Vauxhall Corsa

Our verdict

The Vauxhall Corsa is one of the best superminis around, and a looker with it.

Comfort

The ride is firm but well controlled, noise is generally more abated than most other little cars, and the driving position is fine, if slightly tall - you sit on a Corsa rather than in it.

Performance

Avoid the 1.0 three-cylinder, which sounds good but does nothing. A 17-second 0-60 time really is out of order. Even the 1.2 is sluggish, and while 1.4 is plenty in many superminis it's about the bare minimum for the comparatively porky Corsa. A 1.6 turbo in the SXi is pretty sparkling without the chavvy image of the VXR. We like. Diesels are more than OK.

Cool

The three-door is one of the niftier superminis, but that's as far as we'd be prepared to go.

Quality

The Corsa has a good interior. Its plastics are nicely crafted, the fabrics grown-up and it gets a further lift from some of the colour schemes which are more lively than usual but don't attract the attentions of the taste police.

Handling

The Corsa handles well. Its steering has a good weight, there's not much roll and it's keen on sharp bends. But it doesn't feel too much like a small car - it runs true on motorways.

Practicality

The rear headroom of the three-door, and the opening to its boot, lose out a bit because of the styling. But the five-door is a properly practical hatch. If you need more space or versatility, you're going to have to go up a size class. Or get a micro-MPV, poor you.

Running costs

Insurance starts at group 1 for a 1.0-litre, and even the 1.4 begins at just group 4. The servicing and fuel economy are nothing to worry about, and there's a three-year 60k mile warranty. Superminis don't depreciate much either, so this is cheap motoring without punishing yourself.