Vauxhall Corsa hatchback (2006-2014) - MPG, running costs & CO2

The first sticking point in Vauxhall Corsa ownership is its list price, which is on the high side when compared to some rivals. Yes, you can buy a Corsa for less than £9,000, but you’ll do without must-have features like air-conditioning and curtain airbags. To get these, you need to spend more than £14,000 on an SE model, which starts to look like rather a lot of money.

Unfortunately, due to its popularity and the wide range of engine and trim options, the Corsa’s used values take a bit of a battering. Overall values after three years fall to around the 35 per cent mark, which is worse than the Ford Fiesta, although some special-edition models do buck this trend.

But potential buyers can take heart from the fact that Vauxhall dealers are often very happy to offer discounts when you’re buying new.

MPG and CO2

If you want the most efficient Corsa going, then you need to stick with the 1.3-litre CDTi (95PS) stop-start diesel. In its most basic form, in S and Exclusiv trims, it emits 94 or 95g/km of CO2 (depending on whether you choose a three or five-door model) and returns fuel economy of around 80mpg.

Beyond this, the range soon becomes confusing. The lower-powered 75PS stop-start version of the 1.3-litre diesel has poorer emissions than the 95PS model, at 100g/km, although it’s still exempt from road tax. Vauxhall persists with a non-stop-start model, too, although why you’d want this 112g/km engine when the cleaner model costs just £250 more is anybody’s guess.

Petrol engines comprise a 1.0, 1.2 and 1.4-litre with emissions in the 117-134g/km range, meaning road tax varies between £30 and £130 a year.

Two types of automatic gearbox are available. The Easytronic is paired with the 1.2-litre engine and is actually cheaper to run than the manual, but the opposite is true of the automatic offered with the 1.4-litre engine. Here, emissions are as high as 147g/km – the worst of the whole range.

Insurance group

The current Corsa is a favourite with driving schools across the country, and as a result it’s a popular choice for people who have just passed their test. One of its attractions is its low insurance group rating, with the range kicking off in group two for 1.0-litre models. This is the same for three or five-door versions, and most of the rest of the engine range comes in below group 10. The 1.4-litre turbo lets the side down with a group 13 rating, although that’s well below the group 32 classification for the Corsa VXR performance model.

Warranty

Vauxhall recently changed its standard warranty, so as of January 2015, the Corda will be covered for three years or 60,000 miles. That's instead of the old 100,000-mile 'lifetime' warranty for the first owner. The upside of the new, more limited package is that it is at least transferable, unlike the old one. On top of the mechanical warranty, you get six year's cover against corrosion, plus 12 months’ Europe-wide roadside assistance.

Servicing

The Corsa’s service schedule is once a year or 20,000 miles, whichever comes sooner. Vauxhall doesn’t offer fixed-price servicing as part of the Corsa’s options, but you can get a monthly service plan via Vauxhall’s MasterFit service centres.