One of the first 'familiar faces' of which a fully electric version appeared, the Opel Corsa, has now got a new face. The once so good Opel is blasting it onto the market with the advertising slogan 'Yes, Of Corsa' (so clumsy as to be funny) and commercials that could only have been invented under the influence of very strange substances… and with Oh yeah from Yello endlessly on repeat.
But he is more than just a fresh face. After the Mokka, Astra and other models, the Corsa is one of the last Opels to be fitted with the Vizor front, complete with standard LED headlights. It looks good on him, although now he looks like he's permanently angry with you.
What else has changed on the electric Corsa?
In the dashboard we find new infotainment (running on Qualcomm Snapdragon, for the techies) with a 10-inch touchscreen, digital counters, multi device usage and all kinds of charging and connection options. It is still tighter in the back than a wheelie bin. Of course, his name is in large, wide letters on the tailgate, because of fashion, and Opel limits the versions to just two pieces, because of costs. The regular Corsa has chrome logos and accents, the GS black, plus larger wheels.
Other important news is that a second powertrain has also been added, with a (slightly) larger battery and more power. If you're surprised, you're out, because this upgrade has already been implemented in almost all other Stellantis corners. In addition to the Corsa with 136 hp and 50 kWh, you can now also opt for a Long Range version with 156 hp and 51 kWh.
How far does the Opel Corsa Electric GS Long Range go?
Although that sounds like little extra juice, the composition of the battery pack is different, with many fewer (therefore larger) cells and fewer modules, glycol cooling and a fractionally lower weight. A heat pump is standard and the electric motor is not only stronger, but also more efficient.
That means a nice step in terms of range: according to specifications, the Opel Corsa Electric GS Long Range reaches 405 kilometers, compared to more than 350 for the regular one. In practice, the latter number seems to be a realistic distance for the Long Range that we are testing, which is still fine. Both charge at 11 kW (AC) and up to 100 kW (DC).
The electric Corsa has always driven excellently. The extra power comes in handy to speed things up a bit – with a 0-to-100 time of 8.1 seconds, you can more than keep up with traffic. You must activate the Sport mode, because in other driving modes the Corsa retains some horsepower in exchange for more kilometers.
The chassis offers exactly what you expect: no excessive strength, while the weight is well kept in check. The Sport mode gives you heavier steering and more braking effect when you let off the throttle. If you want to slow down even more without braking yourself, you put it in B instead of D. As before, you immediately have your options in that area. The Corsa is not really quiet at speed, especially in terms of wind noise.
How much does the Opel Corsa Electric cost?
Strange things we noticed: the new central screen is nice, but it is now so wide that part of it disappears behind the steering wheel. We keep thinking that the air conditioning is off; it turns out the 'off' marker is just very prominently placed and illuminated. And the glove compartment is larger than many Amsterdam apartments. In terms of styling and driving behavior, the Corsa Electric has become a bit cooler again, but with a starting price of 35 grand (36,350 euros in Belgium) it remains competitively priced for its size.
Specifications of the Opel Corsa Electric GS Long Range (2024)
Engine
1 electric motor
156 hp
260 Nm
51 kWh (battery)
Drive
front wheels
stepless
Performance
0-100 km/h in 8.1 s
top speed 150 km/h
Consumption (average)
14.6 kWh/100 km
Range (statement)
405 km (WLTP)
Loading time
5 hours 15 minutes at 11 kW
30 min. at 100 kW (80%)
Dimensions
4,060×1,765x
1,433 mm (lxwxh)
2,538 mm (wheelbase)
1,530 kg
267 / 1,042 l (luggage)
Prices
€37,999 (NL)
€38,450 (B)
#Opel #Corsa #Electric #review #pricey
