I’ve got a riddle for you. Two guys are in a studio, recording a voice-over for a short cartoon gag. They say that when they see a ‘lite,’ they’re drawn to it like ‘moth-man.’ What are they talking about?
If you weren’t born yesterday, you probably remember the legendary Opel Corsa Lite ad. That little hatch was cheap, funky, and a hit with young drivers in the early 2000s. It was small, fun, and easy to drive—perfect for first-time car owners or anyone who just wanted something ‘cool’ to drive.
Since then, the Corsa never really disappeared. It grew up, changed a bit, and became one of those cars people buy because it just works—reliable, decent to drive, and easy on the wallet. Now, with the latest version, I feel like Opel has brought back some of that old-school charm, but with a fresh, modern twist.
Exterior
At its earliest, the Corsa was built to be budget friendly. It was a no-frills, no-nonsense hatch that gave you what you needed without the fancy extras. That was the point of the ‘Lite’ era—it was affordable and did the job.
Fast forward to today, and Opel has flipped the script. The Corsa F (which first landed in 2021) had a ‘glow-up,’ and the 2024 update takes it even further. It has a more premium, sporty look—almost like it’s trying to sneak into the luxury hatchback space.
There are three trims to choose from—Lite, Edition, and GS-Line—and depending on which one you pick, the front grille has some slight differences. The GS Line we tested gets Opel’s new visor-style grille with a glossy black finish, which stretches across the bumper. You also get blacked-out accents on the pillars, roof, spoiler, and side mirrors, which give it a meaner look.
The headlights have a modern, sharp design, with piano black detailing inside instead of the usual smoked tint. And those daytime running lights? Three strips that fade in and out — subtle but stylish.
Along the sides, you’ll notice some soft creases that flow into the back, where the slightly tinted taillights tie everything together. It’s clean, simple, and definitely a step up from the previous-gen models.
Interior
Now, this is where some people might have mixed feelings. Some feel Opel could have done more inside, but I think they have struck a good balance. It is not overloaded with unnecessary features, but it has everything you need.
Jump inside, and you’re met with a mix of striped fabric and leatherette seats that hug you like bucket seats. There’s a good mix of soft-touch materials and harder plastics where they make sense, keeping costs down without feeling cheap.
Everything is laid out properly for the driver—controls are easy to reach, and nothing feels like it was slapped on as an afterthought.
Space-wise, it’s decent, but if you’re on the taller side, rear legroom might be a squeeze. At 160cm, I did not struggle but taller passengers in the back won’t love life. If you have a car seat, prepare for constant little feet kicking your front seats.
Boot space is suitable at 309 litres, but if you need more, dropping the rear seats gives you 1,081 litres to work with.
Media and tech
You get a 10-inch infotainment system paired with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster. Opel’s Interlink system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but you’ll need to plug in your phone—no wireless options here.
Bluetooth, on the other hand, works smoothly. It reconnects automatically without those annoying manual pairing steps some systems force you through.
Performance & fuel economy
Under the bonnet, the Corsa runs a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbo engine. The Lite and Edition variants push out 75kW and 205Nm, paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The GS-Line, though, gets a power bump to 96kW and 230Nm, making it the quickest of the lot. That extra power also comes from the addition of a higher compression ratio.
That extra grunt makes a noticeable difference—the GS does 0-100km/h in around 8 seconds.
With regard to fuel consumption, Opel claims 7.5L/100km for the manual derivatives and 8.5L/100km for the GS auto. In reality, though, it all depends on how you drive. With my right foot seeing closer to 8L most of the time this kind of equals out.
Safety features
Safety kit depends on the trim. The GS, as the range-topper, comes well-eqipped with:
- Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
- Hill-Start Assist (HAS)
- Driver, passenger, front-side, and curtain airbags
- 180-degree rearview camera
- Lane assist
- Traffic sign recognition
- Blind-spot monitoring
Lower trims miss out on some features, but overall, the Corsa has a solid safety setup regardless of the variant you opt for.
Pricing and final thoughts
This is where the debate really starts. Some people expect more at this price. But the Corsa is not just ‘budget-friendly’ it is also a premium B-segment hatch. Compared to rivals like the VW Polo or Hyundai i20, it has a more refined feel, but spec-for-spec, it can get pricey when you start adding extras.
Here’s what you’re looking at pricewise (incl. VAT):
- Opel Corsa Lite 1.2T 74kW 6-speed manual – R374,900
- Opel Corsa Edition 1.2T 74kW 6-speed manual – R394,900
- Opel Corsa GS 1.2T 96kW 6-speed automatic – R459,900
So, what’s the verdict?
The 2024 Opel Corsa is not the no-frills budget hatch it used to be—it’s grown up. It’s more premium, more stylish, and still fun to drive. But is it worth the price? That all depends on what you as the driver value and, often, where loyalty lies.
With that said, Opel backs it up with:
5-year / 100 000km warranty & roadside assistance
3-year / 45 000km service plan
Read more MasterTests
Seems a bit thirsty that Puretec 1.2 and keep in mind it has a wet timing belt – a rather controversial topic. I get about 5.5L/100km from the previous generation Corsa E with a 1.0 85kw 3-cyl Ecoflex.