Vauxhall Corsa vs. Astra: which is better?
Can't pick between the Vauxhall Corsa or Astra? Take a look at the specs for both in our comparison review
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Tempted by a brand that you’ve known and trusted for years, but can’t pick between a Vauxhall Corsa vs. Astra?
Both have plenty going for them, but understanding what makes them different can help to inform your purchase, ensuring that you remain happy with your car for the duration of ownership.
Our motoring editor, Sam Sheehan, says the Astra is 'truly competitive in all areas because it’s decently spacious, really comfortable, handles precisely and won’t cost you a fortune to run.'
Sam's a fan of the Corsa as well. He says: "it's a supermini that can soak up urban life with ease, handle country roads and tackle the occasional long motorway haul."
Below, we compare how they look and how they drive, as well as how practical they are to own in the real world.
Vauxhall Astra vs. Corsa
Our guide will answer:
Which model has the better styling?
Is the Astra vs. Corsa better to drive?
Does the Astra vs. Corsa have better tech?
Is the Astra vs. Corsa more reliable?
What are the Astra vs. Corsa dimensions?
Vauxhall Corsa vs. Astra: styling
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The Vauxhall Corsa is a compact supermini that’s been redesigned several times since it first went on sale in the early 1980s.
It’s now in its sixth generation and looks smarter than ever.
The latest model has a bold front grille flanked by sharp-looking headlights.
Vauxhall’s designers used clever styling cues to make the car look wider than it is, giving it more road presence.
The Corsa’s profile is characterised by a sloping roofline – it’s not a coupé, but it does at least look fairly sporty.
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Being a small car which is aimed at almost every type of buyer, from new drivers to families and even older drivers, there’s a lot of customisation on offer, including a range of paint colours and some two-tone combinations.
The Astra, which has been on sale even longer, is now in its eighth generation. While previous-generation models look great, the latest ones are even sharper and more modern.
They have the familiar Vauxhall front end, which, in the case of newer models, includes a grille design that looks blanked off thanks to glossy black styling.
Despite being a bigger car that targets families, the Astra has a more dynamic-looking design, even in its longer and more practical estate format.
Vauxhall Corsa vs. Astra: which is better to drive?
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Vauxhall’s cars are known for a no-frills approach to motoring, and the same is true of their driving experiences.
Peugeot models are known to be fairly nimble and engaging, and Citroen cars are typically much more comfortable.
Vauxhall – which is owned by Stellantis, which also owns Peugeot and Citroen – strikes a good balance between the two.
For example, the Corsa is comfortable enough to handle the degrading state of our roads, but it’s still responsive enough to dart in and out of side streets and do tight turns in car parks.
Driving the Astra is fairly similar, but it’s better suited to longer trips, where its longer wheelbase and the suspension setup help improve comfort.
Vauxhall uses a lot of the same engines across the range, including with other brands like Peugeot and Citroen, so there’s not a lot that separates these models.
The 1.2-litre petrol engines are very smooth and efficient – the turbocharged ones are actually pretty quick.
You may also find some 1.5-litre diesels, but Vauxhall has been pulling diesel models from sale in recent years due to market trends.
Plug-in hybrid variants of the Astra are especially punchy, offering 180hp and even 225hp, depending on specification, but they should still be able to do around 30 miles of electric-only motoring, helping to cut your running costs.
There are also electric variants of both the Astra and the Corsa. Newer models come with 156hp, but some earlier Corsas come with 136hp.
They have 50kWh and 51kWh batteries, depending on model year, and should both do around 200-250 miles in the best conditions.
Vauxhall Corsa vs. Astra: interior and technology
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Despite being different models, Vauxhall uses the same style template across all of its cars, so the Corsa and Astra are fairly similar inside.
For example, they both have the same digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, as well as the same gear selectors and some similar switchgear.
The Corsa’s dashboard is split-level, featuring a touchscreen infotainment system at the top with a few physical controls for things like volume, and then a separate climate control section beneath.
To help make the Astra feel more upmarket, Vauxhall made the instrument cluster display bigger and removed the borders, so it seamlessly merges into the infotainment display.
Vauxhall also appears to have listened to drivers, because while so many manufacturers are removing buttons, there are plenty of buttons beneath the Astra’s display, which are far easier to use on the go.
Vauxhall Corsa vs. Astra: boot space and practicality
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At 309 litres, the Corsa’s boot is fairly middling. There are similarly-sized cars with more space, but equally, there are some with less.
Electric models have a smaller 267-litre boot, which is below average. You’ll notice the reduction in space, but this is still more than you get in even smaller cars like the Fiat 500.
The Astra has a 422-litre boot, which is above average, but again, plug-in hybrid and electric versions have a smaller 352-litre space, which is only slightly below average.
The Sports Tourer model – Vauxhall’s name for its estate models – has 597/516 litres of space, depending on which fuel choice you go for.
Unless you specifically need a bigger boot, in which case you’d likely be looking for a bigger car anyway, then neither of these will disappoint, but be aware that plug-in hybrid and electric versions of both have less space.
Vauxhall Corsa vs. Astra: reliability and safety
Vauxhall has a reputation for building reliable vehicles, and it has benefitted from the backing of a very large company ever since the brand was snapped up in 2017 by Stellantis, which also owns Peugeot and Citroen.
Now, it uses the same mechanical parts – including engines and transmissions, as well as electric motors and batteries – as many other models, which means they’re all tried and tested.
Both got good four-star ratings from Euro NCAP when they were crash tested, which is the same as the Peugeot 208 and Peugeot 308 (both cars are related).
Vauxhall Astra vs. Corsa: dimensions
Similar to many of its rivals, the Corsa is only a touch longer than four metres long, making it a particularly good model for fitting in tight spaces. Overall, it’s 4,060mm long, 1,960mm wide (with mirrors) and 1,433mm tall.
The Astra has a slightly larger footprint than some of its rivals but you’ll hardly notice the difference from behind the wheel, and it’s pretty easy to park.
It’s 4,374mm long, 2,062mm wide and 1,441mm tall. The Sports Tourer estate model is nearly 27cm longer, which helps with boot space. It’s 4,642mm long, 2,062mm and 1,443mm tall.
Used Vauxhall Corsa vs. used Vauxhall Astra: which should you buy?
Both of these Vauxhall models are reliable, affordable, comfortable and practical. While they may appear pretty average compared to some other similar cars, they seem to tick every box confidently and are cars you can truly buy with your head.
If you’ve got a small family or you drive alone, a Corsa makes for a good pick, because it’s generally cheaper to run. If you need the space, then an Astra makes more sense.
You can read our Astra review or Corsa review to learn even more about both cars.