Opel Corsa OPC 1.6 Turbo 192 CV, road test (Engine and performance)

A city car is normally a vehicle designed for the city and short trips on roads near urban areas. It is usually not a fun car, and the finish and details are normally not very refined, as it is an entry-level vehicle with a very affordable price.

That is precisely why the Opel Corsa OPC with 192 CV we are testing today cannot be considered a boring car or a typical city car. It prefers bends, its road response is exceptional, and among the finishing details it features sports bucket seats “Recaro”. This version OPC is the top of the range within the Corsa lineup.

If you are looking for a sports car to enjoy every stretch of road, one that is fun to drive and has a presentation closer to a sports car than a city car, this Opel Corsa with the 1.6 Turbo petrol engine capable of producing 192 CV may be of interest, with a starting price of 19,242 euros (discounts included).

Engine and performance

Before getting behind the wheel of this sports car, which is four metres long (the OPC is slightly longer than the standard version), we need to talk about its engine. With only 1,598 cc, thanks to the turbo it manages to reach 192 CV.

Using a turbo to extract maximum horsepower from a small-displacement engine is common today, but at least the OPC does not go to the extreme of the Seat Ibiza Cupra, which with a 1.4 turbo engine reaches 180 CV.

Returning to the Corsa OPC, the torque is 230 Nm, delivered consistently from 2,000 rpm up to almost 6,000 rpm. In practice, this translates into moderate response from 2,000 rpm, and it starts pushing powerfully from 2,500–3,000 rpm up to 6,000 rpm. All of this is progressive and never abrupt.

Paired with the engine is a six-speed manual gearbox that stands out for a correct feel, in keeping with the car’s sportiness. However, despite its short travel, during quick shifts it is not as precise as we would like.

What we liked most about the engine is its response, strong and progressive, with a fairly wide usable range between 2,500 and 6,000 rpm. The sound also suits the car’s sporty character, without becoming excessively intrusive.

Handling

We have already told you what lies under the bonnet and how it delivers its power, but now we need to set the scene and assess its handling. We sit down, two comfortable sports bucket seats welcome us, we fasten the belts and start the engine. Ahead of us is a road full of bends (a stretch between Ponteareas and Mondariz where the Rallye Rias Baixas often runs), about 10 km long, to see how this Corsa OPC behaves.

This road also has plenty of direction changes, ideal for testing the OPC’s stability and its cornering. The first thing that surprises us about the car is its steering, which is firm, precise and has short travel (just one and a quarter turns), making it quick through corners, and with the slightest input we can take the Corsa OPC exactly where we want (although manoeuvrability when parking is another matter).

We were also pleasantly surprised by the car’s stability; it has a fairly rigid chassis and its cornering response is excellent. For a sporty city car, it leaves a very good impression in terms of stability, rigidity and handling.

Finally, the braking system is up to the overall standard, stopping and holding up very well under intensive use, with little noticeable fade.

Consumption

In this section the Opel Corsa OPC does not particularly stand out, but it stays within fairly reasonable figures. On motorway, average consumption hovered around 8.5 litres per 100 km, while on country roads that figure rises to 9 litres per 100 km, as we verified on our usual road routes (the exact figure was 9.1 litres per 100 km).

In town consumption came to around 12 l/100 km, while if you adopt a more dynamic and sporty driving style, you will be around 10.9–12 litres per 100 km.

In the second part of the test we will focus on the exterior design, which distinguishes this Corsa OPC, as well as the interior, practicality and comfort on board this small German sports car.

Photos | David Taboada