2006 VAUXHALL Corsa 3 Doors 1.4L 5MT FWD (90 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Vauxhall introduced the Corsa in 2006 at the London Motor Show and it was an instant success for the British brand.

The small-segment car was a joint development between General Motors and Fiat. While the Italians made the Punto and the Alfa Romeo MiTo, GM brands produced the Vauxhall/Opel Corsa. Strangely, the two carmakers decided to take the design from Germany and some engines from Italy.

Compared to its predecessor, the new generation was bigger and its headlights swept-back on the fenders left the impression of a compact-sized car. The arched, triangular, rear windows offered the impression of a sporty coupe. It was the same theme design used for the Astra GTC, which led to a raked tailgate. In the back, the elliptic tear-shaped taillights were mounted above the rear bumper to be protected from parking, low-speed crashes.

Inside, the Corsa offered decent space for four adults. In the front, the two seats were placed higher so the driver could have a better view on the road. But the rather dull dashboard, with a center stack that looked like a sad robot with the round vents in the middle, was not as pleasant as the rest of the car. Then, again, the design was not Italian.

With a McPherson suspension in the front and a semi-independent one for the rear, the Corsa was a typical city vehicle. It was offered with a choice of gasoline and diesel engines from both car-makers. It was available with a 5- or 6-speed manual, depending on the engine. There was also an option for a 4-speed automatic or a 6-speed automated, with an electronically controlled clutch.