Vauxhall Corsa-e review
The evergreen Vauxhall Corsa is these days available with an electric powertrain, making it one of the most affordable ways into zero-emissions motoring
Pros
- Practical five-door body
- Good real-world range
- Drives quite well
Cons
- No cable storage
- Renault ZOE is better value
- Three-phase charging costs extra
| Car type | Range | Wallbox charge time | Rapid charge time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 222 miles | 7hrs 45mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 28mins (10-80%, 100kW) |
While previous generations of the Vauxhall Corsa have been the first car of many a teenage or student motorist and a favourite choice of UK driving instructors, the latest generation of the model isn't holding back, as it enters the electric hatchback class with a point to prove.
The arrival of the Corsa-e is thanks to Vauxhall and its German sister brand Opel being taken over by Peugeot and Citroen's parent company PSA Group (now Stellantis) in 2017. As a result, both the internal-combustion and electric versions of this Corsa are based on the same platform as the Peugeot 208.
The e-208 is one of the Corsa-e's main rivals, alongside the Renault ZOE, MINI Electric and Honda e, as well as larger models like the Mazda MX-30, DS 3 Crossback E-TENSE and even Vauxhall's own Mokka-e. Of course, being electric, the Corsa-e isn't as affordable as its fossil-fuel-powered siblings, with the entry-level trim starting at just over £27,000 after the government's plug-in car grant (PiCG) has been deducted.
The Corsa-e is driven by a 134bhp electric motor, drawing power from a 50kWh battery. Maximum range in ideal conditions is just over 220 miles, but we'd expect to see more like 160 to 180 miles in real-world driving – which is much better than some of this car’s more style-centric rivals. Performance is sprightly and it handles well; refinement is excellent, too.
By almost every measure, then, the Corsa-e is a great small electric car. In fact, once you’ve got over the high purchase price (or nailed down a good finance deal), it’s hard to argue with that real-world range and those rock-bottom running costs.
But ultimately, there are cheaper but equally capable models on the market, while larger, plusher rivals aren’t far out of reach, either. For a more detailed look at the Vauxhall Corsa-e, read on for the rest of our in-depth review...
