Vauxhall Corsa Mk3 used car review (2006-2014)
The Vauxhall Corsa is a dream car for the young driver, as it’s about as cheap to insure as you’ll get, there are loads about and it’s fun to drive too. Reliability tends to be good, and so is practicality thanks to a decently sized boot and a cabin that’ll happily swallow four adults – or five if they’re good friends. Throw in an array of engines and trim levels plus a choice of three or five-door hatchback designs and the Corsa really is the car that has it all. But you need to be careful of what you’re buying; abused cars aren’t rare and neither are poverty-spec examples.
decent reliability means you shouldn’t be constantly forking out for repairs
Timeline
Jul 2006: The third-generation Corsa arrives, in three or five-door hatchback forms. There are 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 or 1.6-litre petrol engines along with 1.3 or 1.7-litre diesels.
Feb 2007: The sporty 192bhp VXR debuts, with 1.6 turbo power.
Jun 2007: The SRi appears with the same engine as the VXR, but in 150bhp form.
Apr 2009: The ultra-economical 1.3 CDTi Ecoflex arrives, capable of 70mpg and with CO2 emissions of 105g/km.
Jul 2010: The introduction of stop/start tech to the EcoFlex means it’s now rated at 96g/km.
Feb 2011: A facelifted Corsa brings refreshed styling, extra colour choices, an improved interior and a new multi-media option.
Oct 2012: A revised Corsa EcoFlex emits just 88g/km and can achieve over 85mpg.
Which one?
You’d probably like a Corsa VXR, but a 1.0 or 1.2-litre model is more likely because of the insurance costs. Go for the bigger engine if you can, as the 1.0-litre is underpowered, and unless you’re just going to potter around town all the time, you’ll find it hard going. The diesels are fine too, but they’re a lot less common than the petrol editions and you’ll pay more for one – but you’ll pay less road tax and your fuel bills will be lower, so it’s a trade off. Entry-level models such as the Expression, S and Energy are all a bit light with the standard kit, so if you can stretch to an SE or SXi, we’d say it’s worthwhile.
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Safety
Although the Vauxhall Corsa Mk3 has been around since 2006, it can still claim to offer a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating – although that’s using the older system. It wouldn’t manage that now, as not all models come with ESP as standard; even now, only the range-topping VXR comes with it, although it is available at extra cost on all derivatives. Not that you’ll find many used Corsas fitted with it….
For more on how Euro NCAP crash testing works, check out our page on the subject or you can read how the Corsa fared on the official Euro NCAP website.
Running costs
Assuming you don’t buy a 1.6-litre car and thrash it mercilessly, you’re not going to be crippled by large fuel bills; the smaller engines (especially the diesels) can easily give 50-60mpg in everyday use, while most models are in insurance groups 1-4. However, the sportier models go as high as group 16. With CO2 emissions usually below 150g/km, road tax should also be palatable, and decent reliability means you shouldn’t be constantly forking out for repairs. Maintenance should be affordable too; the Corsa’s simplicity means plenty of independent garages can work on it.
For current road tax bands and costs, which are based on a car’s CO2 emissions, check out the DirectGov website.
Checklist
- Corsas with a 1.4-litre engine and automatic gearbox can suffer from transmission fluid leaks.
- If a diesel Corsa is used for just short trips, the engine oil gets contaminated with fuel, causing big problems.
- The handbrake lever retaining plate can come away from the floor when its retaining rivets break; a stronger, replacement plate has to be bolted to the floor.
- Make sure the heater fan switch works properly; some Corsas suffer from a fan that will work only on full speed, regardless of which setting is chosen.
- Check that the windscreen wipers work; the motors can fail, usually because a previous owner has used the wipers when stuck to the screen in icy weather.
- Make sure that the steering feels smooth and linear, as the mechanisms can wear or fail altogether. Cars with wide tyres are especially likely to suffer.
We have these examples available.
Vauxhall Corsa Limited Edition 3dr With A/c & Full service history. 3 years old only 31,354 Miles
Finance from £162 p/m
Finance Example: Cash Price:£7499 Flat Rate: 5% APR 10.2% Charge for Credit: £1874.75 Doc fees £350 total: £9723.75
Vauxhall Corsa Limited Edition 3dr With A/c LOW mileage
Finance from £130 p/m
Finance Example: Cash Price:£5499 Flat Rate: 5% APR 10.2% Charge for Credit: £1374.75 Doc fees £350 total: £7223.75
All finance is subject to status, written quotation available on request, Wearside Autoparc acts as a finance broker and not a lender.
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