Vauxhall Corsa 1.6 SRi (2007) CAR review

It’s £2k cheaper than a VXR – what’s the difference?

Apart from 42bhp, this car lacks the VXR’s muscular bumpers, central-exit exhaust (which burbles deliciously), mesh detailing and wing mirrors as cool as a BMW M car. The SRi has impact, but you won’t be mistaking the two. It also misses the VXR’s (brilliant) Recaro clamshells, flat-bottomed steering wheel and bespoke dials. And, mechanically, it doesn’t quite get the wealth of detail changes, nor the input from Lotus on damper tuning.

But Vauxhall is responding to spiralling teenage pregnancies, though. Unlike the VXR, you can the SRi with five doors as well as three.

I remember the Nova had those alarming tartan-check seats...

And so the Corsa continues the trend for garish upholstery, with dimpled black fabric edged with red bolsters. Matching the part red leather steering wheel. And… wait for it… red seatbelts! It really is the ‘80s all over again, albeit without the incessant trim rattles, thanks to Germanic interior quality. Alas, in the ‘80s, cars generally didn’t come with air-con and, unless you spend an extra £500, neither does the Corsa SRi. Unacceptable on a £13.5k car today.