While many manufacturers have moved away from direct car-derived vans in favour of high cube models that use car drivelines, Vauxhall continues to sell the compact Corsavan. The fifth generation of this compact LCV (in truth the first model was known as a Nova rather than a Corsa) picks up where the last left off, but with cleaner engines, an improved cab environment and increased carrying capacity.
Vauxhall sold 2,400 Corsavans in the UK last year, the model’s strongest performance since 200 and worth 7.4% of the firm’s overall LCV sales. More than 34,000 of the last model found buyers in total, with 64% going to retail and 38% to fleet buyers.
While Corsavan, like the similarly designed Fiesta Van, benefits from the latest technology that is seen in the car market, it is also compromised in body shape and size by the car on which it is based. Few customers will buy a Corsavan for ultimate load hauling ability, however Vauxhall has managed to increase an already class-leading payload to a maximum of 571kg, despite the additional weight of new technology.
There are no less than four engine/gearbox options available, again made possible by the fact that the car range already offers these variants. The three 1.3CDTi diesels will prove the most popular, though Vauxhall is offering a 1.2-litre petrol engine, for those customers with concerns over the efficiency of DPFs in inner city driving.
All of the Euro 6 diesels have Start/Stop, with the most popular 75hp engine boasting up to 72.4mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 102g/km. The 95hp engine can be had in two models, with a five-speed gearbox in the ecoFLEX van, delivering 85.6mpg and 87g/km and with six forward gears in the Sportive, boasting 74.3mpg and 101g/km.
A comprehensive standard specification includes ESP Plus stability control, with straight line stability control, cornering brake control, drag torque control, brake assist, active rollover protection and hill start assist.
Corsavan also has six airbags, one-touch electric windows, electric door mirrors, Bluetooth, DAB, tyre pressure monitoring and speed-sensitive steering with a City Mode that lightens the wheel further for easy parking.
The increasingly popular Sportive trim costs £1,000 over the standard 95hp model, adding air conditioning, metallic or pearlescent paint, 16-inch alloys, a heated windscreen, sports seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, cruise control, auto lights and wipers, heated mirrors and front fogs.
The new model has taken a big step forward in terms of comfort, with very low noise levels and a reach and rake adjustable steering wheel. Both the ecoFLEX and Sportive models performed well on a mix of roads, though there was little chance to try out the sixth gear that comes with the sportier model. No doubt regular motorway work would reveal a more relaxed cruise with the higher ratio.
Service intervals are 20,000 miles/one year and the warranty is 60,000 miles/three years. The van can be had with Vauxhall’s four year 0% finance offer that includes roadside assistance, servicing and extended warranty. Diesel Corsavan prices start at £13,108 for the 75hp van, rising to £14,558 for Sportive.
What we think
New Corsavan is a stylish compact load carrier with a range of drivelines and high specification. If you don’t require ultimate carrying capacity, there’s a lot to recommend it.
Specification
MODEL Vauxhall Corsavan Sportive 1.3CDTi
BASIC PRICE £14,558
ENGINE 4-cyl/1,248cc
FUEL INJECTION Common-rail
POWER 95hp @ 3,750rpm
TORQUE 210Nm @ 1,500–3,000rpm
Weights (kg)
GVW 1,720
KERB WEIGHT 1,177
PAYLOAD 543
MAX TRAILER WEIGHT 1,250
Dimensions (mm)
LOAD SPACE LENGTH 1,257
LOAD SPACE WIDTH 1,264
LOAD SPACE HEIGHT 921
LOAD VOLUME 0.92m3
Cost considerations
COMBINED CO2/MPG 101g/km/74.3 mpg
OIL CHANGE 1 yr/20,000 miles
WARRANTY 3 yr/60,000 miles