Vauxhall Corsa hatchback (2006-2014) - Practicality & boot space
The Vauxhall Corsa has a very spacious boot and cabin, and there are some clever storage cubbies, too.
There are two bodies for the Vauxhall Corsa, and the three-door version has less space inside than the five-door. It’s not something you’ll notice when you’re at the wheel, because both cars have identical layouts up front.
The different shape of the three-door’s rear end means the boot opening is narrower and rear passengers will be noticeably more cramped.
Interior space and storage
Considering its size, space inside the five-door Corsa is good, with decent amounts of head and legroom for four people, and there are also a number of cubbyholes dotted around the interior. But choose carefully – the three-door model looks the part, but space in the back suffers.
Not only do back-seat passengers have to clamber past the front seats to get in or out, the drooping roofline also means there’s less headroom, while the small back windows make it feel a bit more claustrophobic, too.
Vauxhall offers extras including a hidden storage area under the boot and an integrated bicycle carrier that slides out from beneath the back of the car, but it’s an expensive option.
Boot space
The Corsa’s boot is bigger than you’ll get in a Ford Fiesta (285 litres versus 276 litres), but can’t match the 379-litre boot of the Honda Jazz. However, folding down the rear seats opens up 1,100 litres of luggage capacity, which should be useful if you ever have to carry larger items.
Absolute space suffers if you go for the three-door because the sloping roof robs another 50 litres of space when you fold the rear seats. Oddly, both versions record the same seat-up space.
So the five-door is more practical, with wide-opening rear doors and a squared-off tail creating a maximum of 1,100 litres in the boot. However, if you want 60:40 split-folding back seats, you need to go for an SE model or higher – entry-level cars make do with a one-piece rear bench.
Towing
Vauxhall offers a detachable tow bar and quotes a towing capacity for the Corsa of up to 1,300kg, although the relatively wheezy engine range isn’t really suited to pulling trailers.
If you’re a keen cyclist, a better option would be to go for the integrated cycle rack that’s offered as an option. This is permanently attached to the back of the car and is hidden behind the bumper. Simply release the mechanism and pull the rack out with the number plate, and you have a two-bike rack ready to go, with no need to buy an extra number plate and light bar.
