THE Corsa has been Vauxhall’s bestselling car for what seems like forever.

And, despite competition from the likes of VW Polo, Peugeot 208, Renault Clio and Ford Fiesta, around 370,000 of these cars are sold throughout Europe each year – largely thanks to a huge army of loyal Corsa fans.

That said, the fourth-generation model is a cracker and has a new, upmarket feel both inside and out. I drove the 99bhp 1.4-litre Turbo – a thoroughly enjoyable drive and a nippy little motor. In addition to the extra oomph you get with the Turbo tag, it has a great level of standard kit... including a heated steering wheel (I love those kinds of creature comforts).

It also has heated front seats and windscreen, as well as soft-tone ambient lighting and the option of a full-size panoramic roof, taking the car’s equipment levels into the premium segment of its class.

From the front, the Corsa’s bold face is clearly recognisable thanks to its ‘eagle eye’-shaped headlights, incorporating LED daytime running lights and a low, sporty grille.

Both three- and five-door models are offered although the styling of the three-door is a little sportier, especially at the back. However, I found my 5-door model much more practical - comfortably seating five people and with a large boot capacity of 285 litres, although I had to take the wheels off the buggy to fit it in.

Inside, almost every element of the cabin is completely new, including a completely re-designed instrument panel and dashboard, and improved levels of functionality, highlighted by Vauxhall’s IntelliLink system .

IntelliLink operates through a seven-inch colour touchscreen, and can be controlled via apps such as BringGo (for navigation), Stitcher and TuneIn (for global radio channels and internet podcasts). The system is compatible with both Apple and Android phones.

There’s also 15 exterior colours and new for this model are Summit White, Limelight or Emerald Green, Darksea Blue and Peppermint Green, so you’ll easily stand out in a car park.

It is in the insurance group 10E and is covered by three-year, 60,000-mile warranty.

Some say that you’re never more than 121 metres away from a Vauxhall Corsa. Since I read about this little-known ‘fact’, I’ve found myself searching for Corsas while I’m out and about. And I think it might just be true.

Factfile
Car:
Vauxhall Corsa 1.4i Turbo
Prices: £13,840
Top speed: 115mph
0-60mph: 11 seconds
Fuel: 55.4mpg
CO2 emissions: 120g/km