Autocar - News and reviews from the original car experts

First Drive

• Email
• Print

Your Say

Start the discussion

Vauxhall Corsa 1.2i 16v Club

Test date 29 August 2006  Price as tested  £10,575

What's new?

When you've already established that the 89bhp 1.4-litre version of Vauxhall's new Corsa is only as fast and powerful as it needs to be, as we did last week, you probably won't harbour any great hopes for the performance of the 79bhp 1.2-litre version. You're in for a pleasant surprise, however.

The 1.2 concedes around 10 per cent in power and torque to its bigger-block stablemate, but the deficiency is partly offset by a weight saving of 30-40kg, and all the weight is saved from over the front wheels.

You also get a sweeter-spinning engine, better fuel consumption and slightly lower CO2 emissions.

Best of all, you pay a considerably lower price: the 1.2 Club five-door costs £9795 - that's £500 less than the 1.4. Unlike the 1.4, the 1.2 is available in the cheaper Corsa Life version, which saves another £400.

What's it like?

You're never in doubt that this is fundamentally an economy car. The twin-port, 16-valve petrol engine is flexible, but hardly strong in the mid-ranges. You have to rev it to progress, but it spins sweetly and the five-speed gearbox is simple to use.

At the usual 80-85mph UK motorway cruise you're pulling 4500rpm, around 500-600rpm more than in the 1.4, yet it seems no noisier so it hardly matters.

Handling is sweet, with a crisper turn-in than in the bigger-engined cars and the same quiet ride over bumps.

Should I buy one?

The Corsa 1.2 is about as low-powered as you'd want your supermini to be, but it remains a practical car for town and highway alike, as long as you remember its major purpose is low cost - to buy, own and operate.

Steve Cropley