Vauxhall CORSA 1.8 16v SRi
In The 1.8-litre 16v SRi,
Vauxhall Has Produced A Credible Hot Hatch Version Of Its Corsa Supermini. Jonathan Crouch Drives It
Residing at the top of the Vauxhall Corsa range, the 1.8-litre 16-valve SRi is a genuine hot-hatch with style and speed to burn. Recent tinkering has seen a revised, more forceful front end come into play and theres every reason for buyers to like it.
In the shape of the 1.8-litre SRi, the current Corsa has a fast flagship that appears to stack up well against rivals. Some of these, truth be told, are rather more tepid than hot, which leaves the top-spec Corsa looking like a very good package indeed. With values starting from £11,795, its affordably priced but it still feels so much faster than many of its rivals and it comes with a five-door option.
| Build |
 |
| Comfort |
|
| Depreciation |
|
| Economy |
 |
| Equipment |
 |
| Handling |
|
| Insurance |
|
| Performance |
|
| Styling |
 |
| Value |
|
Power comes courtesy of an uprated version of Vauxhalls familiar 1.8-litre 16-valve engine, which in this form produces a lusty 125bhp. Good enough to see sixty from rest in 8.0s on the way to 126mph.
To cope with all this poke, anti-lock brakes with emergency brake assist and traction control are included. Theres lowered, stiffened suspension and 16-inch alloy wheels complete the mechanical menu. This 2004 model year Corsa also boasts modifications to the speed-dependant electric power steering that adjusts the amount of assistance given to the driver according to the speed at which the car is traveling.
"Though sharp enough around the country lanes, this car also has a more relaxing side to its character"
On the road, the result feels very lively indeed, with the hi-tech drive-by-wire throttle and pin-sharp steering making the car seem even more eager than the performance figures suggest. The gearbox isnt quite as slick as some but it does a fair job of keeping the engine on the boil. Hot hatches tend to buzz belligerently at you under heavy use and this one is no different, despite Vauxhalls installation of a vibration damper to calm things down a bit. Still, all will be forgiven by most owners if the handling proves as peppy as the performance.
First impressions are good. The power steering system has plenty of feel and needs just 2.9 turns lock to lock. No, its not as go kart-like as some of the competition but then those more raw-edged cars will get tiresome pretty quickly on longer journeys.
The Corsa SRi is different. Its sharp enough to give most hot-hatches a run for their money around the country lanes, yet also has a more relaxing side to its character. Youd also be quite happy sitting on the motorway for hours on end in this car. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, sports seats, a CD stereo, alloy wheels, a leather-covered sports steering wheel, electric front windows, power steering, white sports instrument dials and front foglights.
If you want the sporty feel but dont need as much power, theres a 1.4-litre SRi model on offer priced from £10,995 or an economical 1.7-litre CDTi diesel from £12,490. Both these cars fall well short of the performance generated by the 1.
8-litre, though. In terms of packaging this Corsa is up amongst the leaders in the Supermini sector. A recent facelift has brought the car bang up to date so it now features a more aggressive underbumper air intake, colour-keyed bumpers and protective door inserts. The headlights are fashionably complex jewel effect units that
Vauxhall dub 3D lamps due to the trio of cylindrical housings for low beam, high beam and indicators.
Thanks to a huge wheelbase, the little Vauxhall now has as much space inside as competitors like Fiats Punto and Skodas Fabia. Three inches of extra shoulder width make all the difference in creating a car that feels large enough to be something from the next class up. Nor do the big car-cues stop there. On the safety front, Vauxhall has made great efforts to make up lost ground.
There are twin front airbags on this SRi and the car has also been designed to also accommodate both side and window bags. All five passengers get three-point safety belts and there are active front head restraints at the front to reduce whiplash injuries. Add a pedalbox that gets out of the way of your feet in an impact and a bodyshell thats 30% stiffer and youve the recipe for a strong safety showing. Nice touches? Well, theres plenty of storage space, with large door bins and a shallow tray beneath the front passenger
seat.
Plus theres a sunglasses holder by the drivers head. Youll also like the way the rear wash and wipe activates when you select reverse in the rain. And the infotainment system you can upgrade to include everything from a telephone to satellite navigation. Gripes include cupholders which are actually almost useless indentations in the glove box lid.
Oh and split-folding rear seats that dont fold flat. Which is a pity since in every other respect, the loading possibilities are impressive: up to 1,060 litres of space is available with everything folded. Ironically, the 3-doors boot is more spacious than that of the 5-door version. The Corsa comes with a full three-year warranty as standard and you have to give Vauxhall credit when it comes to keeping down the cost of ownership. This car requires servicing only every 20,000 miles (or once a year) and prices for replacement parts and insurance are amongst the lowest in the class.
Changes to the Corsa SRi have given it a new lease of life and, in 1.8-litre 16v form at least, it remains a really credible hot-hatch.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Vauxhall Corsa 1.8 16v SRi
PRICES: £11,795-£12,455 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 9
CO2 EMISSIONS: 190g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.0s / Max Speed 126mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 25.2mpg / (extra urban) 47.1mpg/ (combined) 35.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/heightmm) 3817/1646/1440mm [3dr]
<< Back to Vauxhall car reviews
<< Back to car reviews homepage
Find New & Used Cars in the UK |
New & Used Vauxhall Cars For Sale UK
