Vauxhall Corsa Pre Model SRi 1.4 5dr Car Review - March 2012

Performance wise, the Vauxhall Corsa SRi 1.4 16v develops 99 bhp at 6000 rpm with a torque figure of 96 lb-ft at 4000 rpm. 0-62mph takes just 11.9 seconds and the top speed is 112mph which is fairly good for a small car like this.

The Corsa handles well and the chassis feels well balanced. The steering is precise and direct but the ride is very firm and the Corsa can quickly become uncomfortable on the open road.

The Corsa is relatively well refined and engine noise, road and wind noise are well insulated, only becoming apparent at motorway speeds.

This is a top-of-the-range Corsa and this is reflected in the amount of equipment which comes as standard.

Power steering, central locking, alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control and a stereo system with CD player and MP3 connectivity are all standard features.

Some options are still only available at cost but prices are lower in some instances. Climate control, which costs £815 in the SXi 1.4i 3dr costs just £305 in this model, for example. Other features such as stability control, a metallic paint finish, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in sat nav cost the same as in the SXi 1.4i 3dr - £465, £495, £285, £315 and £750 respectively.

The arrangement of the dash remains well organised and logical and that means that operating controls is easy for drivers.

Practicality is fairly high within this model and the boot offers a reasonable capacity of 285 litres with the seats up, increasing to 1,10 litres when the seats are folded down.

The Corsa feels well screwed together and is offered with an impressive 100,000 mile warranty.

The car also performed well in the Euro NCAP safety tests, attaining a five star rating for occupant safety. The model is fitted with driver, passenger and side airbags 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 £16,030 this Corsa is more expensive than the 1.2 models and the 3dr 1.4i SRi. The combination of good fuel economy, affordable road tax costs and fairly low insurance premiums (under insurance group 9) makes the car cheap to keep on the road too and this could be an attractive feature for buyers. However, insurance is marginally more expensive than the lower grade 1.2 models which fall under insurance group 6 and the 1.4i SRi model which falls under insurance group 8.

However, the larger engine delivers a larger boost of power whilst maintaining the same levels of efficiency as the 1.2i models and there is a fair amount of standard kit offered, making it a wise investment. Overall, this model offers relatively good value for money but those on a tight budget may still find the purchase price too high to reconcile.