In our last edition, we profiled the Opel Corsa e and ranked it pretty highly as far as affordable and desirable EVs go.
But where does it come from? Is there a donor vehicle, one which spawned the electric version? Short answer: yes.
The Corsa-e – is predated by a raft of Corsas with a history dating back to 1982, or at least, it does in Europe. We have seen Corsas here before, but the heritage is somewhat complicated with rebadging and partnerships over the years.
More to the point – and the present – the Opel Corsa is available here as a petrol or ICE version as well as the terrier-like Corsa-e, but why would you buy the ICE version over the electric?
Well, you might not be ready to shell out the $59,990 for the Corsa-e, but you like the idea of the Corsa ICE as a fleet car – well, you could certainly do worse.
The Corsa ICE is due for a facelift very soon, which will bring it more into line with its electric stablemate.
We’ll see the Opel hallmark VIZOR treatment up the front, likely the blacking out of the chrome ‘Blitz’ badge and certainly the adoption of the slimline versions of the Intellilux-better-than-Matrix headlights.
But this will all come a little later and to be fair, will have little impact on the appeal of the ICE Corsa. You do need to make a couple of heads or tails decisions though.
Heads: No range anxiety in the petrol Corsa, Tails: Less environmental impact.
Heads: Standard cruise control in the ICE, Tails: Adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go in the electric.
Heads: Active emergency brakes with pedestrian detection for ICE, Tails: Active emergency brakes with night function, pedestrian detection and cyclist detection.
Heads: Flat bottomed steering wheel for ICE, Tails: Heated flat bottomed steering wheel for the electric.
Tails, the Corsa-e gives semi-autonomous lane positioning and approaching vehicle audible system.
Heads: eight-speed transmission for the ICE with manual shifters, Tails: Single speed auto.
Put this way, there really is very little difference in specification between the petrol and the electric. We do have to add the petrol does generate a little more noise than the electric, but then, that is to be expected.
The ride in the petrol Corsa is a little firmer than in the electric but that’s OK. The electric has a lower centre of gravity, allowing for sporty and assured cornering, but the petrol delivers the same sporty ride, courtesy of its excellent suspension and premium tyre combination. No points lost or gained here.
Like the Corsa-e, the Corsa ICE gives you the choice of three drive modes and while Eco will most likely give the figures Opel quotes in terms of fuel consumption – we got close with 6.2 litres per 100km –travelling in Normal mode gives a better, more engaging drive. Sport mode is good for a bit of fun, but you do have to be careful where you use it.
In saying that, Sport mode does let the 1.2 turbo petrol do its thing when it comes to the soundtrack and that’s something the e-Corsa can’t give, even if it can deliver more in terms of acceleration.
But in the final analysis, the real answer is going to come down to price versus corporate green image.
We are talking $17,000 – $16,813 when respective rebates are applied to both vehicles – between the petrol and the e-Corsa.
In say, three years of ownership if you can run through that much fuel, then yes, you definitely need to look at an e-Corsa.
If not, and electric vehicles are still not quite on the radar for your organisation, you’re not being short-changed with the petrol Corsa – and you’ll likely find, as so many European companies have, that Opels – not diamonds – are a fleet manager's best friend.
