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Facelifted Vauxhall Corsa Electric is cheaper than the old model

The Vauxhall Corsa[1] narrowly missed out on being the UK’s best-selling car last year, beaten only by the British-built Nissan Qashqai[2] SUV. To maintain that strong public interest in its big-selling supermini, a facelifted version has been introduced, bringing a new look, upgraded tech and a choice of two powertrains for the plug-in Corsa Electric model.

Available to order now, the new vauxhall Corsa Electric starts from £32,445 – roughly £1,500 cheaper than the outgoing model. This is thanks, in part, to the introduction of a new entry-level ‘Design’ specification, which is only available with the lesser of the two powertrains – more on those in a moment.

Standard equipment for the base plug-in Corsa is strong, with all cars getting LED lights, a seven-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay[3] and Android Auto[4], lane-keep assist and rear parking sensors.

While the outgoing Vauxhall Corsa Electric was only available with one powertrain setup, the facelifted car is, as mentioned, now available in two flavours. Base models get a 50kWh battery pack and 134bhp electric motor, providing a range of up to 222 miles on a charge.

However, the lineup is now spearheaded by a new 51kWh model featuring a more-powerful 154bhp electric motor – as seen on the likes of the Jeep Avenger[5] and updated Peugeot e-208. Vauxhall claims this results in a roughly 11% increase in range over the pre-existing setup, with a maximum WLTP range of 246 miles. Performance figures are yet to be revealed, but you can expect this model’s extra power to be offset by its larger, heavier battery, meaning the pair’s straightline speed will probably be similar.

No matter which Corsa Electric you choose, all come as standard with 100kW rapid charging[6] capability. According to Vauxhall, this will allow for a 10-80% charge in roughly half-an-hour when connected to a compatible public charger. 

‘Bigger’ is the name of the game of the mid-spec GS model, which will set you back around £1,500 extra. Not only does this get larger 17-inch wheels (Design cars get 16-inch alloys), but the Corsa Electric GS also boasts a wider 10-inch infotainment touchscreen – something previously exclusive to the top-spec Ultimate car. Throw in a reversing camera and the ability to step up to the upgraded powertrain and this looks to be our pick of the range.

Finally, there’s the range-topping Ultimate, which is only available with the more powerful motor and bigger battery and starts from £38,585. This, as you’d hope from a near-£40k supermini, comes fully-loaded with kit including Matrix LED headlights, heated and massaging Alcantara suede seats, a heated steering wheel, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.

Perhaps the easiest way to spot a facelifted Corsa Electric is by its new ‘Vizor’ front end design, which is derived from the Vauxhall Mokka[7] Electric and also features on the new Vauxhall Astra Electric[8]. This gloss black panel houses many of the car’s driver assistance technologies and is flanked by a revised set of headlights. 

While the only other real exterior changes on the Corsa Electric come in the form of revised wheel designs and a shark-fin radio antenna, there are bigger changes inside as the infotainment system now runs all-new software and is complemented by a wireless charging pad in the centre console.

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A retweaked interface for the seven-inch digital dials acts as a backdrop for the Corsa Electric’s new steering wheel. The gear selector now comes in the form of a more minimalist toggle switch, plus Vauxhall says the reversing camera offered on GS and Ultimate models offers a sharper view than before.

First deliveries are expected to begin towards the end of 2023, with the facelifted Corsa Electric destined to rival the likes of the aforementioned Peugeot e-208, Ora Funky Cat[9] and the much-cheaper BYD Dolphin[10], as well as larger models like the MG4 and Volkswagen ID.3[11]. Vauxhall says a mild-hybrid version of its best-selling supermini is also in the works and that it’s aiming to become an all-electric manufacturer by 2028.

References

  1. ^ Vauxhall Corsa (www.drivingelectric.com)
  2. ^ Nissan Qashqai (www.drivingelectric.com)
  3. ^ Apple CarPlay (www.drivingelectric.com)
  4. ^ Android Auto (www.drivingelectric.com)
  5. ^ Jeep Avenger (www.drivingelectric.com)
  6. ^ rapid charging (www.drivingelectric.com)
  7. ^ Vauxhall Mokka (www.drivingelectric.com)
  8. ^ Vauxhall Astra Electric (www.drivingelectric.com)
  9. ^ Ora Funky Cat (www.drivingelectric.com)
  10. ^ BYD Dolphin (www.drivingelectric.com)
  11. ^ Volkswagen ID.3 (www.drivingelectric.com)