Certainly, it looks more dynamic than before, particularly in three-door guise. Vauxhall claims the new three and five-door Corsas are like having two separate models. It’s nonsense, really, but we know what they mean. The three-door is meant to look faintly sporting – and does – with its rear wheelarch bulges and raked rear window, while the five-door has a more upright tailgate and a larger glass area.
Not that this three-door feels particularly claustrophobic. In fact, if there’s one good thing to come out of the fact that superminis are getting bigger, it’s that their interiors have become more pleasant places to spend long amounts of time. The new Corsa’s interior is light years ahead of its predecessor’s. In fact, if Vauxhall had stuck these materials and controls in a Vectra of, say, five years ago, it would have almost overdelivered.
Materials and switchgear all look first rate and, by and large, feel it, too. The seats are large, nicely trimmed and have a good, supportive shape. Fit and finish of plastics is beyond reproach, even on the very early right-hand-drive car we tested. In terms of overall feel, the Corsa is the measure of a Punto or 207, and is on a par with a high-spec Clio. Which means it’s at the top of this class.
The Corsa also has the ability to out-surprise and out-delight the others, too. On higher-spec cars the dials are translucently backlit, the dash and centre console look great, and options like the Flex-Fix integrated bike rack, which slides out of the rear bumper, is a real attention grabber.
Any brand new supermini generates a certain amount of public attention, but interest usually fades after the inevitable “Is it any good?” question. Not with this car; the next question was, without exception, “Does it have that bike rack?” Regardless of its cost (£500), features like this get your car onto buyers’ shortlists.