Used Vauxhall Corsa for sale: everything you need to know
This is the car that kicked the Ford Fiesta off its perch as Britain’s best-selling new car. While the latest Corsa has traded places with a couple of other cars since its 2019 launch, it broke a long streak by Ford’s supermini, and when you have a poke around the latest Corsa it isn’t difficult to see why.
The current Corsa looks good, it feels well-built, and it’s spacious too, while improvements over the last few years mean it’s kept pace with the latest technology too - even the most basic models get LED headlights, touchscreens, air conditioning, and cruise control. The engines are frugal too, while there’s even an electric option - the latter especially looking like a real bargain if you’re buying used.
Should you buy a Vauxhall Corsa?
The Vauxhall Corsa has long been one of Britain’s favourite superminis, but the latest car, launched in 2019, updated in 2022 and facelifted again in 2024, is one of the easiest yet to make a case for. It’s a big improvement on its predecessor in most of the ways that matter, something that’s been reflected in the car’s strong sales since its launch.
It’s not bad looking for a start - the latest car shares its underpinnings with the Peugeot 208, and it gets a similarly well-proportioned and grown-up look. The same can be said inside - it’s more conventional but arguably easier to live with as a result than its Peugeot equivalent, while it looks and feels more upmarket than the old Corsa. A touchscreen infotainment system is standard across the range and the driving position is very good - another aspect that makes the Corsa feel more substantial than it actually is.
A sprawling range since its 2019 introduction means finding your ideal spec might be tricky, but the good news is that even the most basic Corsas are well-equipped, so there’s no hardship in picking a more affordable model. All get the same spacious cabin, impressive refinement, and decently-sized boot, though electric models are slightly compromised in terms of luggage space.
A mostly petrol lineup handles the driving side of things, and the turbocharged models in particular have breezy acceleration, an easy gearshift (whether manual or the eight-speed auto) and don’t make too much noise. It’s not the most entertaining car to drive in this class - you’ll need a Ford Fiesta or MINI 5-Door for that - nor the most spacious, with the Renault Clio and Skoda Fabia just out-doing it here, but it’s a talented all-rounder. If you’re looking specifically at the Corsa-e, then others to consider include the Renault Zoe, Peugeot e-208, and Honda E.
What’s the best used Vauxhall Corsa model to buy?
For buyers on a budget the combination of SE trim with the 100PS 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine is hard to beat. It’s got plenty of kit right out of the gate - with alloys, air conditioning, cruise control, and a 7-inch touchscreen - and has a good mix of performance and economy. Design would be the equivalent among post-2022 models, or ‘Yes’ trim since the 2024 facelift.
If you have somewhere to charge at home, the Corsa-e is well worth a look if you’re not planning on too many longer trips though. Depreciation rates for electric cars means a fairly low-mileage Corsa-e can be nearly as affordable as a petrol model, in contrast to their large new price difference.
Used Vauxhall Corsa fuel economy and performance
- Vauxhall Corsa 1.2-litre 75 petrol: With a non-turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol engine the Corsa develops a modest 75PS, though performance is still reasonable with a 12.4-second 0-62mph time. It’s more frugal than other Corsas though, with a combined 53.3mpg. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard.
- Vauxhall Corsa 1.2-litre 100 turbo petrol: The same engine with a turbocharger attached makes 100PS, and cuts the 0-62mph time to 9.3 seconds. Economy is nearly as good as the 75PS car, at 52.3mpg, while a six-speed manual and an automatic gearbox are both available.
- Vauxhall Corsa 1.2-litre 130 turbo petrol: Another variant of the 1.2-litre engine, the top model makes 130PS. Performance improves again with an 8.2-second 0-62mph time (courtesy also of a standard eight-speed automatic gearbox), while combined economy is 50.4mpg.
- Vauxhall Corsa 1.5-litre 102 diesel: You’ll find this four-cylinder, 1.5-litre turbodiesel in some earlier Corsas, as it hasn’t been sold for a few years now. It develops 102PS, and has a 9.6-second 0-62mph time. Claimed economy is up to 70.6mpg.
- Vauxhall Corsa-e: The electric Corsa is the most powerful in the range, with 136PS, and has a claimed 0-62mph of 8.9 seconds (more recent cars make 156PS and drop that to 7.7 seconds). Earlier models offer a claimed 205 miles on a charge, while later 50kWh cars can do up to 220 miles.
What used Vauxhall Corsa trim levels are available?
We’ve focused on post-2022 models below, after Vauxhall simplified the Corsa’s trim lineup - it was a bit of a sprawling beast before, starting in SE trim and topping out in Ultimate, with several spin-offs such as Premium and Nav-badged models, which received heated seats and navigation respectively. In the current range, the Corsa-e is available in both GS and Ultimate spec as detailed below. A recent facelift in 2024 may result in further changes not covered here.
- The Vauxhall Corsa Design gets a pretty decent level of equipment for an entry-level car, with features like a touchscreen, air conditioning, and alloy wheels all standard.
- The Vauxhall Corsa GS is the current mid-range model, getting a contrasting black roof, sports-style front seats, automatic climate control, and rear parking sensors, among other features.
- The Vauxhall Corsa Ultimate tops the range and gets a level of equipment to suit - the latest cars come with matrix LED headlights, an electric driver’s seat with a massage function, and more.
Used Vauxhall Corsa dimensions and boot size
The Vauxhall Corsa’s exterior dimensions are:
- Length: 4060mm
- Width: 1765mm
- Height: 1433mm
The Vauxhall Corsa’s boot size is:
- 309 litres (Corsa-e: 267 litres)
- 1118 litres with rear seats folded (Corsa-e: 1081 litres)
Used Vauxhall Corsa road tax
The best way to dodge HMRC with a Corsa is to get the all-electric Corsa-e, which at the time of writing is completely free to tax thanks to its zero tailpipe emissions status. For the rest of the range, you’ll pay a flat figure of £190 per year across the board, for the 2024/2025 tax year.
How much is it to insure a Vauxhall Corsa?
At the bottom of the range the Corsa isn’t quite as cheap to insure as some rivals, with no pared-back, super-cheap entry-level model. The range spans groups 10-26, with pre-2022 SE models with the 75PS 1.2 at the bottom end of that, and an Ultimate with the 130PS turbo engine at the top. The Corsa-e can be found in groups 24-26, higher than the group 14-25 span of the Renault Zoe.
