New Opel Corsa: range, prices and first impressions

After a first static contact with the new Opel Corsa, these are our first impressions. We also tell you about the range configuration and how the prices look with the current discounts.

We have already told you how difficult it is going to be to choose a car in the city car segment with the arrival on the market of the new Opel Corsa, as well as the most relevant details of the sixth generation of the Opel supermini. A category, the B-segment, which accumulated almost 2.8 million units sold between 2017 and 2018, despite the prominence that SUVs continue to gain.

In this difficult segment of the market, Opel wants to reach 20,000 units sold per year of its new Corsa in Spain. And to fight rivals such as the Seat Ibiza, the new Renault Clio, the Ford Fiesta, the VW Polo or the also new Peugeot 208, the new Opel arrives fully equipped.

Let us remember that the Corsa currently accounts for more than 20 percent of global Opel sales, and that all versions, including the electric Corsa, are manufactured exclusively at the PSA plant in Figueruelas.

First impressions of the interior of the new Opel Corsa

We are not going to dwell too much on the features of the new Corsa. Just to remind you that it arrives with the new platform shared with the new Peugeot 208 which, let us remember, also has its corresponding electric version, the Peugeot e-208. It boasts lightness (a saving of more than 100 kg in some versions), the best aerodynamic coefficient in its category (Cx of 0.29), innovative equipment such as the IntelliLux LED Matrix headlights (the only one in its category with this technology) or its new 8-speed automatic gearbox.

And, of course, it also offers from the outset versions with petrol and diesel combustion engines, and an interesting electric variant of which we have already given you details: the new Opel Corsa-e.

Now, before the time comes to take the wheel, we have had the opportunity to attend a first static contact with the Opel Corsa. And the impression is very positive.

Outside, the reduction in height of almost 5 centimetres and its new lines make the Corsa look much sportier, although it is true that the general impression is that it changes much more in its side and rear profile than when seen from the front, where the image seems more continuous with respect to the latest Opel launches.

The interior does not gain space compared to the previous generation. In this sense, the Corsa is not the best option in its class if you need a city car to frequently use the rear seats occupied by adults, as the lower body height takes its toll on the rear seats too, both when getting in and when getting comfortable. However, the boot gains 24 litres, as well as having a greater useful width.

We also noticed that the bulkhead on which the feet rest in the front passenger seat is very far forward. This forces the occupant of that seat to bend their legs a lot, or to move the seat back considerably to be comfortable, which reduces the legroom in the rear right seat.

The appearance and presentation are very good overall, at least in the top trims, with clear, clean and elegant lines, and accessible, well-placed controls.

Range and prices of the new Opel Corsa

From the outset, Opel offers three equipment variants for the new Corsa 2020, called Edition, Elegance and GS Line. The price table shows which engines are combined with each trim line.

The range of petrol engines starts with the 75 hp naturally aspirated 1.2, followed by the excellent 100 hp 3-cylinder 1.2 Turbo, which can be combined with the AT8 automatic gearbox only in the Elegance version. On paper, it has everything needed to be the most in-demand engine, thanks to its smooth operation, pleasant driving and balance between performance and consumption. Without a doubt, our recommended option, although for the more “road-going” customers Opel keeps a diesel option, which tends to disappear in this category, with the 100 hp 1.5 D.

Above that, the 1.2 Turbo in its 130 hp version is paired with the sporty GS Line trim and the automatic gearbox. Curiously, the sportiest Corsa is not the most powerful, a title that belongs, at least for now, to the Corsa-e, with its 136 hp. However, a figure that shows the potential of the electric Corsa: it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds, half a second faster than the powerful Corsa GSI of the previous generation!

As for equipment, the new Corsa comes well equipped already from the Edition trim. It includes, for example, air conditioning, front collision warning, lane keeping assist system, traffic sign recognition, cruise control with speed limiter and camera-based emergency braking system.

From this trim upwards, the GS Line adds the sporty touch, and the Elegance a more refined and elegant look, if you will pardon the “redundancy”. Both move from the basic multimedia system with a 5″ screen to a system with a 7″ screen (optionally up to 10 inches), and incorporate 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and LED fog lights. The GS Line adds sporty bumpers, and the Elegance chrome details and mixed cloth/leather upholstery.

With a current discount of up to 1,523 euros for the Corsa-e and 4,780 euros for the rest of the combustion-engine versions, these are the prices of the Corsa range according to the Opel configurator at the time of writing this article. Prices that place the Corsa at a competitive level against its main rivals.

• Corsa 1.2 75 hp Edition: €11,520
• Corsa 1.2 T 100 hp Edition: €12,920
• Corsa 1.2 75 hp Elegance: €13,420
• Corsa 1.2 T 100 hp GS Line: €14,720
• Corsa 1.2 T 100 hp Elegance: €14,820
• Corsa 1.5 D 100 hp Edition: €14,820
• Corsa 1.5 D 100 hp GS Line: €16,620
• Corsa 1.5 D 100 hp Elegance: €16,720
• Corsa 1.2 T 100 hp AT8 Elegance: €17,070
• Corsa 1.2 T 130 hp AT8 GS Line: €17,520
• Corsa-e Selection: €28,387
• Corsa-e Edition: €29,337
• Corsa-e First Edition: €31,482

Also worth highlighting is the private renting service that Opel has launched for the electric Corsa, which allows access to a Corsa-e First Edition from 14 euros per day, including vehicle maintenance and fully comprehensive insurance.