The third-generation Corsa has an appealing interior design. Quality is excellent and the everything feels robust and well screwed together. On higher specification moderls, the chunky controls illuminate in orange when the lights are on, adding an ambient glow to the cabin.

The driving position is spot on, thanks to the low slung chair and massive amount of steering adjustment (on Club, SXi and Design).

There are gripes though. The windscreen pillars are thick and hamper visibility at junctions. The indicator stalks operate along the same principles as those in the Astra and Vectra (a touch down or up for a lane-change – three winks – and push harder to leave the indicator on until cancelled) but the Corsa has a more defined feel to the action, which should result in less confusion.

The ride is impressive on standard models, thanks to suspension that does a good job of ironing out road imperfections and bumps; Corsa comfort levels are surprising, given the low cost of used models.

The same can’t be said of the SXi and SRi models which, as a result of their lower ride height, have a harsh ride in town and are easily unsettled on bumpy roads. There’s room for four to travel comfortably in all models – and the cabin of the five-door is airy. However, the sloping roofline of the three-door might leave rear-seat passengers feeling a little claustrophobic.

Air conditioning is available as an option on all but the entry-level 1.0 Expression model, while it is standard on Design models. Check for correct AC operation when buying, as repairs can be costly compared to the cost of the car itself.