Vauxhall Corsa SXi review

Although the Vauxhall Corsa SXi gets sporty-looking equipment and has a choice of petrol or diesel and manual or automatic gearboxes, it just can't keep up with its rivals. It feels very dated and isn't the best to drive in this class either - we'd recommend a Ford Fiesta Zetec instead.

The Vauxhall Corsa SXi is available in either three-door or five-door body styles and with a range of petrol and diesel engines. It sits below the Corsa SRi in the line-up, and offers equipment designed to make the car feel more sporty than the lower-spec models, but without the hard sports suspension form the SRi.The engines available in the Vauxhall Corsa SXi (not pictured) include 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrols and a 1.3-litre diesel with a range of power outputs - from the 84bhp 1.2i to the 99bhp 1.4i. This fastest version of the Vauxhall Corsa SXi can go from 0-62mpg in 11.9 seconds, which is pretty slow, and with the fastest version being that sluggish you don't get much urge from the lower-powered versions either.The best option to go for if you're concerned about fuel consumption is the 1.3CDTi diesel, as when fitted with a manual gearbox and start-stop technology can return 74mpg. However this engine feels gutless and is loud in the cabin. The best engine for the Corsa is probably the 1.7-litre diesel, but that's not available in SXi trim.The five-door version of the 1.3-litre diesel is the most expensive model in the SXi range, however, at £16,595.The budget option for those looking for a Corsa SXi is the 1.2-litre petrol with 84bhp, which starts at £13,520. As the SXi is a higher-up trim it comes with plenty of standard equipment, though.This includes 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, tinted windows, a chromed exhaust pipe, cruise control and darkened headlights and taillights for a sportier look. Air-conditioning and stop-start are available on the Corsa SXi a/c and s/s models.Inside the Corsa SXi you get sporty-looking seats and dials, a leather steering wheel, 60/40 folding rear seats and a multi-function trip computer. All of this kit comes on top of that offered in the lower-spec models, like steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, heated door mirrors, a CD/MP3 player and daytime running lights.The Vauxhall Corsa SXi has a decent interior, and it's relatively well laid out, but the design feels old fashioned compared to the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo.The Corsa can't match its rivals on driving enjoyment either, as it's set up more as an A-to-B runabout than a fun-to-drive supermini. It does have a comfortable driving position, light controls and a compact body, which means it's best suited to driving in town. Go for a Ford Fiesta if you value your time driving on the open road.Opening the tailgate reveals a usefully low loading lip and a competitive 285 litres of boot space. Fold the rear bench flat and the capacity increases to 1,100 litres (or 1,050 in the three-door model).