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New Car Review: Opel Corsa e

Published 4th October 2022Read Time 14 min

Good Stuff 👍

Acceleration, comfort, efficiency

Bad Stuff 👎

Unremarkable looks, only available in more expensive trim levels

What is the Opel Corsa e?

Good entry-level electric hatchback

The Opel Corsa e is the fully electric version of Opel’s longstanding Corsa model. Like other cars in the PSA stable, it is built on the eCMP platform. So under the skin it is basically the same car as a Peugeot e208 and Opel Mokka e.

Although it shares most of its DNA with the other cars, the designers were thankfully allowed put their own stamp on how the Corsa looks. It does lack a little of the flair possessed by the Peugeot e-208, but this was part of the design brief and will be welcome to some buyers looking for a dependable and comfortable electric hatchback.

The Corsa e has a decent WLTP range of 337km. In summer testing, we managed to surpass this figure and get more than 370km out of a single charge. Although, something just under 300km is a more realistic figure in general driving. It charges well also, peaking at 100kW on a DC charger. Having said that, we’re a little disappointed not to see 11kW AC charging as standard.

The Corsa e has a high level of specification compared to the other models, so you don’t need to load up on the options list. Apart from choosing your colour, there’s not a lot else to do. Having said that, it would be good to have a cheaper model coming in under €30,000 for those that don’t want upgraded wheels or trim levels inside.

How about the looks of the Opel Corsa e?

Familiar and unremarkable

The Corsa e is quite decently appointed inside. You get heated seats, automatic air conditioning and the upgraded seat fabrics as standard. There is a nice 7” drivers display that you can customise to suit your preferences. It can show navigation, traditional dials, driving statistics and much more. The infotainment system has a colour touchscreen centred between the driver and passenger, which nicely integrates with Android Auto and Apple Car Play.

As the Corsa is a relatively small car and doesn’t have a sunroof or panoramic roof, the inside doesn’t feel airy. Adults in the front have plenty of space. However, the back gets a little cramped. Four adults of 6ft or more will struggle for space. Baby seats do fit, but the driver will have to inch forward a little if they are tall.

The flat-bottomed leather-covered steering wheel has a smattering of buttons, and allows you to control audio, cruise control and toggle between various settings.

“Although it shares most of its DNA with the other cars, the designers were thankfully allowed put their own stamp on how the Corsa look”
Blake Boland

What is the inside of the Opel Corsa e like?

Good spec level as standard

The Corsa e is quite decently appointed inside. You get heated seats, automatic air conditioning and the upgraded seat fabrics as standard. There is a nice 7” drivers display that you can customise to suit your preferences. It can show navigation, traditional dials, driving statistics and much more. The infotainment system has a colour touchscreen centred between the driver and passenger, which nicely integrates with Android Auto and Apple Car Play.

As the Corsa is a relatively small car and doesn’t have a sunroof or panoramic roof, the inside doesn’t feel airy. Adults in the front have plenty of space. However, the back gets a little cramped. Four adults of 6ft or more will struggle for space. Baby seats do fit, but the driver will have to inch forward a little if they are tall.

The flat-bottomed leather-covered steering wheel has a smattering of buttons, and allows you to control audio, cruise control and toggle between various settings.

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What is the Opel Corsa e like to drive?

Comfortable, quiet and surprisingly solid

When you think of small city hatchbacks, solid and comfortable is probably not your first thought. But the Corsa e has a 50kWh battery pack tucked into the floor of the car, so it weighs a beefy 1.53 tonnes. This weight gives it a more solid feel and belies the size of the car.

With the battery pack where it is, the centre of gravity is very low. This makes it feel very stable, and really cuts down on body roll. If you throw it into a few corners, you can feel the weight, but it handles quite well and remains poised thanks to the stiffer coils.

The Corsa e has a 100kW motor which is good for 136PS and 260Nm of torque. That gives the Corsa e a 0-100km/h time of 8.1 seconds, which is faster than the rest of the Corsa range. As this is the electric version, the acceleration is seamless and effortless. Regenerative braking makes city driving much more comfortable, but lacks one pedal driving that you can find in a select number of the Corsa’s rivals such as the Honda e.

Cruise control and lane keep assist help when on longer journeys. The ride is quite refined and there is a greater level of sound insulation than we expected. The Corsa e will do 250km of motorway driving so a cross country trip is easier than you might expect.

Which Corsa e should I buy?

Only one option

There really is only one option, as Opel have packed most of the options into the Elite spec that comes as standard on the Corsa e. It makes the car nearly €12,000 more expensive than the cheapest petrol option. However, the level of spec and performance is vastly different.

Is the Opel Corsa safe?

All the safety features expected

As with most modern cars, you are getting a full suite of safety features. ABS, ESP and EBD come as standard. As does Active lane keep assist, forward collision alert and pedestrian detection alert.

A nice feature is the rear facing camera. It scans what’s behind the car as you are reversing and paints a bird’s eye picture that gets displayed on the infotainment screen. It makes car park manoeuvres that bit safer and more comfortable.

The NCAP ratings were reviewed in May 2021 to take the electric variant into account and the car scored 4 out of 5 stars.

Verdict 👀

The Opel Corsa e lacks the flair of some its rivals such as the Peugeot e208, Fiat 500e or Honda e. However, that might not necessarily be a bad thing for someone looking for a small hatchback that doesn’t stand out too much.

Range is quite decent for an electric city hatchback, and it will charge quickly when you do take it on a longer motorway journey. The ride is refined and comfortable, yet firm enough to take a spirited drive through some twisty roads.

The Corsa e doesn’t pull at our heart strings, but it’s a solid choice for those looking to get into a small EV at a relatively modest price. Future competition from the likes of the MG4 may hurt it at this price point however.

Remember if you are struggling with any of the terms used in this or any of our EV articles we have compiled this guide to EV Buzzwords for you.

 

Spec Check ⚙️

Opel Corsa e

Engine

Fully electric

Power

100kW, 136bhp

Torque

260Nm

0-100km/h

8.1 seconds

Range

329-337km WLTP

Top Speed

150 km

Transmission

Single Speed

CO2

0g/km

Annual Motor Tax

€120

Luggage Capacity

309-litres

Price as tested

€33,500

For more information, visit Opel Ireland