Pic Salaphezulu Masindane

By Sala Masindane

Let’s face it, with GM cutting all its operations from the country, it seemed as if brands like Opel were in a bit of pickle and there was uncertainty that faced their clients. Fortunately, Williams Hunt has taken over the running of the Opel South Africa and that seems to be putting back the manufacturer in the day to day conversations of the locals. We spent some time with the current range topper, the Corsa 1.4 Turbo Sport. The Corsa 1.4 Turbo Sport is one of few “sporty” options in the segment with the Suzuki Swift Sport no longer on offer in the market (in anticipation of the new model).

Exterior

The Corsa Sport Turbo is not here to replace the OPC or the GSI model for that matter (note: the GSI is coming to South Africa this year) but is another option before the hair-raising range topper. There are similarities in both trims, which include the front bumper extensions and side rocker mouldings, while at the back you would find a sporty boot spoiler and an exhaust that will make non-sport models blush. The Bi-Xenon lights with Cornering Light Control and the Front Foglamps with Chrome Highlights keep things more sportier during the day and safe at night. That’s not all, the 17-inch Dark Titanium Alloy Wheels complete the sporty look, which is not over the top but subtle. The body kit works well with the overall body design of Corsa Turbo Sport.

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Today we are in the range topping @opelsa Corsa Sport 1.4L Turbo with a healthy 110kW and 220Nm. The engine is paired with a 6 speed manual transmission. If driving becomes a chore for you, the Cruise Control with Speed Limiter will make light of the ‘chore’. The Bi-Xenon Lights with Cornering Light Control and Front Foglamps with Chrome Highlights keep things looking sporty during the day and safe at night. Other key features include 7" Touchscreen Intellilink with BT, USB, AUX, Power Sunroof, Side Blind Zone Alert, Advance Park Assist 2 (APA2), Exterior Body Kit, Sport Suspension, 17” Dark Titanium Alloy Wheels, Puncture Repair Kit, Tinted Rear Side and Tailgate Glass, Flat Bottom Leather Steering Wheel, Leather Handbrake Lever, Interior Ambient Lighting, Rain Sensing Wipers, Auto Headlights, Auto-dimming Rear View Mirror and 60/40 Split Rear Folding Seats. The Corsa Sport has a lot of features and is a fun and engaging drive but it does come at a premium as it is priced from R306,935. #opel #corsa #opelcorsa #opelcorsasport #corsasport #german #germanengineering #quality #reliable #monday #mcm #mancrushmonday 📸 @salaontop

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Interior

Moving inside, Opel has kept up with the trends or consumer requirements of the B-segment by employing a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment with Intellink which easily linked my Apple smartphone via Carplay but is not limited to that, it also Andriod Auto capable, Bluetooth ready and has ports for USB and AUX. This ticks the box for those that need more tech in their cars. The infotainment is relatively easy to use but the touchscreen could have been placed a bit higher as you may take your eyes off the road when using it but fortunately most of the controls can be operated on the Flat Bottom Leather Steering Wheel with leather. The leather trim is continued of the handbrake lever and a touch of it on the cloth seats. The standard black Panoramic sunroof has not decreased the headroom in the Corsa, but the rear legroom space is limited, the runners of the front seat tend to be in the way for the feet position. When the front seat is in my seating position, I’d struggle to fit in the rear and only two adults can be seated comfortably. This would make things tricky for a family of four (rather buy Astra). On the luggage side, the palatable 285-litres of boot space will fit a large suitcase, a laptop bag and probably a smaller carry bag.

Pic Salaphezulu Masindane

The drive

The Corsa is powered by Opel’s 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo engine which kicks out 110kW and 220Nm of torque. This may appear as small numbers but wait till you are behind the wheel of what I called a “pocket rocket” during my time with the car. Its pretty firm on the road and once you need to over-take, the six-speed manual transmission which has shorter shifts is willing and able, however, the power sometimes doesn’t seem to come as quick it is required. The twisties are easily swallowed up by the fun to drive hatch, with little to no body roll and you will not be disappointed by the engaging drive of the it. Its overall handling is good and with the option of “City”, which will make the steering lighter and there will be no struggles when parking. Other driver aids include the cruise control, rear and front park distance control and hill hold assist.

Pic Salaphezulu Masindane

Overall, the Corsa Turbo Sport is fun and comes with standard features that will make it a financially viable option as opposed to its competitors that will be slightly pricier if similar options are ticked. The claimed fuel consumption 5.8l/100km is achievable if the car is on “ECO” mode but then again who buys a sporty car to drive it on that mode. This will increase the consumption as it did with me to a consumption of 6.3l/100km and that will come with higher petrol bills at the end of the month, but I still maintain that I will have it no other way. I’m also still not sure why the rear windows are not electric, this not a deal breaker but odd for a car that is priced at R306,935 with a standard panoramic roof!

The Opel Corsa 1.4T Sport price includes a 5-year/120,000 warranty and 3-year/60,000 service plan