Review and test Opel Corsa Electric GS 2024: real-world range of up to 400 km

The Opel Corsa Electric has just been updated. In this 2024 version, it stands out especially for the addition of a new 156 CV engine and a new 54 kWh battery which allow it to reach 400 km of range.

If you’re looking for a city electric car, with an attractive starting price and enough range to get out of the city, keep reading this test of the Opel Corsa Electric GS, where we’ll analyze its new features and main characteristics.

Sporty GS design and more than decent trims

The most powerful version, with the largest battery, goes hand in hand with the GS trim, a sporty trim that shows in the exterior design of this Corsa Electric. A two-tone colour scheme enhances the sporty look.

Inside, the quality of the finishes stands out. The top of the dashboard is covered in soft-touch materials, and the fit and finish are good. The seats deserve a mention: they feature a massage function (which uses the lumbar adjustment to massage the lower back), a basic feature but not common in a city car.

Strong engine: 156 CV for an agile city car

The engine fitted to this GS version impresses with its power and agility, it is not a sports car, but it gains speed easily, carrying out overtaking manoeuvres quickly and moving with ease in any situation.

At the wheel, whether on the motorway or in town, we don’t miss horsepower at all, quite the opposite. Its weight of 1500 kg does not make it the most agile city car, but it feels lighter than other larger electric vehicles.

On country roads it has predictable handling, is well-mannered, and is within what we can expect from a city car. On the motorway we were surprised by the good interior soundproofing, making it comfortable on long journeys.

54 kWh battery: up to 400 km that charge quickly

A more efficient motor and the new battery of 50 kWh net have done the Opel Corsa Electric a great deal of good, since on country roads or in urban settings we can reach a real-world range of 400 km. The consumption we measured in these conditions sits at 11-12 kWh per 100 km.

Meanwhile, motorway consumption averaged 18 kWh per 100 km on our test route between Madrid > Vigo > Madrid (1200 km). With a range that fluctuates between 250 km and 280 km, this consumption was achieved in favourable conditions (air conditioning on for only about a third of the route and spring ambient temperatures).

The maximum charging power is 100 kW, a power level we only see in the first moments of charging and at the lowest battery percentages, before stabilising at around 60-70 kW. But considering the battery is small, charging from 0 to 80% at a 100 kW charger takes 30 minutes; if we don’t arrive with the car running on empty, we may reach 80% in 20 minutes to continue on the road.

The on-board charger is 11 kW, so a full charge takes just over five and a half hours. These charging times let us be agile, although on long distances (such as motorway trips) more stops are needed to charge compared with electric cars with somewhat larger batteries.

Full equipment for 35,000 euros

The GS trim includes as standard the sporty exterior design, with two-tone bodywork, 16-inch alloy wheels and the rear spoiler. It also adds the interior multimedia system with a 10-inch screen, LED rear lights and LED headlights, and a sound system of higher quality than other city cars.

Optionally, you can upgrade the LED front headlights, add a panoramic roof, or fit the 17-inch wheels on our test unit. With all the options, the final price comes to close to 38,000 euros.

In short, we liked this electric Corsa GS for how complete it is. It is a city car, but one you can take on a trip, with a battery that charges relatively quickly thanks to its mid-sized capacity, very reasonable consumption, and equipment that leaves nothing out, making for a very complete package.

Photos | Test team