Up until their latest instalment, Vauxhall never really managed to come up with hatchback that was as exciting or good looking as other small cars on the market.

The latest Corsa however, is set to change this.

From the highly economical 1.0-litre to the eager 1.6 SRi, capable of achieving 0-60 in 7.6 seconds, the new Corsa is an all round performer.

The Corsa drove well on twisty roads, with confident handling and excellent grip. The overall steering was lacking the weight and feedback needed for the Corsa to feel truly responsive though.

Electronic stability control, which can help avoid accidents by reducing the risk of skidding, is an option on all models expect the SRi, where it's a standard.

The 5-door model is refreshingly roomy, comfortably seating four adults. Air-con is available as an extra on all models except the design models, where it is a standard.

With 285-liters of storage space, extending to 1100-liters with the rear seats down, the Corsa offers a competitive amount of space compared to other cars in its class.

All models come with a CD player, central locking and front airbags a standard. Other models offer more advanced features such as; remote central locking, electric front windows, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, a soft-touch dashboard, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, automatic headlights etc.

With its chunky controls and orange illumination the new interior is very appealing and easy to navigate.

Safety wise, the Corsa scored the maximum on crash tests and scored three out of five for "pedestrian protection".

Corsa's have long been the first choice for many young drivers, with car insurance premiums generally being quite low. It's important to note though, that obtaining cheap car insurance for Vauxhall's latest model may be difficult, even if you choose the smaller engines.