16 Mar 07
The pricing's pretty reasonable: the basic package, which includes air conditioning, a CD/MP3 player, electric front windows, remote central locking and 17" alloy wheels, comes in at £15,995. It could tot up sharply with a few options added, however: leather upholstery weighs in at another £1,000, 18" wheels a further £400, adaptive-beam halogen headlights £250, Bluetooth phone compatibility £300, or rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights and an anti-dazzle rear-view mirror at £150. Adding metallic or pearlescent paint is a £350 option.
So they're not exactly giving it away. Still, its pricing is head-to-head with the Renaultsport Clio and the Peugeot 207 GTi, and it comes in cheaper than the new Mini Cooper S.
The Corsa VXR is a very good laugh in an attainable package. As with the common-or-garden Corsas, it feels absolutely solid and stable under hard cornering, confidence-inspiring to drive hard and fast, and predictable and progressive in its steering: it doesn't feel like the most sophisticated of sports cars, but as a damn quick little hatch, it fits the bill nicely.
It gives just enough of a hint of danger to be rewarding - the subtle suggestion that its tail end could swing out, a wobble towards torque-steer under full throttle. Its stability control and rev limiter are configured to step in and stop things from getting too out of hand, making this the hot hatch with a helping hand.
