New Opel Corsa: we test the sixth generation of the Opel city car

Design, technology and efficiency are the main assets of the new Opel Corsa 2020 in the fiercely contested city car segment.

The sixth generation of the Opel Corsa, which shares its platform with the new Peugeot 208, finally makes the leap many of us were waiting for in terms of dynamic behaviour.

Because the city car Opel has always stood out for its design, has never fallen behind in engines and has even innovated in technology. But across its previous five generations it could never be considered a benchmark against its rivals in terms of dynamism or steering feel.

Now, the new Opel Corsa 2020 convinces with a magnificent balance between suspension behaviour, steering precision and overall handling.

It also keeps building on its strengths with a very eye-catching design, the addition of brilliant engines such as the 1.2 Turbo with 100 CV, and some technological daring such as IntelliLux LED adaptive matrix headlights, a first in this category.

Let us look in more detail at the arguments the new Corsa presents against the “heavyweights” of the segment, where it will go head to head with cars of the calibre of the Seat Ibiza, the Ford Fiesta, the Volkswagen Polo, the Citroën C3 or the equally new Renault Clio and Peugeot 208, among others.

https://youtu.be/CdoVuL4Or3A

Corsa engines: the 1.2T with 100 CV, the best option

The range starts with the naturally aspirated 1.2 three-cylinder petrol engine, which produces 75 CV. This is the version Opel uses to offer one of the lowest starting prices in its class, from just over 12,000 euros with the promotional discount applied (list price: 16,300 euros) and without counting any additional discount for financing the purchase.

This version, with a 5-speed manual gearbox, meets the bare minimum for a Corsa that has “slimmed down” by more than 100 kg. But be warned: it is only worth considering if you are looking for a car mainly for urban use and are willing to accept that you will have to change gears fairly often.

The best engine in the range is the 1.2 three-cylinder turbo, in its 100 CV version. It belongs to the Pure Tech family, well known within the PSA Group, to which Opel now belongs.

It is the engine we covered the most kilometres with during this first drive. And in the Corsa it also excels in the qualities we have already liked in other models in the group: smoothness (it does not feel like a three-cylinder), low noise levels, and enough power to comfortably handle the ratios of the standard 6-speed manual gearbox.

It also returns very low consumption if driven calmly. To achieve averages of around 6.5 l/100 km, combining city and motorway driving, you do not need to concentrate very hard on the driving. For this engine you can opt for an 8-speed torque converter automatic gearbox with steering-wheel paddles, which works very well with the characteristics of the 1.2 turbo.

It costs 2,100 euros more than the manual version, and can only be chosen with the Elegance trim.

At the top of the petrol range sits the 1.2 T with 130 CV. It could be an option to consider for those who think 100 CV might fall short. However, its target audience is very limited, as it is only offered with the GS Line sporty trim and with an automatic transmission, which pushes the price above 18,000 euros (with discounts applied).

Opel continues to offer a diesel variant of the Corsa, with a 1.5-litre engine producing 100 CV. Compared with the 1.2 turbo petrol with the same power output, it stands out for very low consumption, around 1.5 – 2 l/100 km less on average in real-world use (depending on driving conditions). However, it is a far less refined and smooth engine than the small three-cylinder. It also has the drawback of a price that puts the payback target out of reach: it costs almost 2,000 euros more for the same equipment.

It is also worth remembering that, as with the Peugeot 208, the new Opel Corsa 2020 range includes an electric version from launch, the Opel Corsa e.

On the road, the new Corsa conveys a sense of stability and comfort superior to the previous model. It is not the most agile of its class, where we would place the Seat Ibiza. Nor is it the most comfortable, where a good reference would be the Citroën C3. Its greatest virtue is balance, in the line of the new Renault Clio.

The only point I would note on the negative side is that, despite a magnificent drag coefficient, in all three engine variants tested – and with different equipment and tyres – the insulation from road and wind noise in the cabin on motorways is improvable.

The new Opel Corsa inside

In a first static first look at the new Opel Corsa we already offered some impressions of the interior, which we can now confirm after analysing it more thoroughly and driving several versions.

The dashboard design, completely new, is functional and well organised, with practical storage spaces and wireless phone charging. At least in these first units we have been able to drive, the perceived quality is correct, in line with the segment average.

I would raise the score slightly with softer, padded materials in areas where hard plastic is used.

Interior space is also average for the segment, since the new Corsa gains practically no centimetres in any dimension over the outgoing model. Having sat in the passenger seat, I can confirm the impression already noted during the static first look: the passenger in these seats finds a front panel for the footwell that sits very far forward.

This forces you to travel with your knees more bent than in other cars of this size… or to move the seat far back, reducing legroom for rear passengers.

As for the boot, its 310 litres place it once again in the middle of a hypothetical ranking, below models such as the Seat Ibiza or the Renault Clio. It has regular, highly usable shapes, with the option of fitting an emergency spare wheel or a puncture repair kit (boot volume does not change).

In terms of connectivity and multimedia, the new Corsa is well equipped. The alternatives to the basic system include the option of a touchscreen that can be 7 or 10 inches, compatible in either case with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and working well. What the Corsa does not offer is a digital instrument cluster, an option increasingly common among its rivals.

Range and prices of the new Corsa 2020

Opel offers three trim levels for the new Corsa, called Edition, Elegance and GS Line.

Standard or from the options list, the Corsa can be equipped with the driver assistance systems now common in the segment, such as active cruise control, a rear camera or lane keeping assist.

A novelty in this segment are the Intellilux matrix headlights, which cost 600 euros. Compared with the ECO LED headlights, which cost 350 euros, they stand out because they are made up of a series of modules that can be dimmed or switched off completely to make the most of the lighting capacity without dazzling oncoming drivers or causing annoying reflections.

The GS Line versions stand out for their sportier look, with specific bumper designs, chrome exhaust outlet, aluminium pedals, more enveloping seats and slightly firmer suspension, among other details.

As for prices, according to the brand’s configurator, Opel currently offers a discount on the list price of either 3,691 euros or 4,114 euros, depending on the version. In addition, it is possible to add a further discount for financing the purchase.

With the discounts applied, the range starts at 12,186 euros for the 1.2 75 CV in Edition trim, and 14,025 euros for the Elegance.

The 1.2T with 100 CV costs 14,000 euros in the Edition version, 15,425 in Elegance trim and 15,325 euros in the GS Line variant.

The 1.5 D is also offered with these three trims, starting from 15,900 euros in Edition trim, 17,325 for the Elegance version and 17,225 for the GS Line.

The 1.2 Turbo with 130 CV, exclusively with automatic gearbox and GS Line trim, has a list price of 22,300 euros, which falls to 18,125 euros with the discount applied.

New Opel Corsa 2020 image gallery