Vauxhall Corsa through the ages

We’ve all got a story about a Vauxhall Corsa, from first drives to first dates and road trips to school runs the Corsa is as much a part of British life as fish and chips and Sunday roasts. As many manufacturers move away from building smaller cars, Ford ending production of the Fiesta included, Vauxhall continues to keep reinventing the supermini for the modern age.
So, what is it about the Corsa that has made it such a success? Read on, and watch watch Rory’s video on the story so far, and Vauxhall’s special 40th anniversary Corsa .

Nova - 1982 to 1993

Vauxhall launched its first supermini in 1982. Badged as the Nova in the UK it was known as the Corsa in the rest of Europe it was an instant hit everywhere. First offered with a choice of petrol engines it later added a hot hatch GTE option and a diesel variant, along with a choice of three-door, five-door and even saloon bodies. Ayrton Senna learnt to rally in one and Colin McRae won the 1988 Scottish Rally Championship in his. If that wasn’t enough, some early Novas had tartan seats, giving the interior a sporty vibe that would go on to inspire the 40th Anniversary Corsa.

Corsa B - 1993 to 2000

In 1993 we saw the first Vauxhall branded as a Corsa in the UK. A marketing campaign was launched featuring Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista with the Corsa taking centre stage as the new supermodel. Quite the claim, yet by 1998 the Corsa was the best-selling car on the planet, and in Australia you could even get a convertible one. The Corsa B was available with a choice of petrol or diesel engines, and you could now have an automatic gearbox if you so desired.

Corsa C - 2000 to 2006

With the turn of the millennium Vauxhall treated us to another all new Corsa. It had standard safety features we now take for granted, like a driver’s airbag and even sat-nav, albeit as an optional extra. Fancy! There was a variety of petrol and diesel options with improved emissions and fuel efficiency, the sportiest being the GSi edition. Griff Rhys Jones fronted an advert marvelling about how Vauxhall had packed so much into such a small car, while we all plugged into our first iPods obsessed with how so many tunes could fit into such a small device.

The next generation saw another increase in creature comforts, and a bonus hidden shark moulded into the interior giving the Corsa extra bite. The story goes that the son of the designer asked if the little shark could be included in the design, Vauxhall loved the idea and has included sharks in its Corsas ever since, with many owners completely unaware Jaws is lurking in their glovebox! Like previous generations there were three- and five-door variants. The three-door offered a performance tuned VXR model with more power, aggressive styling and Recaro seats.

The Corsa came of age in 2014. Whilst still a small car, Vauxhall again set the standard for this fifth generation with more features than ever, including heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and safety features like lane keeping assist. It wasn’t so long ago that these features were the preserve of luxury cars, but you could now listen to the latest Taylor Swift album via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, a far cry from the tape player in the Nova. Although all variants were focused on reducing emissions, there was still a VXR model offered, upping the power over the Corsa D.

Is there still lots to love about the latest iteration? To quote Vauxhall’s advertising line, yes, of Corsa! The current Corsa is the third best-selling car of 2023 so far and the top supermini overall. Over four decades the legacy of the Corsa has helped it to remain a go-to choice for buyers. Since 2019 the Corsa electric has been offered alongside traditional fuel types, helping many to make the transition to electric by being reassuringly familiar in a sea of new makes and models. The latest Corsa has just been updated with a sharper ‘Vizor’ grille to bring it in line with its Astra and Mokka relatives and increased range for the electric version, continuing Vauxhall’s tradition of packing its smallest car with plenty of punch.
If you’ve been inspired by its history, find out how to lease a Corsa here