Introduction
The BMW i3 is a B-segment high-roof hatchback featuring an electric powertrain that includes rear-wheel drive, a single-speed transmission, and an underfloor Li-ion battery pack, as well as a range-extending combustion engine.
The BMW i3 was the company’s first mass-produced zero-emission vehicle, released under the BMW I sub-brand.
Unfortunately…
Despite low operating expenses, it is let down by a hefty price, which means other rivals, like the Peugeot counterpart, provide greater value for money.
This generation of Vauxhall Corsa E is all about transformation. Vauxhall’s mainstream supermini now shares a base with Peugeot’s 208, but it also gets a completely electric version for the first time in the form of the Vauxhall Corsa-e, much like the French car.
It’s not only an essential step that will help Vauxhall compete in a class with an increasing number of competitors, but it also maintains the company’s commitment to plug-in automobiles, which began with the Vauxhall Ampera in 2011. And Vauxhall Corsa E has done a decent job, if not flawless.
I guess that’s enough for an introduction; now we should look into Vauxhall Corsa E review details.
Here we go…
Awards
At the annual News UK Motor Awards, the all-new Vauxhall Corsa-e was named The Sun Car of the Year 2020.
The Sun judges voted the new Corsa-e as Vauxhall’s first fully electric vehicle for its simplicity, huge 209-mile EV range, entertaining driving dynamics, and price.
“The Vauxhall Corsa-e is the obvious choice for Brits wanting to transition to electric,” stated Rob Gill, Motors Editor at The Sun. It’s simple, enjoyable, smart, and guilt-free, with a wide selection of options to suit most people. A fantastic all-around package is deserving of the title of Sun Car of the Year 2020.
Turns out…
The completely electric Vauxhall Corsa-e is based on the fifth-generation Corsa and comes with a 50kWh battery, a 100kW (136hp) electric motor, and a WLTP-approved range of 209 miles on a single charge.
With support for up to 100kW rapid charging, an 80% charge takes just 30 minutes, and owners get a free six-month subscription to BP Chargemaster’s Polar Network, the UK’s largest public charging network with over 7,000 charging sites.
Specifications
Standard Equipment: The newest Corsa, and by extension the Vauxhall Corsa-e, vastly improved the previous generation vehicle both inside and out.
The Vauxhall Corsa-e is longer, wider, and lower than previously, giving it a sportier profile on the road and a more mature appearance. The electric version looks almost identical to its combustion equivalents, which is excellent for folks who don’t want to stand out too much.
It also has climate control eco mode,
Interior
The interior is identical, with a simple layout that gives little indication of the car’s powertrain – the drive selector lever is identical to that used in automatic versions of the regular Corsa. Only the digital information displayed ahead of the driver distinguishes it from other Corsas’ traditional dials.
Infotainment System
The Vauxhall Corsa-e has plenty of electronics, as you’d expect from a forward-thinking vehicle, especially in the premium Elite Nav trim line, which has a 10-inch touchscreen display in the center of the dash.
Vauxhall Corsa E Connect, a button in the cabin that connects you to a skilled advisor in the event of a breakdown or emergency, is standard on all Corsa-e models.
There’s more…
The Vauxhall Corsa E infotainment e’s system is quite similar to the e-208’s; however, it is less well incorporated into the dashboard. Its aesthetics are likewise reminiscent of Windows 95, and its touchscreen lacks the slick, smooth responsiveness found on the finest rivals’ displays.
For the best system in the class, we recommend Mini Electric. However, unlike the e-208, the air-conditioning controls are not hidden under menus on the touchscreen; instead, you get basic physical dials. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration are standard is also a plus.
Space
Despite the requirement to store batteries inside the same footprint, the cabin room is usefully unaltered from the standard Corsa. It is especially handy because the Corsa is already a roomy supermini, especially in the front row, but taller rear seat occupants may feel a touch cramped.
Boot
Despite the batteries lying beneath, boot space remains identical, indicating that this platform was built with an electric drivetrain in mind from the start.
With the rear seats in place, there are 309 liters of space, and with them folded forward, there’s up to 1118 liters.
Size
The Corsa-e has the same dimensions as the normal Corsa line, larger than the previous version. The Corsa-e measures 4,060mm long, 1,765mm wide, and 1,433mm tall, with only the final figure being smaller than before, helping to give it a sportier stance.
Wheelbase
The wheelbase has also increased by 28mm to 2,538mm, allowing for more internal room. In some ways, this makes the Corsa-e a longer, broader, and lower car than the Honda e, yet their wheelbases are nearly comparable.
On the other hand, a Renault Zoe is longer at 4,084mm, thinner and taller than the Corsa-e, but has a 50mm larger wheelbase.
Vision
The Corsa-e isn’t great in terms of visibility, with its wide windscreen pillars obstructing more of the vision through curves than the Renault Zoe’s. While the door mirrors are adequate in size, the tapering roofline limits the amount of visibility when looking back over your shoulder.
However, nervous parkers won’t be frightened because the Corsa-e comes with rear parking sensors. Also included are powerful adaptive LED headlights.
Charging
If you have a 7kW wall charger, charging the Corsa-e from empty to full will take around 7 hours. Oh, and Vauxhall will also install a free wall charger in your home. You can charge the Corsa-e batteries from empty to 80 percent full in around 30 minutes using a public quick charge point.
The Corsa-e is a hoot around town when it comes to driving. Electric cars have quick acceleration, making them handy when spotting openings in traffic or zooming out of intersections.
The Corsa-e, unlike the Renault Zoe, does not feel out of its depth on the highway. Adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance is standard, and it’s quiet and comfy.
Electric motor
The Corsa-e boasts a 136 horsepower electric motor that provides quick acceleration. If you top up at home, expect to pay roughly £8.25 to completely charge the car, though this fluctuates depending on how much you pay for energy. However, it is still less expensive to travel the same distance in a Corsa with a petrol or diesel engine.
Features
The Corsa-e, like other electric automobiles, lacks a manual transmission. You may, however, switch between driving modes, choosing from Sport, Normal, or Eco.
The sport will bring the largest grin to your face, but the normal Normal option should suffice in most cases. Switch to Eco mode if you want to get as much range as possible, albeit it takes away all the fun of driving an EV.
It’s the sourpuss at the after-show bash, numbing the steering and acceleration to conserve power.
More stand-out electric cars are on the market – either with more range or more style – but the Corsa-e is familiar enough to make the transition to EVs relatively painless. A Corsa is indeed pricey.
Vauxhall Range:
It is where you’d imagine the Vauxhall Corsa-e would shine, and it does in many ways. In a car this size, a 50kWh battery pack isn’t awful – it’s half of what you’d get in a much larger Tesla Model S P100D, for example, and approximately 15kWh more than a Honda e.
It gives this small electric car an official WLTP maximum range of 209 miles, which should be sufficient for most popular supermini purchasers’ needs.
Furthermore…
At low speeds, you’ll hear that now-familiar – yet always frightening – electric hum as you pull away. You might be interested to learn that all new electric cars are required by law to emit a sound when traveling at speeds less than 12 mph to alert pedestrians to their existence.
If you press your right foot down a little harder, you’ll see that there’s enough power to push you back into your seat.
The Corsa-e clocked a 0-60mph time of 8.0 seconds in our tests, making it faster than a Renault Zoe or Seat Mii Electric but not quite as quick as a Mini Electric car.
Performance:
Electric cars, in general, feel more capable than their raw power figures suggest, and the Corsa-e is no exception. The car starts in Normal mode, with 108bhp available, but flicking the selection switch to Sport unlocks the full 134bhp of the Vauxhall Corsa-e, making it feel incredibly quick.
On the other hand, switching to Eco limits you to 81bhp and makes pedal inputs considerably softer – while each option automatically varies the range you may expect.
Adding in…
The Vauxhall Corsa-e, like many other electric vehicles, thrives on straight lines rather than bends. It’s not as agile as a conventional car because of the weighty batteries, and even petrol-powered Corsas can’t equal some of their rivals when it comes to cornering smiles.
A low center of gravity aids stability and reduces roll, but dull steering takes away from the fun element. However, the brakes perform admirably, whether regenerating or responding to the pedal, making it one of the best electric cars.
Moreover…
If you’ve been considering going electric but are wary of taking risks, the Corsa-e could be the car for you. It’s not as bold as its Honda or Mini rivals, but there’s an extra 50 miles of range and a lot more capacity for passengers to compensate.
It’s like picking your best man based on his logistical insight: you’ll arrive at your wedding on time and stress-free, but the room won’t be in raptures when the speech arrives.
It is a rational buy, not a sentimental one.
Vauxhall has played it much safer than Peugeot in designing a small electric hatchback, and while the Corsa-e will turn off plenty of people, as a result, it’ll no doubt win over at least.
Insurance:
Vauxhall’s basic guarantee covers repair or replacement of non-wear-and-tear items for three years from the date of first registration, with unlimited mileage in the first year and 60,000 km after that.
The Vauxhall Corsa-e also comes with an eight-year or 100,000-mile battery warranty if the battery capacity falls below 70% of the original capacity.
Is Vauxhall Corsa-E Reliable?
The Vauxhall Corsa-e is too young to have appeared in our Driver Power poll so far, and while Corsas have rarely placed high in the rankings in the past, the new car’s PSA platform, which it shares with the Peugeot e-208, means it’s expected to outperform its predecessors in any case.
Peugeot 208 was ranked 45th out of 75 electric cars, but the Peugeot 3008, which finished second overall in 2020, demonstrates the French brand is improving significantly. Electric vehicles appear to be doing well, so the Corsa-e could be off to a promising start.
Standard safety features include driver, passenger, side, and curtain airbags and preventative systems such as automated emergency braking, brake assist, front collision detection, and speed sign recognition.
Moreover…
When tested by EuroNCAP in 2009, the non-electric Vauxhall Corsa E Corsa received a four-star rating instead of a five-star rating. Adult occupants received an 84 percent rating, children received an 86 percent rating, vulnerable road users received a 66 percent rating, and safety assistance received a 69 percent rating.
Cost and Verdict
If you’ve been considering going electric but are wary of taking risks, the Corsa-e could be the car for you. It’s not as bold as its Honda or Mini rivals, but there’s an extra 50 miles of range and a lot more capacity for passengers to compensate.
It’s like picking your best man based on his logistical insight: you’ll arrive at your wedding on time and stress-free, but the room won’t be in raptures when the speech arrives.
It is a rational buy, not a sentimental one.
Vauxhall has played it much safer than Peugeot in designing a small electric hatchback, and while the Corsa-e will turn off plenty of people, as a result, it’ll no doubt win over at least.
Conclusion – Vauxhall Corsa-E Review:
The Vauxhall Corsa-e is a fantastic all-rounder and a fine car in its own right, even though some rivals can travel for longer on a charge and others are far cheaper.
Although it isn’t nearly as comfy or glamorous on the inside as an e-208, its somewhat sharper handling and more traditional interior layout make it a compelling choice.
The Vauxhall Corsa-e could be the car for you if you want a perfect electric car.
While competitors like the Honda e and Kia Soul EV have unique, eccentric aesthetics to entice you to join the all-electric revolution, the Corsa-e looks good but lacks that cutting-edge design.
So, if this perfect car were up for an Oscar, it’d be nominated for the best supporting actor; it’s nice, but the more attractive contenders would be vying for the lead actor honors.
The Vauxhall Corsa-e, on the other hand, isn’t without its highlights.
Furthermore…
With a stated range of up to 209 miles between charges, it will arrive on the red carpet ahead of the Mini Electric and Honda e, which are still charging their batteries in make-up.
It also boasts a great exterior appearance, with a forceful grille and flashy LED headlight clusters upfront, as well as some sharp creases around the sides and back, just like the normal Corsa.
There are a few ‘e’ badges on the side and back of the car to indicate a mini electric car.
That’s it for Vauxhall Corsa E Review…
Hopefully, we covered every single specification of Vauxhall Corsa-E, and now you can make your choice. You can visit our website for more car reviews.
Thanks for reading, The End!
