If you think that’s a brand-new Vauxhall Corsa behind me you’d
be forgiven, but in fact, well, it’s actually a van…
It is of course Vauxhall’s Corsavan and it looks like a Corsa because, well, it pretty
much is one.
Like most car-derived vans, it simply gets pulled to the side off the factory line and
has its rear windows panelled over and its back seats turfed out in favour of a flat
loadspace.
To test it out, we’ve got this Sportive version, which gets a slightly sportier appearance
plus this rather sexy metallic black paintwork and these 16-inch gloss black alloys, so let’s
take a closer look to see just how much fun a van can really be.
Generally when you think of a van interior you probably imagine some pretty heavy-duty
plastics, maybe a cupholder or two and that’s about it, but just look at the cab in this
thing.
It gets the exact same interior as the new Corsa, and with your eyes facing front it’s
literally impossible to tell that it’s a van at all.
There’s this sleek panelling and centrally-mounted IntelliLink infotainment system, along with
a huge range of kit which includes cruise control, parking sensors and DAB radio in
addition to hands-free phone connectivity and automatic lights.
These days, vans are becoming more and more car-like on the inside, and the Corsavan is
probably one of the best examples of this yet.
However, there are still some niggles - it might just be my scrawny posterior, but the
cloth seats do seem to get a little bit hard on your buttocks after long drives.
Anyway, it looks like a Corsa, it feels like a Corsa and it comes with much of the equipment
of a Corsa, but in the back is where this model sets itself apart.
In place of rear seats you get this toughened load area with a half-height steel bulkhead
and lashing eyes to protect against shifting loads, while this rubber floor is an extra
cost option.
The loadspace in total is 1,257mm long, 1,264mm wide and 921mm tall with a maximum cargo space
of 920 litres.
Although the Ford Fiesta van has a slightly larger capacity, the bigger opening of the
Corsavan’s tailgate should make loading items easier than its Ford equivalent.
It is small compared to, well, virtually any larger van, but it’s great for small business
owners or indeed for musicians in particular it’s near perfect.
There’s enough room back here for guitar cases, amps and maybe a kick drum without
sacrificing any attitude or style points.
Yes, it’s a van, but it’s very hard not to compare it to a regular car because aside
from the gutted rear seats that’s pretty much what it is.
The clutch is a little high, but dare I say it, it actually has quite a sporty feel.
The steering’s not as communicative as a Fiesta but it feels better than a Polo, and
the six-speed manual gear lever is short and snappy while the 94bhp 1.3-litre diesel engine
has plenty of poke for nipping up and down the roads even if it sounds a little brusque.
Unladen vans can have a tendency to hop around at the back but this Corsavan resists skittishness
impressively, and is on the whole very at ease on all road conditions.
Of course, if you’re looking for a compact vehicle to work out of then the way it drives
will always be a secondary consideration.
More interesting for business folk or anybody travelling long distances is that this plucky
little diesel can on paper return up to 74.3 mpg with the Eco button pressed.
Yes, you will have to be driving pretty conservatively to match that, but with CO2 emissions of just
101g/km all in all it makes for one frugal and entertaining little package.
Prices for the Corsavan range between £11,858 for the entry level version and £14,558 for
this Sportive model making it a tad more expensive than the Fiesta Van, which is priced from
£11,180 and up.
The Corsavan inherits the same strong traits of the Corsa on which it’s based, with a
high-quality interior, tidy handling and smart looks.
It might cost a bit more than its main rival, the Ford Fiesta van and not have quite as
much load space either, but its interior is much, much better and that’s sure to be
a big selling point.
If you’re a small business owner or someone who needs the extra space, the Corsavan offers
a frugal, nimble and thoroughly enjoyable option.
So, could you see yourself in a Vauxhall Corsavan?
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