1.2 Energy 3dr

Pick wisely!

It short, it's a mixed bag. Prices seem to be fairly reasonable and it is spacious inside, but the driving experience is rather average and reliability has been sketchy.

Specifically, my car (a 2013 'Energy') has a decent spec - USB connection, Bluetooth, Multi-Function steering wheel, alloys and air con but annoyingly lacks ESP and proper side airbags - something that an equivalent Fiesta or Polo would have. Maybe not a deal breaker, but worth keeping in mind when browsing.

Dynamically, my car is pretty uninspiring. The car lacks any sort of real dynamism in the way it corners (there is little feel through the wheel), but the front wheels are easy to place, and the steering isn't light and flighty like it can be on other small cars. The suspension is remarkably comfortable across poorly kept British roads, but this is reflected in poor body control which does not inspire confidence on back roads (or roundabouts for that matter...!). However, the brakes are also nice and progressive, and inspire confidence at higher speeds.

The 1.2 83HP in my car is best suited to town driving. Any sort of real performance is lost after about 40-50mph, and the engine needs to be worked hard almost all of the time to make comfortable overtakes or pull out of junctions. The engine is far more coa*** than the 1.25 in an equivalent age Fiesta, and since you gave to work it hard so much of the time, the sound quickly becomes irritating. However, it will sit fairly comfortably at motorway speeds (it will just take a heavy right foot and lots of gear changes to get up to speed!). Motorway journeys are not too much of a chore either - the steering weighs up nicely, and cabin noise is relatively good compared to other similarly aged cars around the price point.

Inside, it feels solid enough and the materials are hard wearing. The seats are relatively comfy but annoyingly lack side support. It is actually surprisingly spacious, and will swallow four people and their stuff for trips away without feeling too cramped. There is plenty of storage around the cabin, but the cupholders are far too close to the gear-lever, which means that it often blocks your natural hand movement when trying to change gear if you keep anything larger than a small can in them.

Fuel economy is average - I tend to get a figure in the mid to high 30s when driving on a mix of roads and pay £130 p/y in tax and about £600 p/y in car insurance (as a second year driver without a black box). Corsa's are common as muck, and therefore parts and maintenance has tended to be fairly good value. I have paid on average around a £100 for a minor service and around £50 more for a main one.

The main problem I have had with my car has been reliability. It recently ranked as the least reliable small car, and it is easy for me to see why. Sensors across the car have gone wrong and have had to been replaced. Particularly oxygen sensors and the emissions system have caused frequent problems, and in my research these problems are very common in Corsa's of this age. Coil packs are a common bug bear in Corsa's of this age, and I would look out for this job to have been done at least once. Keep an eye on the coolant level as well - another common problem that my car has suffered has been the thermometer and the coolant system in general. Make sure the passenger footwell (particularly near the dashboard) is dry, as dampness is often a sign of a leak in the cooling system. Electrical niggles are common - stuff like the door locks can be temperamental.

It's not a bad car, but in retrospect I would probably choose an older fiesta or polo and avoid the annoying reliability problems. However, if you're aware of those, it is a solid and spacious small car, just keep an eye out for electrical niggles and a proper service history!

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