Opel/Vauxhall Corsa E

2015 Opel Corsa

2015 Vauxhall Corsa

The Corsa city car has spawned its fifth-generation model and this new version of the city car popular among those who got themselves a learner's permit from the driving school tries to be more of a matured hatchback when tackling on areas that are very metropolitan to the drivers' eyes.

In terms of design, it's kinda more of a mashup between the smaller Adam and the bigger Astra. You can notice the Adam-esque front face and the Astra-ish rear view on it but by the looks of it, it isn't half bad at all.

There are different kinds of Corsas to choose from, ranging from a three-door model for those who don't have friends and a five-door model for those who do have friends. Whichever Corsa you choose, you have a choice of either a 1.0L ECOTEC, 1.2L, a 1.4 ecoFlex, a 1.4 Turbo, or a 1.3 CDTi engine.

2015 Opel Corsa

2015 Vauxhall Corsa

The ideal Corsa will be the one with the 1.0L ECOTEC engine with the 115PS power output and the 170Nm torque output because this kind of engine will give its bigger counterparts some good kicking. With that kind of engine, you can get through 0-100kph in 10.3 seconds and flatout in 195kph. That sounds quick for a supermini equipped with a very small engine and looks like this will pose a bigger threat to the Ford Fiesta.

For those who are fuel-conscious should go for the more fuel efficient 1.3 CDTi engine with the 95PS power output because of its 29.4 to 30.3km/L fuel consumption as well as its 89 to 87g/km CO2 emissions. Not bad for a diesel-powered supermini, though.

Transmission choices, depending on the variant, include a 5-speed manual, a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed automatic, or the 5-speed Easytronic gearbox.

The previous Corsa felt like you're trying to ride on a fire extinguisher-powered concierge trolley and although sounds cumbersome, the quality is worth betraying for the driver, especially those who got their driver's licenses. For the new model, the ride has been slightly improved as well as its handling despite the fact that some of the bodywork were derived from the previous generation. Although you may find it very cheap to handle like Postman Pat's but it is maneuverable and very accessible. As long as you satisfy its needs for a supermini, the Corsa will be as happy as a laughing baby.

2015 Opel Corsa interior

2015 Vauxhall Corsa interior

Apart from the "accessible" part, the interior is more likeable than the old one it replaces. It may be more of a ADAM lookalike but on high-end models, you get some nifty gadgets such as IntelliLink, which adds Bluetooth and iPod connectivity at your fingertips. It even comes with an optional app which allows the BringGo navigation app to work through the screen. Although I may find it to be a hassle than most sat-navs, it's money well spent.

The new Corsa starts at 11,980 Euros (9,175 Pounds in the UK) and it's still one of the not-so-bad cars money can buy, even for first-timers.

Photo: General Motors Europe