New 2023 Vauxhall Corsa revealed with full-EV and Hybrid powertrain variants

The UK’s best-selling car is set to receive a comprehensive overhaul later this year as Vauxhall announces the arrival of a 255-mile EV, featuring refreshed styling and a raft of innovative new tech.

Since its inception in 1993 the Vauxhall Corsa has been as common a sight on British roads as potholes and speed cameras. In fact, the plucky supermini has suffered the curse of ubiquity for so long, it can be easily overlooked in favour of more unusual and eye-catching competitors.

That’s why Vauxhall has made moves with this latest version to recapture the hearts and minds of a slightly disenchanted audience. And with the recently announced death of its longstanding rival (the Ford Fiesta) the new Corsa has a real opportunity to run away with the market, if it’s up to scratch. So, what’s new for Vauxhall’s enduring small car?

Starting with the headline grabber, you can get the new Corsa as a fully electric car. Buyers even have two different performance options to choose from: the current 136 PS, 222-mile version, and an upgraded 156 PS model with 255 miles of potential range.

For those who aren’t ready to make the transition to EV motoring, new hybrid variants with 99bhp and 134 bhp represent a nice halfway house. Or, if you just want a small, simple car, Vauxhall will still sell you a purely petrol-powered base model.

On the outside, the Corsa receives the new corporate ‘Vizor’ front-end (as first seen on the Mokka) as well as other styling tweaks including black detailing and new 17-inch wheels.

In order to maximise performance in all areas, Vauxhall has chosen to wrap those nifty new alloys with Michelin Primacy 4 S1 rubber.

Designed to deliver strong grip throughout the entire lifespan, the Primacy 4 S1 is optimised to reduce aquaplaning and offer exceptional braking distances even in wet conditions.

Equally impressive is the sheer level of technology and kit on offer for a small and cheap car. From the LED Matrix lights which can partially blank their beam to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers, to the adaptive cruise control and panoramic reversing camera, the Corsa utilises gadgets that were once the reserve of German luxury machines like the Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8.

Although you’ll need to wait a little longer for Vauxhall to confirm pricing for the revamped Corsa, it would be fair to assume that the new high performance electric model will command a premium over the £31,900 asking price of the current electric offering.

With so much in its favour, the new Corsa-e stands every chance of standing out amongst stiff and plentiful competition in the form of Peugeot's 208, Renault's Clio and many, many others. Let’s just hope it lives up to the hype when we finally get behind the wheel.