Test drive Opel Corsa: small, but remote - part 3

 The new generation Opel Corsa is based on the CMP platform, which, in addition to ICE versions, allows building electric vehicles. However, only gasoline versions are supplied to Ukraine (for now?): Under the hood - a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder turbo engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The use of the LCD dashboard in the Opel Corsa's cabin seems to be "in trend", but against the background of Peugeot, Volkswagen, SEAT it looks simple. We managed to fit the large 10-inch display neatly into the center of the front panel: its functionality is quite good, the design of the menus and sections is already known.

 Opel Corsa price and its competitors

 The Opel Corsa hatchback is presented on the Ukrainian market in the amount of 2.5 versions. In the sense that there are two radically different modifications plus one additional version.

 So, the range of the model opens with the Opel Corsa 1.2 75 manual transmission Edition: a 75 hp engine, ABS and ESP, six airbags, a "Safety" package (recognition of traffic signs, emergency braking function), a lane keeping system, electric power steering, air conditioning, power windows for front windows, heated front seats, base radio with 5-inch display. The price of such a car is from UAH 454 thousand. or $ 16.5 thousand One level above is the version of the Opel Corsa 1.2 130 automatic transmission-8 Elegance. There is already a 130 hp turbo engine, and an 8-speed "automatic", as well as advanced equipment: climate control, a rear view camera, monitoring of the "blind spots" of mirrors, a 7-inch touchscreen display with Android Auto support / Apple CarPlay, LCD dashboard, EcoLED LED headlights, automatic low / high beam switching, light and rain sensors, 16-inch alloy wheels. The price of this version is from 583 thousand UAH. or $ 21 thousand Plus one more version - in the sense that it really is called: Elegance Plus. From the past, added: electric adjustment and folding of the side mirrors, keyless entry and engine start with a button, 10-inch display in the cabin, panoramic glass roof and 2-color body paint (roof pillars in black). The test car was presented in just such a version, the price of which is from UAH 633 thousand. or $ 23 thousand, in a test car the only additional payment for color is UAH 13 thousand.

 LED headlights with auto-switching "near / far", a panoramic glass roof, a rear-view camera with a function of drawing a circular view, control of "blind spots" of mirrors, a front-view camera (for recognition of signs and control of lane) - as for its class, new The Opel Corsa offers a lot of cool equipment.

 The list of competitors includes all well-known B-class hatchbacks: Citroen C3, SEAT Ibiza, Volkswagen Polo, Renault Sandero (although there should be a Clio model), SKODA Fabia, Ford Fiesta, KIA Rio, plus we are waiting for the new Peugeot 208. New generation Opel Corsa I can safely count it among the leaders - for excellent drive and advanced technologies. Only a few models can compete on equal terms. However, for buyers, the situation is contrasting: either a simple and inexpensive version on a manual transmission, or excellent equipment and "automatic", but expensive. Competitors can offer a wider choice of versions, diesel engines, inexpensive configurations with "automatic" - as a result, as a result, they can offer a wider choice of prices.

 Plus, consider indirect rivals - not by class, but by price. For example, for the price of the Opel Corsa, you can purchase related cars: the Opel Crossland X crossover or the Opel Astra sedan. The first rides much worse, but more spacious in the cabin. The second is outdated in technology and the consumption is large, but the engine is more powerful and the suspension in the pits is good. Guess who has a better chance of selling: a compact B-class hatchback, a larger crossover, or an oversized C-class sedan?

 Our segment of B-class hatchbacks is not too developed, but you can still find the top five or ten models. Plus several contenders from related classes that are similar in price. All this does not promise an easy life for the Opel Corsa in terms of market positioning.