Vauxhall Corsa GSE review: a fast electric hot hatch

Blimey! A quick Corsa?

It certainly is. Vauxhall has not offered a genuine Corsa hot hatch since the previous VXR bowed out in 2018. That car left with a wonderfully old-fashioned approach to ride, handling and performance: a 1.6-litre petrol engine powering the front wheels via a manual gearbox and a tough little differential.

The new Corsa GSE follows a far more modern formula. Its badge means Grand Sport Electric, and it is propelled entirely by electricity. One electric motor sends 277bhp and 254lb ft to the front axle, while its 54kWh battery delivers an official 220-mile range. Choose the less grippy, more efficiency-focused tyre and that rises to 232 miles.

It reaches 62mph from rest in 5.5 seconds and tops out at 124mph. The acceleration figure is at least half a second quicker than that of its clearest rivals: the less powerful Mini John Cooper Works Electric and Alpine A290.

That specification sounds familiar...

Several Stellantis stablemates share its headline figures, among them the Abarth 600e, Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce and forthcoming Peugeot E-208 GTI, as well as Vauxhall’s own Mokka GSE.

Yet the Corsa is cheaper than every one of them, starting at £34,495 or £32,995 after the government Electric Car Grant. That is almost double what a Corsa VXR cost 10 years ago, but it remains highly appealing in the expanding electric hot hatch market. It also costs almost precisely the same as the lesser 154bhp electric Corsa in comparably equipped Ultimate trim. Matrix headlights are a particularly notable inclusion at this level. Vauxhall’s margin on this one must surely be tiny.

Do the chassis upgrades live up to the extra power?

Absolutely. Its principal revisions closely follow those of the Mokka, as well as the Abarth and Alfa. There are powerful new Alcon brakes, a faster steering rack, a Torsen limited-slip differential and two superbly supportive sports seats. The suspension has received greater attention still, combining a substantially firmer setup lowered by 25mm with hydraulic bump stops. Wider tracks, conspicuous negative camber at the front and some light Nürburgring development complete the changes.

GSE is Vauxhall’s fourth hot hatch designation since the Nova GTE of the Eighties, whose three-spoke alloy wheels are referenced by this Corsa. That history suggests Vauxhall has never quite settled on a performance-car identity in the way Ford, Renault and Volkswagen have. Still, regardless of views on its electric drivetrain, this Corsa looks like a serious undertaking on paper.

Any hooks to win me over?

There is no artificial gearbox, although Vauxhall has added a synthesised sound to accompany acceleration. Three driving modes are available, with the sportiest bringing a more permissive stability-control calibration, though there is no fully off setting. Brake regeneration is also removed unless you request it again. That is bad news for range but excellent for a more natural sensation through the left pedal.

You sit immediately lower than in the Mokka, positioned nearer the floor in the same sports seat, though here it wears a smart retro-inspired chequered design. From the outset, it feels much easier to pitch at enthusiasts. Its controls are agreeably straightforward as well, largely because the Corsa has now been on sale for some time, making everything easy to grasp while driving.

Beyond its striking yellow details and Alcantara steering-wheel inserts, this does not feel like an especially new car, but that can readily be seen as a benefit. It has a proper volume dial, physical climate controls and ADAS systems that are easily switched off. Wonderful.

Is the Corsa GSE really that fast?

It appears to be. It feels noticeably livelier than the Mokka, by more than its 43kg weight advantage would suggest; the Corsa GSE weighs 1,554kg. As an EV, it delivers power instantly, even in the calmer drive modes when you push the accelerator fully into kickdown. Even with that mighty front Torsen differential, it will still scrabble and tug at the steering under acceleration – enough to make it entertaining and lively, without ever suggesting you are losing control.

The tension coursing through its steering and damping imbue the Corsa with some welcome hot hatch mischief

With performance EVs, the first miles are spent searching for signs of character: evidence that there will be something to enjoy once the novelty of uninterrupted single-speed acceleration fades. And it will fade quickly. The convincingly generated soundtrack, together with the tautness in its steering and damping, gives the Corsa a welcome dose of hot hatch naughtiness.

‘Tension’. Is the ride firm?

Very much so. The Mokka GSE is no scaled-down Cullinan, but this smaller option feels firmer again. Many Nürburgring-developed hatchbacks actually cope brilliantly with UK roads, because the Nordschleife demands compliance. This Corsa, though, seems determined to reinforce the familiar belief that the Green Hell can make road cars uncomfortably stiff. You will need to test drive one to make sure you can live with how forcefully it bumps along, even over roads that appear velvety smooth.

The payoff is that it does an impressive job of suppressing the Mokka’s pitch and roll. Alongside its sibling, it feels more focused and more serious, creating a meaningful distinction between the two beyond price and badge prestige. There is an unshakeable quality to its progress, and the Corsa can cover ground at a genuinely breathtaking rate.

It just does not leave the driver smiling from ear to ear. Rather than feeling integral to the process, you can feel as if you are merely holding on. A conversation with one of the lead engineers confirms that simulated gearchanges were never considered. GSE is unapologetically an electric sub-brand, he says, and copying old ICE cars would not really suit it. Yet with the Nova GTE so clearly evoked by the upholstery and wheels, a little nostalgic technology would not feel out of place.

Its principal hot hatch competitors do not offer such a feature yet, it should be said. Even so, a chance for more interaction with the GSE could better match how hard-edged and determined it feels, even around town.

What is the verdict on the Vauxhall Corsa GSE?

Much of what the Corsa GSE offers is entertaining, intense and nearly fantastic. It is unexpectedly capable on a circuit, too. Vauxhall, and Opel, presumably had no idea such a car would exist when the Corsa F arrived in 2019, yet their seemingly hurried effort to transform its styling and dynamics in time for Peugeot’s returning GTI deserves praise.

Quite a lot of what the Corsa GSE does is fun, frenzied and close to fabulous

The fact that they have made one now rather than holding off for the next-generation, Vision Gran Turismo-inspired Corsa is something to applaud, particularly as the GSE represents respectable value against some very capable rivals, including those in its own showroom. It is simply difficult not to want a little more interaction to justify its punishing ride and limited range when driven with commitment. If you are enjoying yourself, expect around 100 miles...