Vauxhall Corsa Electric review: reliability & safety rating
Don't be put off by the Corsa Electric's four-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating; the car comes loaded with safety kit
| Euro NCAP | Adult protection | Child protection | Safety assist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 stars (2019) | 84% | 86% | 69% |
Vauxhall doesn’t have the strongest reputation for reliability, but following its takeover by the PSA Group (now Stellantis) in 2017, it has turned its fortunes around. On the safety front, the Corsa's four-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating (out of a maximum of five) shouldn't be too much cause for concern. The tests have become ever-more stringent in recent years and are now much tougher to pass than before.
That said, while the Vauxhall shares its rating with sister car the Peugeot 208, the latest Renault Clio was awarded the full five stars thanks to a super-impressive 96% score for adult occupant protection. Still, the Vauxhall’s safety kit list (detailed below) is long and reliability should be on the up.
Vauxhall Corsa Electric reliability & problems
In the latest Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, the Vauxhall Corsa (not just the Corsa Electric) managed to finish 59th in the top 75 new cars rundown – five places behind its sister car, the Peugeot 208. Meanwhile, Vauxhall as a brand finished 19th out of 29 carmakers, ahead of even Mercedes and Audi which is commendable.
Vauxhall owners praised their cars’ running costs – a Corsa Electric strong point – and rated connectivity highly, too. They said their cars could be more practical, however – again, relevant to the EV Corsa’s lack of under-floor storage. Just over 15% of owners reported faults, which is no worse than average; almost 18% of Peugeot owners suffered the same fate.
Safety
The Vauxhall Corsa missed out on a full five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating when it was assessed back in 2019. However, respective scores of 84% and 86% for adult and child occupant protection shouldn’t be scoffed at and if it wasn’t for a slightly lower score for driver-assistance systems, there’s a chance Vauxhall might have nabbed that final star.
All Corsa Electric models get lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, speed-limit recognition, driver drowsiness warning, forward collision alert and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. You also get the usual ISOFIX child-seat fixings on outer rear seats.
Limited-run Anniversary models boast a panoramic rear-view camera and blind spot alert, despite actually costing a little less than the base GS. While not technically listed as a safety feature, Ultimate cars also get matrix LED lights that can maintain high-beam by illuminating individual bulbs to give you a clearer view at night.
