VAUXHALL CORSA ECOFLEX: one to get your hot little hands on

That’s why I was stunned when Vauxhall’s economical little Corsa EcoFlex turned up with the palm-warming premium addition as well as heated seats and a neatly integrated little Sat-Nav system.

This was supposedly an Exclusiv spec car that sat just above the base-spec Corsa S in a range that has a choice of no fewer than six trim options, afterall...

Here’s my quick five-star guide to the Vauxhall Corsa Ecoflex.

Engine: 1,248cc, four-cylinder turbo-diesel

Power: 94bhp and 140lb.ft. of torque

Acceleration (0-62mph): 12.3 seconds

Top Speed: 110mph

Economy: 80mpg

Price: £15,930 (as tested)

Overall rating: * * * (out of five).

Style: * *

The recently facelifted Corsa’s front end has now dispensed with the distinctive ‘V’ grille in favour of a slightly less bold chrome centrepiece but the changes are subtle at best.

In truth, Vauxhall’s popular hatcback still lacks any stand-out design features and its visual appeal lags behind Ford’s Fiesta and Peugeot’s 207.”

Specification and Value: * * * 

Tested here in Exclusiv spec—one stage above the base-spec ‘S’—there are few standard perks, with highlights such as the sat-nav system and heated steering wheel and seats cost options.

On a car costing almost £15,000 in standard form I might expect to find allow wheels at the very least.

Read on to discover why I wasn’t harsher with my star tally...

Performance: * * *

What the Corsa Exclusiv test car lacked in visual drama it made up in practicality with 80mpg fuel consumption claims and 94g/km CO2 emissions meaning free road tax.

With the fuel-saving ‘Eco’ button prodded my right ankle’s correspondence with the engine might as well have been carried out by carrier pigeon, though, as sluggish throttle responses prevailed.

Either way, the forecourt-avoiding fuel consumption stats mean that the Corsa could prove a sound investment over big mileages or as a long-term investment.”