The Vauxhall Corsa is Britain’s most popular small car – but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right for you.
After all, why have what everyone else has? There are bucketloads of brilliant small cars to pick from, and many are affordable, well-equipped and relatively spacious. So if you’re after a car like a Corsa, here’s what to check out.
Read our Vauxhall Corsa review or shop used Vauxhall Corsa cars for sale at Motorpoint
Peugeot 208
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Better than a Corsa for: interior design
The Peugeot 208 is very much like a Corsa, because the two cars share their underpinnings and engines. But you wouldn’t know that inside (unless you pay close attention to some of the switchgear), where the 208 feels a lot more stylish than the Corsa. A tilted touchscreen sits atop a cascading centre console, and the driver gets to look over the steering wheel at a set of fantastically crisp digital dials. It feels more expensive than the Corsa inside, but the difference in monthly payments on PCP finance isn’t enormous.
Shop used Peugeot 208 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Peugeot 208 review
MG3
Better than a Corsa for: hybrid power
The Corsa does come with a slightly electrified petrol engine, with a small motor built into the gearbox and a correspondingly small battery, but this version feels just like a normal petrol car. If you’d rather a car with more electric oomph – without having to plug in – check out the MG3. Its Hybrid+ engine is much more powerful than the Corsa’s, and it’s even a bit more economical too. MG reckons you’ll get 64mpg, and you could even beat that in stop-start traffic.
Shop used MG3 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our MG3 review
Skoda Fabia
Better than a Corsa for: boot space
At 309 litres, the Corsa’s boot is average for the supermini class. But, in a similar footprint, the Skoda Fabia offers 380 litres – which is the same size as the bigger Volkswagen Golf. More is more when it comes to boot space. The Fabia also features Skoda’s trademark ‘Simply Clever’ additions such as an ice scraper and an umbrella.
Shop used Skoda Fabia cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Skoda Fabia review
Renault Clio
Better than a Corsa for: infotainment
As long as you don’t need masses of rear legroom, the Renault Clio is a fantastic small car. It’s stylish, premium-feeling and economical. But the reason we’ve picked it for this list is its touchscreen. The screen is delightfully simple to operate and has sharp graphics – where some cars in this segment feel like you’re on a kid’s tablet – plus high-spec cars come with Google Maps baked in. You never need to be late again.
Shop used Renault Clio cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Renault Clio review
Volkswagen Polo
Better than a Corsa for: quality
For all its qualities, the Corsa doesn’t always feel… very high quality. That’s not a problem because it’s an affordable car, but there are options if you want something that feels a bit more grown up. The Volkswagen Polo is one of our favourite superminis for sensible heads, with economical engines, plenty of space and an interior that feels like it’s built to last.
Shop used Volkswagen Polo cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Volkswagen Polo review
SEAT Ibiza
Better than a Corsa for: handling
SEAT’s Ibiza is a Polo in a party gown, so you get all of the good stuff that we just mentioned plus a bit of Iberian flair. The Ibiza is one of the best-driving small cars, with an eager engine, alert handling and a crisp manual gearbox. Go for one of the FR or FR Sport models and you’ll get a car that looks as good as it goes.
Shop used SEAT Ibiza cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our SEAT Ibiza review
Vauxhall Frontera
Better than a Corsa for: value for money
If you’ve outgrown a Corsa but don’t want to spend a lot more money, you can stick with the griffin brand. The Vauxhall Frontera is the size of an Astra hatchback – so it’s still easy to park and manoeuvre – but offers as much boot space, seats folded, as the Astra estate. Another way it’s suited to family life is its economical powertrain options: there’s a hybrid petrol engine or fully electric options and neither will put a strain on your wallet. The Frontera’s kid-friendly interior materials mean you don’t need to be worried about stains or scuffs.
Shop used Vauxhall Frontera cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Vauxhall Frontera review
Suzuki Swift
Better than a Corsa for: warranty
If you’re planning to keep your new car for a long time, you want the peace of mind that comes with a long warranty. Several manufacturers now offer a 10-year service-activated warranty, including Toyota and Suzuki. That means that if you buy a Suzuki Swift and get it serviced at a main dealer every year, it can be covered against any manufacturing faults for up to a decade.
Shop used Suzuki Swift cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Suzuki Swift review
Citroen C3
Better than a Corsa for: comfort
The Citroen C3 is another car that shares a lot of parts with the Corsa. While the Corsa offers a good balance between handling and comfort, the C3 solely focuses on the latter. It has squidgy seats, extra damping in the suspension and a soft setup for a truly soothing driving experience. Perfect for the commute home after a hard day’s work.
Shop used Citroen C3 cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Citroen C3 review
Jeep Avenger
Better than a Corsa for: SUV style in a small car
You don’t have to have a whopping great Chelsea tractor if you want the higher ride height and trendy stance of an SUV. The Jeep Avenger is noticeably taller than the Corsa but only a few millimetres longer, so it’ll still fit in the tightest parking spaces. We love the Avenger for its characterful design and its unshakeable sense of fun, while its engines are much more Europe-focused (economical) than you might expect from a Jeep.
Shop used Jeep Avenger cars for sale at Motorpoint or read our Jeep Avenger review
