Vauxhall Corsa 2006-2014 interior

The Vauxhall Corsa is not a three-door supermini that feels particularly claustrophobic. If there’s one good thing to come out of the advancing size and maturity of superminis, it’s that their interiors have become more pleasant places in which to spend long amounts of time.

The new Corsa’s interior is light years ahead of its predecessor’s. In fact, if Vauxhall had stuck these materials and controls in a Vectra before the Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport turned up, it would have almost over-delivered.

The storage system for the parcel shelf when you’re carrying tall loads is good, but there's nowhere to store it when the seats are folded

Richard Bremner

Senior contributing editor

Materials and switchgear all look first rate and, by and large, feel it, too. The seats are large, nicely trimmed and have a good, supportive shape. Fit and finish of plastics is beyond reproach. In terms of overall feel, the Corsa is on a par with a high-spec Renault Clio but lags behind a Volkswagen Polo or Ford Fiesta, which still puts it near the top of the class.

The Corsa also has the ability to out-surprise and out-delight the others, too. On higher-spec cars,the dials are translucently backlit, and the dashboard and centre console look great.

Shame, then, that not all Corsas get translucent-lit window switches or chrome dial surrounds that give those plusher models such an lift. Even more disappointingly, not all versions get a reach-adjustable steering wheel (most have rake only) or a height-adjustable driver’s seat.