Why is quick, smart, attractive Corsa such a mystery?
The Opel Corsa has often surprised us over the years. For a number of reasons. This new one is no different. Bang up to date, smart enough, and packing all you need at this price break, it’s quick, nippy and frugal too. But the reason it surprised us so this time, is that Opel in general, has become a bit of a state secret.
The reason is simple. Just after Peugeot-Citroen saved the Opel brand from General Motors, all three of those badges were smashed into a new thing called Stellantis. Alongside Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Jeep in the South African market, and a whole lot more including Chrysler, RAM and Lancia overseas.
Now Opel was always a bit of a forgotten stepsister with GM, so we had great new hope for the brand with PSA. But now it seems all those Stellantis brands suffer the same challenge. It may be different in the big markets overseas, but down here in our far-flung former colony, it seems that all the Stellantis brands, and ranges, are run by one set of staff.
Corsa, and Opel are lost in a pile of brands
Our PR contact, for example, handles it all from Jeep to Fiat, Alfa to Peugeot and Citroen to Opel. Seems the same applies to several other, vital departments. Unlike, say for instance, Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan and Ford, among others. Which have key people looking after just one brand and a whole lot more caring for a single range. The poor buggers at Stellantis must handle all six brands and all six ranges, all alone.
See the trouble? Opel only gets one sixth of the attention. On a good day. So it’s become a bit of a confidential badge. As have Alfa, Citroen, Fiat, Jeep and Peugeot, in this market. It was not always like that though. Those of us old enough will fondly recall when Delta picked up the reins, and Opel was a huge thing in South Africa in the 1980s and ‘90s. All that does now, is concern us, why the brand has become such a secret.
Anyway, we needed to get that out of the way before we got stuck into the nuts and bolts, because that lack of brand TLC is probably this fine little car’s biggest drawback. Look, it isn’t the most dynamic looking of cars, but then that’s an Opel thing we’ve long accepted. And we’re not sure why they insist on sending us test cars in Paarl white, when there’s such a splendid palette to choose from
Bolder Corsa looks, a kitted high tech cabin
Still, this latest 0.29 coefficient of drag Corsa is now bolder and more emotional thanks to that distinctive new Opel Vizor front end. It’s punctuated by Eco LED headlights and fog lights on this apex GS, which also sports a neat set of diamond cut 16-inch alloy wheels. Along with a blackened roof, badging and Corsa font. Imagine how good it would look in a bright, bold colour?
Opel tells us that the new Corsa blends driving fun with big car technology. It features a typically basic Opel cabin, versus something like its chic Peugeot sibling. But it packs enough style and spec to keep anyone happy at this price break. Opel’s latest 10-inch CarPlay and Auto Pure Panel Intellilink Infotainment touchscreen takes centre stage.
That’s backed by a neat and functional 7-inch digital dial set behind a neat new multifunction steering wheel. The climate-controlled tech-packed cabin features power windows all round. Driver assistance includes lane and blind zone assistants, front and rear parking sensors and traffic sign recognition.
Corsa GS packs classic Opel punch
It was however on the road, where its epic ancestors did very much the same, that the little Corsa GS impressed us most. Packing a 96 kW 230 Nm version of Stellantis’ turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol 3-pot turning the front axle via a capable automatic gearbox, it lit up our VBox with an eight and a half second run down the test track.
Now that’s nothing to be scoffed at. It’s about what the old Boss Kadett GSi 8V achieved back in those heady old Delta days. Which is quite something. That’s almost modern hot hatch pace, never mind, so we’d love to see if Stellantis has the balls, and the capacity, to put an i on the end of that GS and push this little triple to 110 kW or so. Wouldn’t that be cool?
Packing classic Opel MacPherson strut front and twist beam rear suspension with four wheel disc brakes, Corsa feels like a hot Opel hatch of yore too. Albeit a bit heavier to cater for all the spec today’s drivers need, it’s also more pliant, yet still obedient on the road. But comfortable and quiet too. And it’s good on fuel, easily matching its frugal 5.1 l/100 km claim in sane driving.
Delts could teach Stellantis an Opel thing or 2
So yes, the Opel Corsa lives up to its fun moniker as much as it salutes Opel’s great GS history. Back in the day when this one brand was king at the good old Proudly South African Delta Motor Corporation.
There’s certainly one thing Stellantis can learn from Delta. Give Opel – and the rest of your brands the recognition they so richly deserve. Without it, they are all lost. – Michele Lupini
ROAD TESTED: Opel Corsa 1.2T GS
Engine: 96 kW 230 Nm 1.2-litre petrol I3
Drive: 6-speed automatic FWD
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 3.96 sec
0-100 km/h: 8.67 sec
0-120 km/h: 11.97 sec
0-160 km/h: 20.55 sec
0-400m: 16.2 sec @ 140 km/h
80-120km/h: 5.86 sec
120-160km/h: 8.54 sec
CLAIMED:
Vmax: 210 km/h
Fuel: 6.3l/100km
CO2: 143 g/km
Range 800 km
Warranty/Service: 5y 100K/3y 45K kml
PRICE: R459K
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