Titanic, Friends and BritPop are just some of the brilliant things to come out of the 1990s. Add to that, the Vauxhall Corsa, which has been one of the UK’s best selling cars since 1993. It’s safe to say that Vauxhall really hit the nail on the head when they produced the original Corsa nearly three decades ago.
That being said, the Vauxhall Corsa we see today has certainly changed from its earliest models. Plus, now there’s some more competition. The long lists of rivals includes the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo and Seat Ibiza, but could there be some internal competition?
As the world moves to cleaner mobility, the majority of UK drivers are looking to move away from petrol and diesel models. Being ahead of the curve, Vauxhall has already made way for some new all-electric models to take centre stage.
Unlike other manufacturers, who may spend hours designing entirely new EVs, Vauxhall has decided to electrify their existing models. This means the ever popular Corsa now has a green sibling, the Vauxhall Corsa-e.
So, should you hire a Vauxhall Corsa-e? Or stick with the petrol model? Continue reading to hear our thoughts!
Vauxhall’s most popular car
The latest Corsa model is slightly wider and lower than previous models, but it is stunning. Vauxhall have added their distinctive grille to a bold body shape with integrated daytime running lights.
Being awarded “Value Car of the Year in the Motor Awards 2021, the newest Vauxhall Corsa seems to be performing well. There’s a couple of different trim levels, with the entry one coming with a 7-inch colour infotainment touchscreen. Compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, this really does make driving completely hassle free.
There’s also climate control, LED headlights, a leather steering wheel and lane departure assist as standard. Meanwhile upgrading to the GS Line, adds a sports body styling kit and rear parking sensors. Finally, the Ultimate model has adaptive cruise control, alcantara seat trim and a driver seat massage function.
Whichever Corsa model you choose, you’ll find a decent amount of space. Enough room for a couple of adult passengers in the front and back. While we know the Corsa isn’t the biggest car on the market, it also doesn’t have to be. We think the Vauxhall Corsa is a great size for the target audience of the car. The brilliant part is that the Corsa does have a surprisingly large boot for a car of its size.
The pricing of the petrol Vauxhall Corsa starts from £17,330, but how does it compare to it’s all-electric sibling?
Don’t fix what isn’t broken!
Vauxhall knows the Corsa is a popular choice for first time drivers, couples and small families, which is why they haven’t changed a lot in their electric model. Excluding the small e badges on the exterior and electric motor, the Vauxhall Corsa-e is identical to the standard petrol car.
At the moment, the entry level Vauxhall Corsa-e is actually the GS Line model. They also offer the Ultimate level on their electric cars. Both of these models are exactly the same as the petrol models.
The Corsa-e has a driving range of 209 miles on a single charge and can reach 0 – 60mph in 7.6 seconds. We think the range on this EV is particularly good for its size and will easily meet drivers’ needs. Plus, there’s great charging capacity! When using a 100kW charge, the Corsa-e can charge to 80% in just 30 minutes.
Vauxhall have added some fun features to their all-electric models too. Thanks to the technology involved in designing electric vehicles, the Corsa-e can actually be controlled remotely. You can use your smartphone to adjust the Corsa-e’s temperature before you venture off. With some clever technology, this feature takes energy from the source, rather than from the battery. This means it doesn’t impact your Corsa-e’s driving range.
You can also access the Vauxhall Corsa-e remotely via their e-charging feature. Once plugged into a charge point, you can connect to the vehicle via your phone. From here, you can start, stop or programme a charge for a time that suits you. This is great for those taking advantage of off-peak charging tariffs!
What about price differences?
The electric Vauxhall Corsa-e does have a higher starting price than the petrol models, but that isn’t overly surprising. At the moment, electric cars are much more expensive than petrol or diesel alternatives. You can buy a new Vauxhall Corsa-e from £27,055.
In fact, the Peugeot e208, which is an electric match to the original 208 car, has a similar price difference. Prices of the all-electric car starts from £28,695, whereas the petrol model is only £19,080. With that in mind, the Corsa-e is pretty impressively priced for an electric car in general. The Kia Soul EV and Honda-e both start at a whopping £35,000. Considering the Honda-e has nowhere near as much range or space than the Corsa-e offers.
The benefit you do have of driving an electric car is the lower running costs. Vauxhall’s saving calculator shows that motorists driving 10,000 miles per year in the Corsa-e could save £1,022.88 per year compared to those driving a conventional Corsa model. This is broken down into:
- £748.88 worth of savings in fuel costs
- Servicing and maintenance costs being £94 lower
- £180 saved on Vehicle Excise Duty
Plus, you could save more if you drive in low or zero emission zones regularly. These are often found in big cities like London, Birmingham and Oxford. However, more local authorities are introducing these.
Should I ditch the petrol and hire a Vauxhall Corsa-e?
If you’re ready to make the jump to all-electric driving, we’d definitely recommend starting with an EV like the Vauxhall Corsa-e. One of the biggest selling points of the Corsa-e is how similar to the conventional model it is. As electric vehicles grow and develop, it’s important that manufacturers produce EVs that motorists know they like.
This makes the transformation into electric driving smooth and easy. When we first drove the Corsa-e, it really felt like we were in a Vauxhall Corsa. Just without the loud engine, gear changes and dirty emissions. The problem with buying a Corsa-e? The price, of course.
At the moment, electric vehicles aren’t exactly cheap. In fact, they’re definitely more expensive than petrol models. But, the Corsa-e is one of the most affordable electric vehicles to buy outright. Plus, you make a lot of savings while running an EV.
Instead of buying an electric car, we’d suggest looking at hiring one. You can hire a Vauxhall Corsa-e for a fraction of the sale price. Here at EVision Electric Vehicles, we make hiring any electric vehicle as affordable and easy as possible. That’s why, all of our EV hires include maintenance and servicing costs, tyre wear and breakdown.
We also offer a free EV charge point to those who hire for longer than 12 months. Of course, all EVs will come with their suitable charging cables. You can hire a Vauxhall Corsa-e from just £14.21 per day, which we think is really affordable.
Don’t forget! The longer you hire for – the better rental deal we can offer you. What are you waiting for? Make the switch and hire a Vauxhall Corsa-e today!
* All information correct as of 25/05/2022.
