General Motors South Africa introduced the Opel Corsa Colour Edition late last year, and considering the bright colours available, it seems apt that the little hatch arrived just in time for summer.

Buyers can choose from one of five colours that include an attention grabbing Sunny Melon, Magma Red and Oriental Blue, while a more traditional and less extrovert Casablanca White and Black Sapphire round out the colour palette. Based on the Opel Corsa 1.4 Sport 3-door model it replaces, the refreshed Colour Edition is aimed squarely at the young and trendy. As such, the Colour Edition features a number of exterior styling cues to successfully achieve its youthful appeal, specifically, tinted windows, a gloss black roof and a choice between either black or silver 17-inch alloy wheels.

The interior has also received a splash of colour, with seat stitching in red, blue or yellow to match the exterior colour. The air vent surrounds are also matched to the exterior colour, although they’re arguably a little too bold and a less obtrusive pinstripe highlight would suffice. Piano black trim on the doors, centre stack and steering wheel adds a touch of ‘chic’ to the interior, as does the satin silver finish of the door handles, radio fascia and instrument surrounds. The Colour Edition’s sporty appeal is enhanced with a chunky leather-clad steering wheel, sports style front seats, as well as a set of alloy pedals. The interior build quality is very good, making for a sense of solidity and reliability from behind the wheel. The boot is the only exception, where insulation seems a little thin and an occasional rattle was evident. Plenty of interior space is provided in front, while things are a little cosier in the back, but not uncomfortably so. The boot offers limited space, but unless you plan to take the kitchen sink, it will manage the weekly shopping run without a fuss.

The Opel Corsa Colour Edition has plenty of standard equipment for convenience, entertainment and safety. A MP3-compatible radio/CD-player with auxiliary input and 7-speakers takes care of the entertainment, while an air conditioner, electrically operated windows, remote central locking, multi-function steering wheel and storage compartment beneath the passenger seat, make the 3-door Corsa practical and comfortable to live with. Ensuring occupant safety are ABS and EBD driving aids, as well as driver and front passenger airbags.

The 3-door sport chassis is stiff and elicits very little evidence of flex. Together with firm suspension, this translates to competent road holding, which ends in understeer when driven enthusiastically, but which strikes a good balance between the car’s stability and the power produced by the 1.4-litre engine. The 16-valve, DOHC, petrol unit produces 74 kW at 6 000 r/min and 130 Nm of torque at 4 000 r/min. It’s certainly no fire cracker, but given enough road the Corsa Colour Edition will reach a top speed of 180 km/h. The solidly built hatch weighs in at 1 635 kg (GVM) and as such, it requires liberal use of the throttle get up to speed at times. Above 4 000 r/min the engine hauls the car along with respectable pace, while the relationship between the clutch and gearbox is such that sustaining the car’s momentum is easily accomplished.

With adequate performance, a sporty character, enough comfort and convenience to take the edge off the daily grind, solid build quality and an array of ‘feel good’ colours to choose from, the Corsa Colour Edition successfully revitalises the 3-door’s image and represents fair value for money.

What we like…

• Feels built to last.
• A new, cheeky character.

What we would like…

• An iPod/USB connection for the ‘youngsters’.
• On-board computer with fuel consumption indicator, to go with the recommended gearshift light.

Opel’s popular B-segment hatch, the Corsa 1.4 Enjoy, Essentia and Sport are now available in South Africa with an upgraded engine.

The new Euro 5 compliant engine sees an increase in power from 66 kW to 74 kW and torque increases from 125 N.m to 130 N.m. Opel’s new engine offers improvements in performance whilst at the same time reducing CO2 emissions with a new figure of 129 g/100km down from 146 g/100km – an improvement of 13% on the previous engine. Fuel consumption is now 5.5 l/100 km down from 5.8 l/100 km.

The 1.4 Eco-tech is lighter and more fuel efficient. It features variable valve timing and port de-activation technology to reduce CO2 emissions and fuel consumption out on the road. A new oil pump also contributes to the lower fuel consumption of this engine as it now gives optimised oil pressure and reduced friction.

“Opel has done well to improve the performance of the Corsa 1.4 and at the same time reduce the impact of our vehicles on the environment by reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The 2010 Corsa 1.4 has a more powerful engine with better performance than the previous models and the lowest CO2 emissions in its class. All 2010 models now incorporate a shift indicator in the cluster to help the driver reduce fuel consumption by driving more economically,” says GMSA Passenger Vehicle Marketing Manager Tim Hendon.

The chassis and rear axle have undergone substantial revisions resulting in significantly improved driving comfort. Most of the steering components have been reworked for the 2010 Opel Corsa line up resulting in improved steering precision and response.

All 2010 Opel Corsa 1.4 Essentia models now boast a suite of additional standard features which include: electric power steering, power windows front with anti-pinch feature, remote central locking with selective door opening, alarm and immobiliser.

Pricing for SA’s Opel Corsa model line-up is as follows:

All Opel Corsas are sold with a 5-year/120 000 km warranty, roadside assistance for the same period, as well as 3-year/60 000 km service plan.