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Vauxhall Corsa SRi:
autoexpress.co.uk
Date: Nov 1, 2007
Source:
CheersAndGears.com
Author: Ninety
Eight Regency
Source Link
Original Article:
Vauxhall Corsa SRi
Date: Oct, 2007
Source:
autoexpress.co.uk
Author: James
Disdale
Photos: Pete
Gibson
Source Link
Vauxhall
Corsa SRi
Rating: *** stars out of five
Vauxhall's new Corsa SRi promises performance, sporty looks and an
affordable price tag. But does it deliver on the road?
Text: James Disdale / Photos: Pete Gibson
October 2007
Vauxhall Corsa SRi
Things are warming up in Vauxhall showrooms! After an absence of two
years, the sporty SRi badge is back on a Corsa. Slotting in below the
flagship VXR, the model is aimed at buyers looking for performance on a
budget.
With a price tag of £13,625, a 148bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged motor and
stiffened suspension, it’s a tempting choice in the brochure. However,
there’s stiff competition from a raft of talented warm hatches,
including the Peugeot 207 GT and Ford Fiesta ST.
So is it a welcome return for the quick Corsa, or are you better off
saving up the extra £2,000 for the more powerful 189bhp VXR?
Walk up to the SRi, and it looks really good. A neat bootlid-mounted
spoiler, chunky side skirts and a deeper front bumper enhance the
already sharp styling. An oval-shaped chrome tailpipe and 17-inch
five-spoke alloy wheels add further visual drama.
The interior is equally striking. With lots of red trim, the SRi harks
back to the Eighties heyday of the hot hatch. The steering wheel, seats,
carpet mats and seatbelts all get flashes of colour. Combine this with
the aluminium finish on the centre console, and you have a cabin that’s
a pleasure to be in.
Elsewhere, the interior is standard Corsa. This means excellent build
quality, soft-touch materials and lots of space – although rear
occupants will struggle for headroom in the rakish three-door model.
To counter this, the company also offers a five-door version for a £650
premium. It’s not as attractive, but adds an element of practicality to
the performance package.
Vauxhall’s engineers have tweaked the mechanicals to try to ensure the
driving experience matches the looks. The 1.6-litre engine is a detuned
version of the VXR’s unit, and provides strong performance.
Only 7.6 seconds are needed for the 0-60mph sprint, while the 210Nm
torque output means the SRi can overtake comfortably. It also sounds
good, taking on an edgy rasp the harder you press the throttle.
Those after better fuel economy can choose the 123bhp 1.7-litre CDTI
diesel. Not only will it return 58mpg, but it has even more torque –
280Nm at 2,300rpm – so should deliver blistering mid-range acceleration.
To provide poise in the corners, the suspension has been lowered by 18mm
at the front, and 15mm at the rear. The electrically assisted steering
has also been reprogrammed, and is claimed to give greater weighting and
more feedback. Sadly, the SRi fails to live up to its promise. Turn into
a bend and you’ll discover an artificial feel to the steering and a
chassis that’s too easily upset by mid-corner bumps and the torque of
the turbo powerplant.
The stiff suspension set-up also means that the Corsa crashes and thumps
over even the smoothest surfaces, making motorway journeys a pain. A
springy action to the six-speed gearbox and a jerky throttle compound
the dynamic deficiencies.
This is a shame, as in terms of outright performance, the SRi has its
rivals well and truly beaten. It looks good both inside and out, and the
standard equipment on offer is generous, stretching to electronic
stability control and air-conditioning.
What’s more, the option of choosing a five-door bodyshell and diesel
power gives it an edge over most of its rivals. However, in this
three-door petrol-powered guise, it doesn’t have the fluidity of the 207
GT or sharp handling of the Fiesta ST.
RIVAL: FORD FIESTA ST
The sporty Fiesta is getting on a bit now, and can’t match the Corsa for
build or refinement, while its 148bhp 2.0-litre motor doesn’t have the
muscle of the Vauxhall engine. But the Ford has a great chassis and
fizzes with fun on back roads.
