Star Making
by David Morgan (23 Apr 07)

It's one thing enjoying the medley of a new car launch selection, and quite another to drive a fairly modest version on your home ground. I was impressed by Vauxhall's new Corsa on its international launch and predicted great things for the arrival – so I was more than a little curious when I took delivery of a 1.2-litre 16-valve Club three-door test vehicle.

First impressions were not good. Launch doubts about some of the interior plastics were confirmed; the well-designed dash is finished in hard and unyielding plastic skins which do this promising little star no favours. With something as good at its disposal Vauxhall needed to push the boat out and improve plastic trim, but my modest 1.2 Club was no better than the launch vehicles. Where are the soft-touch surfaces of the competition, the warm feel of modern plastics you find in Japanese cars? Certainly not here.

Vauxhall has missed an opportunity, and it's an important one. First impressions are vital. Showroom opinions can seal a deal but anyone turned off by hard plastic trim is unlikely to let the Corsa get past step one. What a pity. Virtually everything else about this roomy and well-constructed supermini is exemplary. Why spoil the picture with Lucky Bag trim?

But plastics were not my only concern. Initial impressions on the performance front came as I drove away with the 1.2-litre heart doing its level best to live up to the Corsa's fine chassis. But it's a bit of a dog. Smooth enough and willing round town, the four-cylinder unit gets stretched in the cruise and needs to be worked hard to hustle the Club along at any reasonable pace.

It's not a poor engine, but in this excellent little hatchback it falls into the "can't pull the skin off a rice pudding" category. There's every reason to save up your pennies and opt for the fine 89bhp 1.4-litre petrol as an alternative power plant. Acceleration is adequate through the gears and overtaking manoeuvres are not too fraught. But the combination of relatively low power, maximum torque of just 81lb/ft at a high 4000rpm and a sticky five-speed manual change initially blunted the Corsa Club's appeal.

More . . .

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