The most affordable electrics are becoming more and more interesting for buyers. With a great range and a reasonable price, the Opel Corsa-e is one of the best bets out there. We analyzed it thoroughly to discover all its secrets.
The Corsa is more than just another model in the Opel range, it is an institution. The utility meets 40 years of faithful service. A benchmark in the market that has not stopped succeeding. The latest generation of the Corsa has been presented with many new features, but the main one is the one that on this occasion we submit to our analysis: the Opel Corsa-e. An electric version that is ready to succeed.
We tested the Corsa-e, the 100% electric version and the ZERO label
It was the year 1982 when the Corsa came into the world. In the year of the World Cup in Spain and its famous Naranjito, Opel presented the one that has become one of the cornerstones of the company. The Corsa quickly became the most popular model of the brand throughout its six generations.. The last of them was presented in 2019 with important new features, which now, in this 2022 version, have been improved to continue offering excellent value for money.
Throughout the design of all the Corsas that have been in history we can see the evolution of the style of each era. From the rectangular shapes of the first generation, the design has been improving, including more and more ribs and tension lines that reinforce a very youthful character. The new Corsa has nothing to do with the previous ones, but it does mix concepts from past models like the curved lines of the second generation or the ribs of the fifth.
This new Corsa also brings modern things, such as two-color paints, contrast elements, wheels up to 17 inches or the different bumpers and details depending on the finish: Elegance and GS Line. The 100% electric version that we have with us today hardly differs from the rest of the range, except for the specific logos and the fact that, obviously, it does not have an exhaust outlet.
Things have changed a lot from 1982 to now. The world has evolved a lot and very quickly. The most advanced systems and the greatest luxuries are no longer only destined for the great models of each house. The democratization of technology has allowed today’s Opel Corsa to offer equipment worthy of much larger and more expensive models. A long list of elements that are integrated into a very well presented cabin, both in terms of materials and settings. Gone is that typical austerity of the smaller segments of the market.
The Corsa is capable of offering such outstanding technologies as: IntelliLUX LED matrix headlightspanoramic roof, keyless entry and start, parking cameras, multimedia system with touch screen up to 10 inches, navigator, connectivity services via wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlayautomatic climate control, advanced driving assistants and many more elements that make each trip more comfortable and safer.
Technology is not the only thing that has grown with each new generation, so has the size of the Corsa itself. The original model barely reached 3.62 meters, 3.95 meters for the sedan body that is no longer sold. The current model has grown larger by growing far and wide to reach the 4.06 meters long, 1.76 meters wide and 1.43 meters high with a wheelbase of 2.54 meters. 40 centimeters longer than the first Corsa, that’s nothing, although the increase in size has clear advantages.
The main one is the interior space. Although the Corsa remains in the B segment, that of the utility vehicles, the space it offers in the second row of seats is one of the best in the category. With my 1.75 meters tall, with the driver’s seat set up for me, rear row legroom is ok. The only problems are in height, passengers over 1.85 meters will have something difficult not to rub against the ceiling, and also in width.
Cargo volume is also another clear beneficiary of the size increase. The electric Corsa offers a minimum capacity of 267 liters. A very usable trunk suitable for day-to-day use and for carrying a few travel bags for those typical weekend getaways. The pity is that unlike other electric ones, the small Opel does not offer another front trunk to store the charging cables. A small inconvenience that does not affect too much.
Above all the novelties of the sixth generation, the most important of all is the 100% electric version, the Opel Corsa-e that I have with me today and that has received a package of improvements in this year 2022. The European Union increasingly requires fewer polluting emissions to manufacturers. Cheaper electrics like the Corsa are the most attractive that are for sale, capable of achieving great autonomies for a more contained price.
The Corsa-e offers a unique front electric motor with 136 horsepower and 260 Nm of torque. Power comes from a 46 kWh net capacity lithium-ion battery that offers a approved autonomy of 361 kilometers. The electric Corsa is the most powerful and performant in the family with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 150 km/h.
At the wheel of the Opel Corsa-e
It is becoming increasingly difficult to move around the big cities. The EU requires that cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants offer emission-free spaces where only electrified cars can circulate. It will be more and more common to face this type of problem that can be a serious problem for the pocket. With the Corsa-e you can circulate with complete peace of mind thanks to its ZERO sticker that allows you to leave the garage even in the most demanding anti-pollution protocols, those that force you to leave the car in the garage.
Of course, the advantages of electric mobility do not end there. The rolling quality is one of the best qualities of an electric. Inside the electric Corsa, everything runs smoothly and calmly. We are completely isolated from the outside, with a very pleasant feeling of comfort. Each tour is done in a relaxed way without stress and without stress, something that could usually only be said when driving a large premium sedan. The only thing to be aware of is the load.
361 kilometers is a lot of kilometers. The national average for a driver does not exceed 50 kilometers a day, so with one charge we would have more than enough for the whole week and more. The electric Corsa comes with on-board chargers of up to 100 kW in direct current and up to 7.4 kW in alternating current. Optionally, a three-phase charger of 11 kW of alternating current can be installed for 800 euros. At maximum performance, the Corsa-e is capable of recovering from 0 to 80% of the battery in just 30 minutes, and if we connect it to a domestic outlet, the full charge will take about 8 hours.
Thanks to its small size and low weight, the Corsa-e offers very good consumption data. In the city it is easy on average below 14 kWh, and when we step on the accelerator a little, consumption rises to peaks around 18 kWh. The average will be around 16-16.5 kWh, so if we take into account the 46 kWh of useful battery capacity, we are talking about an approximate autonomy of 300 kilometers under normal conditions. Keep in mind that it will be essential to install a charging point in the garage at home in order to get the most out of it and obtain the maximum benefit.
As for its use, the Corsa-e stands out for its simplicity. It is easy to make the transition from a thermal car. They will not miss anything, not even benefits. LThe strength of the electric motor is more than enough to overtake or to make additions, and thanks to its larger size we speak of a car well established on fast roads. Dynamically you can not put many hits on it, the best on the market, although some additional regenerative braking format is missing, since it only has a B mode on the gear lever.
Conclusions
The electric ones are the present and the most immediate future. The Corsa-e is an excellent alternative for price, autonomy, equipment and habitability. More than 11 million Corsas have circulated around the world, most of them with a Spanish stamp, since they are manufactured at the Figueruelas plant in Zaragoza.