New Opel Corsa Hybrid – The Best of Both Worlds.
New Opel Corsa Hybrid – The Best of Both Worlds.
The sixth-generation of Opel’s ever popular Corsa has been offered with the choice of pure-petrol or pure-electric powertrains for some time now, but the recently refreshed supermini now comes with the option of mild hybrid technology (MHEV) for the very first time. The refreshed Corsa features the new Opel ‘Visor’ front end design, along with new exterior colours to choose from, while interior enhancements consist of new seat and steering wheel designs, a new automatic transmission shifter, an updated powertrain and upgraded technology.
No Hybrid Battery Intrusion.
The hybrid battery used in the new Corsa Hybrid is located underneath the front passenger seat, so the space within the cabin is identical to a standard Corsa. A new 10-inch colour touchscreen is neatly incorporated into the stylish dash and it features HD graphics, along with MirrorLink and Apple CarPlay™ & Android Auto™ compatibility. Physical dials and buttons for the heating & ventilation system are located beneath the touchscreen, and are within easy reach of both front seat occupants. The cabin has a high quality look and feel to it, and it provides all occupants with good levels of space and comfort. The standard boot capacity in the Corsa is 309 litres with the rear seatbacks in their upright position, with up to 1,118 litres available with the rear seats folded down.
Three Trim Grades.
The mild hybrid powertrain in the Corsa is available in SC, Elegance and GS trim grades, all of which are powered by a turbocharged 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that was developed specially for hybrid applications, paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that has an integrated electric motor. This new technology enables fully electric travel up to 50% of the time in urban settings and will appeal to drivers who want to enjoy pure electric driving pleasure without having to connect to a charger. The petrol engine produces 100PS (99bhp) and 205Nm of torque, while the electric motor delivers an extra 28bhp and 55Nm of torque to help when accelerating. Additionally, the electric motor can drive the front wheels when manoeuvring in a car park or when moving slowly in city traffic, with power supplied to the motor via a small 0.9kWh battery. The electric motor responds immediately at the start of every journey, and it is pleasantly surprising how long the car can be driven without the engine kicking into life – especially at low speeds. The regenerative braking system activates as soon as the driver eases off the accelerator, and this helps recharge the battery in order to enhance the driving range. When the petrol engine is required, it cuts in seamlessly, and the transfer back and forth between power sources takes place unnoticed. The petrol engine and electric motor work together, or separately, depending on requirements, and are always in harmony to balance energy consumption and performance. Practical hybrid information is clearly arranged in then driver information display, allowing drivers to easily and conveniently keep an eye on the most important displays for the current operating mode and energy status. When the car is switched off, a trip summary display provides additional data such as the distance travelled, the duration of the journey, the average consumption, the remaining range and the percentage of the route driven in pure electric mode.
Test Car Details.
My Opel Corsa Hybrid (MHEV) GS test car was finished in striking Red Hot Premium paint with a Diamond Black roof and door mirror casings. An impressive array of standard equipment in range-topping GS trim includes key features such as: 17-inch alloy wheels, front bumper lower grille in High Gloss Black, LED headlights with High Beam Assist, LED front fog lights, front & rear parking sensors, panoramic rear view camera, driver and front passenger dynamic seats, heated front seats, heated 3-spoke flat-bottom multi-function steering wheel in perforated leather, electronic climate control, power folding door mirrors, 10-inch colour touchscreen, 7-inch digital driver instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay™ & Android Auto™, USB connectivity, alloy sports pedals, Banda White interior trim, black Opel logo and centred ‘CORSA’ lettering, along with a suite of advanced safety features that include Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Adaptive Cruise Control with intelligent speed limiter, Blind Spot Assist, Hill Start Assist, and Lane Keep Assist. The engine reaches its peak power output at 5,500rpm, with maximum torque available at 1,750rpm and this results in a 0-100km/h sprint time of 10.7-seconds. The dual clutch transmission shifts up and down its six gears efficiently, and the transmission casing houses the electric motor and the DC inverter in order to optimise the drivetrain size and weight to ensure excellent driving performance. A belt-driven starter, in combination with the electric motor, starts the petrol engine from a cold start, and the belt-starter also restarts the engine quickly and seamlessly during the stop start drive. Drivers can choose between three driving modes: Eco for particularly efficient operation, Normal for an optimal balance between economy and performance, and Sport for a more spirited driving experience. In Sport mode, the petrol engine is always running to ensure required performance at all times. The Corsa Hybrid drives with the same fluidity as any other Corsa, and the automatic transmission makes for a relaxed driving experience. There is a decent amount of weight to the steering, and the compliant suspension set-up provides the car with the ability to remain composed through twists and turns in the road. Overall refinement is excellent, even at motorway speeds, with little in the way of wind or tyre noise. Measuring in at just over 4-metres in length and just under 1.8-metres in width, the Corsa is an easy car to manoeuvre into a car park space, and this task is made all the easier by way of the standard-fit parking sensors and panoramic rear view camera in Elegance and GS trim grades.
Verdict, Price & Warranty.
The new Opel Corsa Hybrid offers better fuel economy than a standard petrol-powered Corsa, and it provides drivers with an essence of the EV driving experience, without ever having to plug it in. The new Opel Corsa Hybrid is priced from €29,695 in SC trim, from €30,795 in Elegance trim, and from €31,695 in top-spec GS trim. The Opel Corsa SC 1.2-litre pure-petrol model is priced from just €25,095. All prices quoted are excluding dealer delivery related charges. All Opel passenger cars are sold with a free 3-year/100,000km vehicle warranty.
Visit www.opel.ie for further information.