Vauxhall Corsa VXR Review

And, as the numbers suggest, it is a very rapid little car. The 1.6-litre engine is the same as in the outgoing Corsa VXR, but technical tweaks give 245Nm of torque from 1900-5800rpm, rising to 280Nm with an overboost feature that provides five seconds of extra torque when overtaking or getting up to speed. On the road this means there is plenty of grunt on tap almost regardless of gear, you just press the pedal and go.

Every VXR comes with a set of clever Koni ‘Frequency Selective Dampers’ that adjust passively to the road, which means the ride is very firm, but never so much to be jarring and uncomfortable, save for over speed bumps and the very worst of potholes. As you would expect there is very little in the way of body roll through corners, even on rough roads.

Indeed, grip is tremendous, even on poor surfaces, but it isn’t all good news. The Corsa VXR suffers from constant torque steer, with the front wheels struggling to cope with all that power. As a result, the car tends to squirm under hard acceleration or out of bends, tugging left and right. It isn’t violent, but it is ever-present and it can be a little disconcerting, especially when it catches you off-guard.

Vauxhall does offer a solution in the form of a Performance Pack, which cost an extra £2400 when new. This includes dampers with the firmness dialled up, more powerful Brembo brakes and, most importantly, a Drexler differential designed to tame the front wheels. It is especially noticeable when exiting corners, where it tugs the car into line rather than letting the front wheels lose grip and run wide. It’s great for setting fast lap times on a track day. 

Unfortunately, it isn’t so good when you’re driving on your favourite country lane - it is simply too invasive and too fierce. You have to constantly be aware of your steering inputs because the car unnaturally tugs the wheel when you get on the throttle through corners or even, albeit to a lesser extent, in a straight line, particularly if the road isn't completely flat.

Arguably it is part of the car’s fiery character - something VXR models are known for. And yet, despite being an angry little car, it struggles to stir the soul. Vauxhall worked with exhaust manufacturer Remus to tune the sound, even going so far as to make it as loud as is legally permitted, but it’s just noise for the sake of noise - it isn’t particularly pleasant or tuneful.

The cabin disappoints too. The supportive seats are great but there’s not much else to set the VXR apart from lesser Corsa models. It is neatly laid out and well-finished, but you would expect something more vibrant and aggressive. In fact, the only things that really stand out are the bucket seats and a VXR-specific gear-lever, complete with the red and white logo.

On the plus side, kit is plentiful. There is handy equipment for everyday driving, including a touchscreen system, Bluetooth, cruise control and a heated windscreen, plus you also get typically VXR styling. There are aggressive bumpers, a bonnet vent, a big spoiler and the aforementioned twin exit Remus exhausts and Recaro seats.

Being a Corsa it’s sensible enough, too - boot space is sufficient for a family shopping trip and running costs are respectable when you consider the performance.

If you're looking for the standard model, you need our Vauxhall Corsa (2014-2019) review.

Fortunately, it’s fairly practical. There’s a big enough boot and you’ll be able to squeeze kids into the back seats. You can’t buy a five-seat Corsa VXR, but most buyers won’t be too fussed about that.

It’ll reach a top speed of 143mph while 0-60mph is completed in 6.5 seconds.

Less palatable is the 174g/km emissions figure, which equates to band H for road tax. 

Options included leather upholstery, carbon effect mirror casings and grille, a panoramic glass roof and a £2400 Performance Pack. This includes stiffer damper settings, a Drexler front differential, larger Brembo brakes, Michelin Pilot Supersport tyres and 18-inch alloy wheels.