26 Feb, 2015 12:30pm
For many the appeal of the new Vauxhall Corsa will undoubtedly be its cheap and cheerful pricing, so the idea of asking buyers to folk out nearly £16,000 for a 1.3-litre diesel model may be a tough ask from Vauxhall.
However, if you like to keep trips to the pump as infrequent as possible and you’re in the market for an uber-frugal supermini, the new 94bhp 1.3 model is one of the cleanest around - and it's the most efficient Corsa ever produced.
The engine – much like the car itself –isn’t exactly all new. It’s a development of the old 1.3-litre diesel but now compliant with strict Euro 6 emissions regulations, so returns an eye-catching 85.6mpg and emits 87g/km of CO2.
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The old Corsa powered by the same basic engine was a slightly uncivilized affair, but the more rounded and sophisticated setup of the new model helps contain a lot of the vibrations and harshness from the diesel engine. The new model can’t quite eradicate the diesel grumble, but on the move it's much quieter than before.
As you’d expect from a diesel, there’s plenty of shove from a standstill and strong in-gear pace, with 190Nm of torque hauling you from 0-62mph in 11.9 seconds. Despite the heavier diesel engine in the nose the Corsa is still nimble, with good body control and accurate steering.
While the gearbox is slick and accurate, an extra ratio in the five-speed gearbox would make for more relaxing motorway driving.
The Corsa also rides like a much larger car, dealing admirably with larger undulations much like the VW Polo. It does still lack the sparkle of the Ford Fiesta, however.
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Perhaps more relevant, particularly for this diesel version, is that over a 100-mile round trip covering various road types, we managed only 53.1mpg – good going but a world away from its claimed 85.6mpg figure.
It’s exactly here where the argument for a diesel supermini begins to crumble. Vauxhall’s all-new 89bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine is as flexible as the 1.3 diesel, more refined, available at a fraction of the cost, and will get far closer to its 65.7mpg claim than the diesel. Better still, it's also tax-free thanks to its low emissions.
- Price: £15,980
- Engine: 1.3-litre 4cyl turbodiesel
- Power: 94bhp
- Transmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
- 0-62mph: 11.9 seconds
- Top speed: 113mph
- Economy/CO2: 85.6mpg/87g/km
- On sale: Now