Vauxhall Corsa Pre Model S 1.2i 16v 3dr Car Review - March 2012

The petrol engine delivers a fairly decent 84 bhp at 5600 rpm with torque figures of 85 lb-ft at 4000 rpm. This helps to power the car along at a reasonable speed for a car of this class, with acceleration speeds capable of reaching 0-62 mph in 13.6 seconds delivered.

This gives the car a top speed of 107 mph which is more than sufficient for the average family hatchback. Handling and steering is firm and controlled and this means that driving this model around town is easy and comfortable. Unfortunately, motorway driving is not as comfortable and a lot of steering adjustments are needed to help the car cope with the higher speeds.

Engine noise is also fairly quiet in the petrol models and noise from the wind and road is largely excluded from the cabin although this does increase during motorway driving.

This model comes with a basic trim level and that means internal equipment is not as extensive as it could be. However, the arrangement of the dash is well organised and logical and that means that operating controls is easy for drivers.

The Corsa S 1.2i comes with power steering, central locking, electric door mirrors, electric front windows and a stereo system with CD player as standard features. There are a few upgrade options available to buyers of this model but a number of features are unavailable with this particular car.

These include Bluetooth connectivity, a built-in sat nav, MP3 connectivity for the stereo, leather seats, rear parking sensors, cruise control, climate control and alloy wheels. However, air conditioning can be added for £510 with stability control costing an extra £465. Those who want to update the exterior can also invest in a metallic paint finish for £495.

The Corsa range prides itself on comfort and reliability and that means the quality of the build is high. Internal equipment, whilst lacking in this model, feels firm and robust and the exterior has a similar feeling. A warranty is provided for 100,000 miles with a service interval of 20,000 miles suggested to help drivers maintain the quality of their vehicle.

Practicality is fairly high within this model although the lack of interior equipment can be a drawback. The boot offers a reasonable capacity of 285 litres with the seats up, increasing this to 1,050 litres when the seats are folded down.

The car also performed fairly well in the NCAP safety tests, attaining a five star rating for occupant safety. The model is fitted with driver and passenger airbags as standard fittings but front side airbags cost an additional £435 which could deter some buyers considering the large range of vehicles which offer these as standard.

To protect the car from theft there is an immobiliser fitted as standard but unfortunately this model lacks an alarm and there is no option to have one fitted.

Priced at £11,970 this Corsa may seem like good value for money at first glance. The combination of good fuel economy, affordable road tax costs and fairly low insurance premiums (under insurance group 6) makes the car cheap to keep on the road too and this could be an attractive feature for buyers.

In terms of efficiency, the engine performs fairly well for a petrol and achieves 51.4 mpg on a combined cycle. This is considerably lower than some of the diesel models but is still practical for families. Carbon emissions of 129 g/km mean the car has fairly decent green credentials as well and this places road tax costs under tax band D.

However, the small engine lacks the performance credentials of other models and the sparse interior means there is little indulgent comfort for drivers and their passengers. With diesel models addressing these shortcomings and offering even greater fuel economy than the petrol models they are the better investment for families looking for a long term investment.