The Vauxhall Corsa is a bit lonely these days, because it’s one of the few simple, no-frills small hatchbacks left on sale. That’s not to say it feels spartan; it’s well equipped, good-looking and drives well enough, but the interior is a bit dour and it’s not very practical.
Think of the Corsa as a pair of Skechers in a world of Nike, Adidas and New Balance trainers. It’s better than its alternatives in a lot of ways, but unlike the flashy pair of Air Jordans, the Skechers won’t get many compliments from your mates.
It’s not totally alone though, because even if the Peugeot 208, Renault Clio and Mini Cooper are all very style-focused small cars, the trusty Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo are still around to offer simple, fuss-free motoring.
Even though there’s a lack of clout attached to the name, the Corsa is actually quite a good looking little car. You get a sporty front end thanks to Vauxhall’s signature, retro-styled ‘Vizor’ - a strip of black trim adjoining the headlights - and a moody lower air intake, while the two-tone colour options and slim taillights round off an attractive little package.
The interior isn’t quite as attractive though, being one of the plainest you’ll find in a small hatchback these days. Vauxhall has eschewed any retro-styling in here, unlike the Mini Cooper and Fiat 500e, and they haven’t gone for a funky, futuristic look like the Citroen e-C3 either.
You get physical climate controls beneath the dashboard, which are a joy to use. The infotainment system is clear to understand and easy to navigate, and even when using the standard-fit Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, a selection of shortcut buttons remain on the infotainment display. Nice.