Top Gear car review: Vauxhall Corsa VXR

WHAT WE SAY: 

A fleet-footed boisterous hot hatch that's no longer a one-trick pony

WHAT IS IT?

Vauxhall’s second crack at a go-faster Corsa that’s gunning straight for the Fiesta ST. Admittedly, not much has happened under the bonnet as the same 1.6-litre turbo engine from the old car powers the front wheels, just with new air filters, intercooler and a reworked Remus exhaust previously only seen on limited editions added.

But the chassis has received a comprehensive nose-to-tail revamp. Sitting 10mm lower with trick dampers from Koni, plus all-new bushes, uprights, a stiffer rear suspension setup, different anti-roll bars, and, for the first time, a two-stage ESC system, it’s a serious shopping list.

One that you can now also extend thanks to an optional Performance Pack. It’s a commitment that’ll relieve you of £2,400 but morph your VXR into a de-badged version of the TG award-winning Nurburgring Edition by adding a more damping sport setup, larger, more powerful 330mm-diameter four-pot Brembo brakes (they’re 308mm as standard), 18-inch wheels, and, best of all, a voodoo Drexler mechanical limited-slip differential sandwiched between the front wheels. It’s a brilliant addition which we salute Vauxhall for engineering in.

DRIVING

The headline stats are 205bhp and 180lb ft of torque. But deploying a gratuitous right foot kicks in an overboost function that sees torque swell to 207lb ft for five seconds. That’s enough to see off 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 143mph: slower than a RenaultSport Clio but, importantly, faster than a Fiesta ST.

But thanks to a remap and slightly raised redline, that torque is spread thicker from 1,900rpm to 5,800rpm. This means you’re not fighting lag, and, as you’re in a juicier power band more often, there’s no need to scurry through the new shorter-throw but still slightly stodgy gearbox.

Adding the PP delivers a more visceral, lairy driving experience, as the diff makes for an entertaining companion as it locks up and sniffs out grip like a traction-happy truffle. dog.

ON THE INSIDE

The VXR’s cabin is a marked improvement on the previous generation. The quality is up there with its rivals and has all the tell-tale hot hatch hallmarks; overzealous VXR badging, a sporty flat-bottom wheel and supportive hard-shell Recaros that clasp you wonderfully. Even though the big hard-backed seats surround you like Bowser’s shell, it’s still roomy for rear passengers and it has a bigger boot than most rivals.

OWNING

Prices start at £17,995 - £1,000 cheaper than the old one - and works out around £400 cheaper than the equivalent trim Fiesta ST2. But with the recommended Performance Pack taking the price to £20,395, in reality the Corsa is quite a bit more expensive than its Blue Oval adversary - which of course doesn’t have the option of an LSD.

If you’re into track days though, the Performance Pack Corsa is better suited for your needs than an ST. And with the RenaultSport Clio going soft, this is now the pick of the bunch at that end of the hot hatch spectrum. It gives the Corsa VXR convincing character at last.

Source: topgear.com