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Thanks: DİKMEN AUTO İSTOÇ Looks very stylish, doesn’t it? It does. And that’s because the facelifted version has brought it into line with the rest of the Vauxhall range, adopting that Zorro-like strip across the nose. Gives it more purpose, somehow. En garde! The fresh look was desperately needed, not least because the 208 had it beaten hands down in the styling department. Now at least it can compete with stuff like the VW Polo, Toyota Yaris, Citroen C3, Renault Clio, Skoda Fabia and Hyundai i20. The Ford Fiesta of course is no longer with us, having passed through the pearly gates of Car Heaven. What are the engine options then? There’s the electric version, of course, but when it comes to petrol engines (no diesel anymore) there’s just the one 3cyl option available in three states of tune. The entry-level naturally aspirated version produces 74bhp, then you’ve got two turbocharged options with 99bhp and 128bhp. These three get from 0–62mph in 13.2, 9.9 and 8.7 seconds respectively, the most powerful engine only available with an eight-speed auto gearbox that saps some of the potency. The entry petrol gets a five-speed and the middle engine a six-speed manual. All options are rated for around 130g/km CO2 and 55mpg, and you'll get close to that figure out in the real world. A hybrid will arrive at some stage in 2024. Keep the bunting on standby. So what’s it like to drive? Corsas of old were wooden to drive, and nowhere near as lively and vivacious as the equivalent Fiesta. No longer. This is a mature, crisp, well mannered car that’s reassuring and well controlled on the road. It doesn’t fizz with energy, but it's well damped and insulated, comes across as robust and capable, and doesn’t wilt at the first sign of a corner. The 1.2 triple is a good engine, and whether you should go electric is debatable. Not if you’re on a tight budget. Otherwise, it’s not a bad option, the 51kWh version delivering a claimed 246-mile range and perkier performance than any other Corsa (0–62mph in ) Is it any good inside? What a shame that the bland and incongruous cabin lets the Corsa down. It’s dark up front, cramped in the back and there’s little sense of style, ambition or attraction – all things that the Peugeot 208 does well at. Head to the Interior tab of this review for the full breakdown. How much does it cost? Prices start at £19,625 for the entry Design model with 74bhp engine, rising to just over £28k for the Ultimate spec car with the 128bhp petrol. If you want to go electric you’re looking at a £6k–£8k uplift. Read More
