By Sala Masindane

The Opel Corsa is one of those cars that we have all (depending how old you are) been in or driven. Growing up in KwaZulu Natal that was the hatch to own but unfortunately that has changed over time. This is due to the changes from General Motors to Stellantis and brand reliability. Stellantis has promised sustainability and we hope that is true. Now in its sixth generation, the Corsa has been facelifted, and we spent time with this once-popular hatchback.

What’s new?

The exterior design features OPEL’s Vizor front end that is flanked by standard glare-free Intelli-Lux LED Matrix Lights. Other stand out styling updates on the GS Line include bi-colour diamond cut 16-inch alloy wheels, black roof, badging, and black roof.

The striking new design has given the Corsa more appeal and attitude compared to the previous generation, which lacked a bit of character.

Interior

Inside, the GS Line come with a new 10-inch Intellilink touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 7-inch digital instrument cluster.

The cabin has quality soft touch materials, but it does look gloomy with all the dark colours that are used. Thankfully, the new infotainment works well, and we do appreciate the physical buttons for the climate control. Rear space feels cramped when taller passengers are in the front, and there’s 309 litres of boot space.

Performance and drive

Powering the Opel Corsa range is a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine, and the top-of-the-range GS Line boasts 96kW/230Nm of outputs. It is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and Opel claims the GS Line will sip unleaded fuel at 6.3 l/100km.

The turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine ensures that the Corsa accelerates off the mark relatively well but it’s not your typical robot-to-robot winner. The ride quality and it pleasant to drive daily. Our time with the GS Line yielded a fuel consumption of 7.2 l/100km, slightly higher than the claimed 6.3 l/100km.

Final word

The jury is still out on whether if the Opel Corsa is still relevant and if it can compete with the likes of the Polo. It has lost some traction to VW, but it is priced lower than the equivalent Polo TSI. The Corsa is an all-round great vehicle but our recent experience with aftersales will possibly be the demise of this great brand. However, it is worth a look if you this your style.

Pricing for the Opel Corsa starts at R374,900 and includes a 3-year/45,000km service plan and a 5-year/100,000km warranty.