Inside Vauxhall’s new-look Corsa with ‘visor’ front end, big car tech and a price that is even more surprising
THE average price of a used car is now £17,843.
I repeat, SEVENTEEN THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED AND FORTY THREE POUNDS.
That’s based on almost a million daily price checks by Auto Trader across the entire second-hand car market. So that’s gospel.
Yet for a shade more than the average price of a used car, you can have this mint-fresh Vauxhall Corsa.
You can tell it’s new for ’23 because it finally adopts Vauxhall’s “Vizor” front end — think motorcycle helmet visor — and gets a spring clean inside too.
The current Corsa costs £19,085 and a little birdie tells me this new one — arriving in October — will only be a couple of hundred quid more. Around £19,295?
Normally when a car gets a mid-life facelift, prices are hiked by somewhere between five and ten per cent.
But get this, the expected uplift in residual values for the new Corsa means monthly finance payments are likely to stay the SAME.
At a time when we all need a bit of help, it is refreshing to see Vauxhall keep a lid on the cost of Britain’s best-selling car.
The pure electric Corsa might even get a PRICE CUT.
A Vauxhall insider said: “We’re working hard to make sure the latest version of Corsa, be that electric or petrol, will be great value as ever.”
It’s big car tech in a supermini
Now let’s discuss the new-look Corsa in a bit more detail.
All models adopt the “Vizor” front end, where the eyes of the car — the lights and radar — are hidden behind one black panel.
Looks tidy.
Especially in this shark-grey paint job with black badging front and back.
The cheapest Design trim gets a bigger 10in central touchscreen, new driver’s cluster graphics and posher seat fabrics.
The top-spec Ultimate trim features wireless phone charging and buttons to warm and rub your back.
Clever LED pixel matrix lights ensure a clear view of the road without dazzling oncoming traffic.
That’s big car tech in a supermini.
Corsa Electric gains a next-gen 51kWh battery, improving range by 33 miles to 255 miles and increasing power to 156hp.
That will cost a bit more, obviously, with the mid-spec GS trim, the current entry point for a Corsa EV, expected to nudge £35k, up £1,500 on today’s version.
But the existing 50kWh battery (222 miles and 136hp) is likely to be made available in the base Design trim, lowering the price of a Corsa EV by £1,500 to £32k.
I think I’ve got that right.
Bosses will confirm pricing in the next few weeks.
Also, there’s a Corsa hybrid on the way.
The 1.2-litre petrol/electric combo improves efficiency, adds an extra dollop of torque, and recharges itself on the go. No messing about with a plug.
That should cost a smidge under £22k.
Still good value when you consider the average price of a new car is now £35,096.
I repeat, THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND AND NINETY SIX POUNDS.
