Battery size: 46 - 51kWh
Miles per kWh: 4.64
Max charge rate: 100 kW
Range: 209 - 246 miles 
Introduction
The Vauxhall Corsa-e (also known as the Vauxhall Corsa Electric) is a small, five-door electric car. It’s a similar size to the VW Polo, and also to the Peugeot e-208 that shares the Corsa’s platform and running gear (because Peugeot and Citroen are both owned by car-making giant, Stellantis).
It arrived in 2020 with a usable lithium-ion NMC battery capacity of 46.2kWh, although you’ll see the total capacity of 50kWh stated in all the Corsa’s official info. That gave this front-wheel drive,134bhp supermini an official range of up to 222 miles. A facelift in 2023 brought a new, 51kWh usable capacity (54kWh total capacity) and a standard heat pump, for a WLTP range of up to 246 miles.
It's a nice drive, the Corsa; confident, more than fast enough and comfortable over poor road surfaces. It just feels like one of those cars that does the job well, and doesn’t make a fuss about it.
What’s the real-world range of a used Vauxhall Corsa-e?
The real-world range of the Vauxhall Corsa-e will depend on the usable battery capacity. As new, the earlier, 46kWh Corsa-e managed around 130- to 200 miles per charge depending on conditions (all electric cars go further in warm weather and slower driving). Some owners have reported particularly bad range in winter, though, so in very bad conditions on a steady motorway run you may even see that drop to 100 miles of range.
Check out the used electric superminis for sale on Electrifying.com
The updated 2023 car improved on real-world range and cold weather efficiency, noticeable, and will likely do more like 150- to 210 miles to a charge.
Remember that all electric car batteries will degrade over time; each year, you should expect to lose some 1- to 2% of the maximum potential range of the Corsa, so do factor that in if you’re looking at older cars.
Rapid charging peaks at 100kW, which is on a par with rivals like the Peugeot e-208, DS3 e-Tense and Fiat 500e, and will get you 100 miles of additional range in around 25- to 30 minutes. The Vauxhall Corsa-e uses a Type 2 and CCS charging socket that’s located on the passenger-side rear wing, where you’d normally expect the fuel-filler cap to be on a petrol car. These are the European standard socket types, and will be compatible with almost all public- and home chargers in the UK and Western Europe.
How long will the battery on the Vauxhall Corsa-e last?
Every electric car battery will gradually lose performance over time and mileage, and the Corsa-e is no different. There are no reported issues or concerns over faster-than-usual battery degradation in the Corsa-e, so it’s fair to expect to lose between 1- and 2% of the car’s potential range each year – more if it’s rapid charged a lot, and does a lot of mileage.
So, if you go for a 2021 Vauxhall Corsa-e with the claimed range of 222, and real-world range of around 140- to 200 miles when new, expect that real-world range to have dropped by some 1.5% per year. In 2025, then, you’d likely see usable range of 130- to 190 miles.
The golden rule here is to always get a battery health check on any used electric car that you’re considering buying. Most good dealers will offer this, although some may charge a little extra. It doesn’t take long – only 20- to 30 minutes, usually – as it simply involves plugging in a vehicle system checker and laptop, and then they’ll be able to provide a readout detailing the battery’s remaining capacity.
Ultimately, electric cars have been around long enough to show that the batteries often outlive the car itself. Battery faults are vanishingly rare (far rarer than faults with combustion engines), and it is a myth that you’ll need a new battery.
Look after your battery by running it between 20- and 80% in routine everyday use, and only fully charging to 100% for longer journeys. Try to avoid using rapid chargers repeatedly, too, and don’t leave your car plugged in and parked up for days with a full battery as that also doesn’t do its health much good.
One other thing to know about the Vauxhall Corsa-e, is that the range readout on the dash isn’t very accurate when the car has plenty of charge. It’s a very optimistic readout, basically. So if it’s got 100% charge and is telling you it’ll do 220 miles… It won’t. It will suddenly drop very quickly as you head towards 60% or below, and then will become more accurate. It’s annoying and not very useful, but you do get used to it, and it doesn’t take long to become familiar with the sort of range you really do get on your routine journeys.
How reliable is a used Vauxhall Corsa-e and what are the common problems?
- The electric Vauxhall Corsa is generally a dependable vehicle, but some owners report issues with electrical gremlins affecting sensors and the touchscreen system.
- Look at the trim inside the car closely, as loose, rattling trim is one of the more common complaints.
- Cold weather range isn’t a strong point for the earlier pre-2023 Corsa-e, and some owners found that it would drop to as little as 110 miles on a cold motorway run.
- Don’t trust the range readout when it’s on a high battery percentage, as it is notoriously optimistic. It will drop quickly and give a more realistic range expectation as the battery charge falls.
Which is the best version to buy?
If you only expect to do shorter trips in your Corsa-e, or if you are running it as a second vehicle in the household, then don’t be afraid of the smaller battery, pre-2023 cars. They still have more than enough range for many drivers, and will even charge quickly enough to be used on the occasional longer journey without too much hassle if you don’t mind stopping every couple of hours. They’re also good value for such a modern, capable little car.
If you do expect to do a bit more mileage, including in winter, then try to stretch to the updated car with the bigger battery as it will make a difference to efficiency and real-world range. Or, consider an older, bigger battery car such as the VW ID.3, Kia e-Niro or Hyundai Kona; they’re bigger than the Corsa, but all are under 4.4-metres long so are still relatively compact hatchbacks. They’re also decent value and will be more convenient for anyone expecting to regularly do longer distances.
Every Corsa-e gets decent equipment levels. SE Nav includes sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as automatic wipers and LED headlights, keyless start and climate control. Elite Nav adds larger 17in alloy wheels, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, a rear-view camera, LED front fog lights, tinted rear windows and a 10in colour touchscreen infotainment system.
How long is the warranty on the Corsa-e?
The Vauxhall Corsa-e gets a three year, 60,000 mile warranty that covers the car. The high voltage battery is covered for eight years and 100,000 miles, and Vauxhall promises to refurbish or replace the battery if it drops below 70% of the as-new performance.
What are the ownership and running costs of a Vauxhall Corsa-e?
The electric Vauxhall Corsa will be a cheap car to own and run. Insurance is cheap, even by the standards of rivals like the Renault Zoe and BMW i3, and it shouldn’t chew through its tyres quickly unless you’re very heavy on the throttle. There are more efficient electric cars out there, but the Corsa isn’t too bad and will be cheap to fuel. If you can charge at home then you’ll be paying roughly half the price of putting petrol in a comparable small ICE hatchback. Use cheap overnight tariffs and you could cut that even more, to as little as 3p per mile.
Public charging is much more expensive, and can vary drastically from 40p per kWh to over 90p per kWh – as much as ten times what you’re paying to charge from home.
What other cars should I consider?
If you’re considering a used Vauxhall Corsa-e, do have a look at the Peugeot e-208, which has the same platform and batteries but is a bit cooler to look at and more fun to drive. The BMW i3 is also a firm favourite of ours for its avantgarde design, fun dynamics and gorgeous interior. If it’s just a sensible, low-cost electric hatchback that you want, then the Renault Zoe is a very solid option and there are loads of used examples to choose from. Don’t discount the brilliant little Honda e if you only need a short-range car; it’s a fantastic urban EV that didn’t sell well because of its small battery and limiting range, and is now a brilliant used buy if you’ve the lifestyle to suit it.
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