The best of each generation of the Opel Corsa

The almost 40 years of history of the Opel Corsa deserve, on their own merits, an in-depth review. These are the 6 generations of the German city car.

Opel took off with the “German economic miracle” during the 1960s with the arrival of the Kadett A and B. In those days, only the most affluent could afford a car, so Opel had already begun steering its cars toward the mid-size segment by the early 1970s, making them more powerful and larger than the previous ones. This growth in size left a very large gap between not having an Opel Corsa and getting the exclusive Kadett.

It was then that Opel decided to fill that void with a completely new and smaller car, the Corsa. From its first generation in 1982 up to the latest one presented last year, the Opel Corsa has won over more than 13.6 million hearts around the world. This German bestseller has evolved to become what it is today. A benchmark model in its segment, with increasingly better and more advanced technology and, finally, a 100% electric version.

Twentieth-Century Generations

The first chapter of this story was written in 1982 and was undoubtedly the longest to date. Today, generations rarely last more than 6 or 8 years. This first generation of the German model lasted 11 years, partly because of its 3.1 million units produced. For the time, the figures were really good.

This model measured just 3.62 metres. The most performance-oriented version at the time was the 100 hp GSi, although diesel alternatives were also offered, as is the case today. Initially it was launched only as a 3-door body, to later expand to 5 doors in 1985. This Opel Corsa A marked the beginning of something great.

The second generation ran from 1993 to 2000. The Corsa B grew by 10 cm, but its interior space was disproportionately larger. This improvement, combined with the number of new safety systems it incorporated, such as ABS, front airbags and side-impact protection.

For specific markets, the lightning-bolt brand offered a saloon variant in addition to estate versions and even a pick-up! This last version deserves a separate article. The new petrol engines of this Corsa B were already fuel-injected and fitted with catalytic converters, while the diesels and the GSi were turbocharged. This second generation surpassed the first in less time and reached 4 million units.

Modern Era Generations

The Opel Corsa C was born to sustain the successes of its predecessors. With the start of the century came a modern era of the automobile in which greater demand and competition opened a completely new and difficult market for traditional models. Opel kept the design of the Corsa B almost intact for the third generation, but the car grew again by another 10 cm, and with it its interior space. Direct-injection turbodiesel engines already achieved very low consumption, while Opel began fitting its efficient ECOTEC 4-valves-per-cylinder petrol engines. This generation reached 2.5 million sales. The worst brand in its history.

Yet, viewed fairly, the fierce competition arising from the 21st century, with hundreds of different models and dozens of rivals within the same sector, means that the Corsa always remaining in the “millions” of sales is an achievement. This fourth generation, the Corsa D, ran from 2006 to 2014, nearly reaching three million units sold. This generation marked an important change, creating a 3-door body oriented towards a sporty coupé and a 5-door aimed more at families and space.

The 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX diesel engine consumed only 3.3 litres and emitted 88 g/km of CO2. The dimensions of this Corsa D still stayed under 4 metres, exactly 3.999 metres. This generation gave birth to one of the Corsas most loved by enthusiasts, the OPC Nurburgring Edition with 210 hp that reached 230 km/h.

The fifth generation arrived in 2014 and ended last year. The shortest one, without doubt. A length of 4.02 metres, 1.2 million units sold and a leap in comfort and technology may be what best characterises this Corsa E. The top of the range for this generation was initially the sporty 207 hp OPC and later, at the end of its commercial life, the 150 hp Corsa GSi.

Present Day

Last November the new generation of the Corsa was presented in Spain. This final generation seeks to improve on all its predecessors in interior space, technology, dynamism and, above all, avant-garde design. The length of this sixth generation of the Corsa is now 4.06 metres, almost half a metre more than its original model.

https://www.highmotor.com/nuevo-opel-corsa-probamos-sexta-generacion-utilitario-opel/

The German car is also available with the newest and best petrol and diesel engines that Opel can offer in its city car. But the biggest novelty of this new generation is the 100% electric Corsa, which was presented just a few weeks ago and will soon hit Spanish roads once this lockdown period ends. The Spanish Zaragoza plant is the one bringing the Opel Corsa-e to life.