• Facelift brings more tech
• Slightly improved interior quality
• Comfortable front seats

How is the quality and layout?

Since it jumped into bed with Peugeot and Citroen, Vauxhall has significantly improved the quality of its cars. The current Vauxhall Corsa feels about as well-built as the Volkswagen Polo and Hyundai i20 – and the materials used its cabin are noticeably better than those BYD picked for the Dolphin. It’s much less plasticky. However, if you care about material quality above all else, you’ll probably find the Honda e more appealing.

The Corsa’s layout has always been simple and practical – and Vauxhall has tried to simplify it further for the facelifted car. So, the old model’s gear lever has been swapped for the toggle switch from the Astra, which makes it easier to access the storage tray underneath the infotainment system.

We also appreciate how Vauxhall had the common sense to retain the pre-facelift car’s physical climate controls. It’s a doddle to adjust the cabin temperature on the move, which is more than can be said of the MG4 EV.

Infotainment and technology

The first examples of the facelifted Corsa Electric Design will be fitted with the same 7.0-inch infotainment system found in the previous version of the car. This is a temporary fixture, though. Vauxhall will ditch that system in early 2024 – and every Corsa Electric from then on will feature the firm’s new 10.0-inch infotainment system.

This is a good thing. The new unit is a little more intuitive than the Corsa’s original infotainment system and, as an added bonus, you get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. It isn’t perfect, though. We experienced some lag when swapping between screens, and the built-in sat-nav system isn’t particularly clear.

Like most sat-nav systems, there’s a little arrow that shows you your position on the road but, when you’re cruising along a fast A-road or a motorway, the arrow vanishes. That makes it easy to misjudge your exit if you’re passing a cluttered series of junctions.

Comfort

• Supportive front seats
• Excellent lumbar support
• Refined at speed

The Corsa Electric feels quite grown up. It has more sound deadening than the previous-generation car and, because of its electric powertrain, there’s no engine noise on the other side of the bulkhead. The only sounds pushing into the cabin are a spot of tyre roar and a dash of wind noise whipping around the front pillars – and neither are offensive. It’s very quiet indeed.

It’s comfortable, too. The Corsa’s seats are well-shaped and offer loads of adjustment. Unlike cars such as the Renault Clio and Dacia Sandero, the Corsa’s backrest adjuster is a dial rather than a ratcheting lever, which makes it even easier to find a comfortable position. Our road testers often find they’d like a setting between two ratchet positions – so that’s a big tick for Vauxhall. Plus, if you opt for the range-topping GS model, the driver’s seat gets an adjustable lumbar support and a massage function.

The Corsa’s steering wheel is great, too. There’s a good foot of telescopic adjustment which means, even if you’re Shaquille O’Neil, you should be able to find a driving position that’s comfortable for both your arms and legs.