Supermini heavyweights slug it out

Why the comparison?

The two motoring giants have always sold cars to compete directly against each other in the various categories and among the superminis it's the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa that fight for class supremacy. The Fiesta is the newer of the protagonists, the Corsa being a familiar sight on our roads. It won't be long until the Fiesta is too, but which to choose? That, as always is a tough decision.

How are they similar?

Both the Fiesta and Corsa are superminis. That used to mean that they were dimensionally small, but through time the supermini has grown to offer the sort of space and comfort that cars a size category up delivered a decade or so back. That means these are viable family cars, and not just for families with small children. Such is the competition in this marketplace that all manufacturers want their cars to stand out and the Ford and Vauxhall both bring very smart styling to the market. Each is offered in three- and five-door guises, with the three-door models offering just as much space if not quite the ease of access of their five-door relatives.

What's really impressive in each is just how mature and substantial they feel. The Corsa and Fiesta drive with real sophistication, each delivering a comfortable ride, excellent handling and impressive refinement. These are two superminis that will easily and comfortably cope with a long motorway drive. They both feel very well built, the plastics and fit and finish among the best in the supermini class, while space is good in each. As ever, being at the entry point of their respective model ranges each comes with a myriad of different engine and trim choices encompassing everything from small economical petrol and diesel choices to big output engines in the sporting models. Really, there should be a model to suit everyone's budget and needs.

How do they differ?

The fight for honours between these two cars is so close that really the differences are slight. Like-for-like both ranges pretty much match each other for equipment and pricing. So it's the small details that differentiate this duo. The Corsa is perhaps the more adventurously styled of the pair, the three-door model in particular looking very sharp and sporting - even when it's not tricked out in VXR range-topping guise. The Ford, smart as it is, just doesn't have quite the visual impact of the Vauxhall. Inside it's the Ford that wins for cabin ambience and style; the cool centre console with its mobile phone inspired operation and design makes the Corsa's plain centre console look a bit conservative. The driving position in the Fiesta feels a touch lower than the almost MPV-height offered by the Corsa. That's significant, as the Ford also feels the sharper of the pair on the road. Most drivers will prefer the way the Ford drives thanks to its crisper steering and neater handling.

The Ford works better with its smaller engines than the Corsa, the Vauxhall's smaller output engines feeling a bit overwhelmed. The boot space in the Corsa is more usefully shaped and the rear seats offer a little more legroom than the Fiesta. Trim levels, economy and emissions are almost identical, though if you want curtain airbags on your Fiesta you'll need to pay for them - many Corsas come with them as standard. Being the newer car, the Ford offers better integration of plug-in accessories such as iPods, a USB socket offered as an option across the range.

So which one would we have?

It is hardly surprising in the supermini class that this pair takes up the bulk of the sales. They're both excellent small cars that are no longer mere run-arounds or second cars, but useable everyday only cars. The Fiesta is the newest of the duo and it's the most fun to drive but the Corsa counters with decent equipment levels, a slightly more roomy feeling interior and smart, edgy looks. Really, many people's decisions will simply come down to what sort of deal and finance they can secure on either, and the location of their dealer. We'd be happy with either, but if we really had to choose then the Fiesta would be the one we'd pick due to its more enjoyable driving characteristics.

Kyle Fortune