Vauxhall Corsa hatchback (2006-2014) - Reliability & safety
The Vauxhall Corsa scores well for safety, but owners generally aren’t very satisfied with their cars.
In our Driver Power 2014 owner satisfaction survey, the Vauxhall Corsa scored poorly, coming 140th out of the 150 cars rated. The Corsa wasn’t a one-off either; the Vauxhall Astra only finished 124th and the Antara was dead last.
As a brand, Vauxhall was named the 13th best in the UK in the Driver Power survey, ahead of some prestigious rivals such as BMW and Audi, so dealer visits should be a positive experience.
Reliability
This model of Corsa has never been known for perfect reliability, but it uses tried-and-tested General Motors components, and as it’s been on sale for the best part of a decade, a lot of previous issues will have been ironed out by now.
Vauxhall also has one of the most extensive dealer networks in the country and its out-of-warranty repair costs are generally reasonable, so if something does go wrong it shouldn’t be hugely inconvenient or expensive to put right.
It’s worth noting that the diesel engine is more likely to give trouble if only used for short runs where the car doesn’t warm up fully. The petrol engine is a better choice if this is how you typically use your car.
Safety
The Corsa scored five stars when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP. However, that test took place back in 2006 and the test criteria are constantly being revised, so it probably wouldn’t do quite as well today.
The test was also done before Euro NCAP moved to percentage scores for adult and child occupant protection, so it can’t be directly compared with rivals in those areas. On the plus side, the Corsa does have electronic stability control as standard and also comes with a full array of airbags.
