there’s no real difference in prices between three and five-door models (the three-door actually has a bigger rear seat, even if access to it isn’t as good as in the five-door).

The cheapest VXRs are currently around £4,000, which is not much money for a lot of fun.

The Vauxhall Corsa is very competitive when it comes to running costs. That’s applicable to fuel consumption, road tax and consumables, which are all comparable with the very best of its rivals.

Likewise, the Corsa should be inexpensive to insure, while servicing can be undertaken by any local garage, meaning you can afford to shop around for the cheapest deals.

If you're buying the car as an urban runaround, then one of the smaller petrol engines will suffice, although the 1.0 and 1.2-litre units do struggle beyond about 50mph.

The 1.4-litre unit is a better choice if you sometimes venture on to the motorway, while the 1.6-litre turbo is available in both range-topping VXR form and with 148bhp in the lively SRi model.

The 1.3-litre diesel is also worth considering, combining decent performance with excellent fuel economy. It was offered in 74bhp and 89bhp outputs, with the latter feeling usefully stronger. The extra 15bhp doesn’t dent economy too much, either, with both averaging more than 60mpg in official tests.

The 1.3-litre diesel is good enough for you not to bother with the larger 1.7-litre diesel, which doesn't achieve 60mpg.

Trim levels are extensive; we’d choose from Design up, although all Corsas come with central locking and a CD player (remember those?). Design has 16in alloy wheels, electric front windows, air conditioning, curtain airbags and, crucially if it’s a family buy, Isofix child seat mounts.

Our favourite used Vauxhall Corsa: 1.4 Design

The Vauxhall’s chief rival has long been the Ford Fiesta, so if you’re looking at the Corsa then it’s worth considering the Ford, too. It’s more enjoyable to drive, but the Corsa feels classier inside.

There’s a slew of Japanese rivals, including the Mazda 2 and Toyota Yaris, while the Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia and VW Polo are also worth considering. However, we’d still be tempted by the value and all-round ability of the Corsa.

http://www.whatcar.com/classifieds/used-cars/Vauxhall/Corsa)**

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