by David Morgan (12 Nov 07)

After a week with a modest Vauxhall Corsa 1.3-litre CDTi turbo diesel I'm pleased to report that General Motors has a challenger to Japan's dull range of hybrids. The little oil-burning Vauxhall is a cracker. Bigger, more refined, better equipped and cleaner-burning than before it comes at a price that has left supermini rivals gasping.

With a list price of just £10,215 in Club three-door trim, the roomy Corsa can also be ordered with air-conditioning for £10,715. It's also available in five-door guise from £10,460 and can even be specified with this frugal power plant in entry-level CDTi Life trim for only £9810.

But for top value the well-appointed Club three-door makes the most sense. It averages 62mpg and on test I managed to squeeze nearly 70mpg. Insurance is affordable in Group 3 and servicing is needed only once a year or every 20,000 miles.

Standard equipment is generous. The base 1.3 CDTi Club comes without air-conditioning, but the ordinary heating and ventilation is effective and powerful. The interior demisted easily with blower assistance and heat production from the little diesel unit was quick and comfortable.

Sadly the safety system I'd like to see as standard on all cars - electronic stability control (ESP) - is an optional extra on all Corsas apart from the performance SRi model, but the Club does get front and side airbags with full-size curtain airbags, excellent ABS braking, remote central locking, height and reach steering column adjustment, electric power steering, driver's seat height adjustment, a 60/40 split rear seat, electric windows with touch sensitive auto-reverse, heated and power adjusted mirrors and a superb CD/radio.

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