The Vauxhall Corsa is a model that has been a staple for British drivers for some time, and whenever a sporty version comes along, it’s one that will draw the attention of many a young driver.
25 years after the Corsa first received the GSi name badge, it has been given the moniker again – with the new version based on the underpinnings of the outgoing Corsa VXR.
But what are the key details about the new Corsa GSi? We take a look at the new Vauxhall model…
Turbocharged petrol engine
To give the warm hatchback that oomph, Vauxhall has fitted it with a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine that has been specially engineered for the GSi over the standard 1.4-litre turbo engines found in other Corsas.
It produces 148bhp and 220Nm of torque and is paired to a six-speed manual transmission, which directs all the power and torque through the front wheels.
As it’s a step down from the VXR, don’t expect it to be as punchy, but it can still give you plenty of fun with the help of its chassis.
It’s got the VXR’s chassis
As it is fitted with the same underpinnings as its faster sibling, the GSi has been gifted with a chassis that offers plenty of fun driving, while providing high levels of grip in the corners. Vauxhall has also fitted a Koni selective damping system, which can be switched from comfort to sport mode to offer a suitable driving feel for your mood.
The sporty chassis can be paired to 18-inch alloys that are fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres for even higher grip levels.
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Sporty design to match
The standard Corsa isn’t exactly what you’d call dull, but the GSi improves the looks and moves closer to the VXR in its design. Thanks to a large spoiler, larger air intakes, carbon-effect bits and other sharper pieces of bodywork, the GSi looks excellent – especially in a bright colour – and draws as much attention as other sporty hatchbacks.
Good equipment levels
For the standard GSi model, Vauxhall provides 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, dark-tinted rear windows, carbon-effect detailing to the exterior, LED daytime running lights, the IntelliLink infotainment system that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sports front seats and a leather sports steering wheel.
The additional GSi Plus pack, which costs £1,900, adds 18-inch alloys, Recaro leather seats and bi-xenon headlights with cornering function, which adds a more high-end feel to the hatchback. It also proves that upgrades aren’t too expensive on the GSi.
Affordable performance
The GSi starts from £18,995, which is less than the Ford Fiesta ST and considerably less than the Volkswagen Polo GTI – who Vauxhall see as two of the main rivals for the Corsa GSi. It evens costs less to insure as well, as the GSi sits in the 20E insurance group – lower than all of its main rivals.
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