Putting 189BHP into a small car such as a Corsa would result in a ultimate hot hatch, and that’s exactly what Vauxhall have done with their VXR incarnation.

A 1.6 turbocharged engine producing 189BHP has been shoe horned into the Corsa’s engine bay creating a great little sport hatchback. All that power does become hard to control once the ESP has been turned off, you’ll just see blue smoke coming from the wheel arches and you’re 17” alloys shredding through no so cheap tyres.

The gear shift is slightly tractor like and rather clunky which wouldn’t be so bad if the shift was quite short but there’s quite a long reach between gears, which on tight twisty roads makes gear changing more a hassle than a pleasure.  On a long distance trip the engine soon quietens down to a low growl and road and wind noises are minimal.

The Corsa VXR doesn’t really feel connected to steering although when you want it to head left it does so well and still offer stacks of grip and minimal body roll although on a pattern of left right tight corners you do start to sway a little.

Claiming 35.8MPG with some careful driving does sound reasonable but if you’re spooling that turbo up to often then you can see your MPG drop significantly. Been a group 16 you won’t see many young drivers in a Corsa VXR so worry not, unless there minted.  Contract hire and a lease purchase of the VXR wouldn’t be a bad idea as the VXR badge holds a higher resale value but you would be better looking a BMW Mini Cooper S.

Vauxhall Corsa 1.6 VXR