Opel Corsa GSi struggles to live up to name
Although Opel, within a local context at least, has been the purveyor of somewhat vanilla product offerings over the past decade or so, the brand has a history of performance machines, many of which were badged GSi, which stands for Grand Sport Injection.
Keen automotive enthusiasts from the 70s, 80s and early 90s will remember the Manta B GSi and of course the Kadett GSi which was famously upgraded as part of a homologation programme that would allow the car to compete in the Stannic Group N races, creating the Superboss. I got to grips with the new Opel Corsa GSi, which is currently the only performance-oriented model within Opel’s local line-up and I suppose might be considered a spiritual successor to the famous Kadett E.
GSi styling
Opel has hit the proverbial nail on the head, in the styling department, when it comes to the GSi. There’s a more aggressive body kit with a wider front air intake, a honeycomb grille up front, large 18-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler and carbon-look rear-view mirrors. Despite its age, the GSi treatment has managed to make the Corsa an aesthetically more relevant car within the small performance hatchback game.
The interior receives a similarly sporty look, with wonderful Recaro bucket seats, a heated sports steering wheel and an impressive list of standard features such as cruise control, touch-screen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a tyre pressure monitor, traffic sign recognition, automatic wipers and lights to name a few.
Driving GSi
So far so good with the GSi then, however, performance hatchbacks are all about the driving experience. This is where the GSi, in this writer’s opinion, is well and truly bested by the latest Suzuki Swift Sport.
Powering the Opel is a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the same unit that has been used so widely throughout the brand’s product portfolio. Despite being a solid performer and returning reasonable consumption, the engine lacks character and delivers the 110 kW and 220 N.m on offer through a relatively narrow power band, resulting in it running out of puff towards its redline and also exhibiting turbo lag lower down in the rev range.
The typical characteristics of the force-induced engine aren’t helped by the six-speed manual gearbox that refuses to be rushed. Don’t expect the typical hot hatch snap changes to be winning you any robot-to-robot encounters. In terms of the suspension and braking system, these have been lifted from the now-defunct OPC model which never even arrived on local shores.
Despite offering good levels of grip and respectable braking performance, the trade-off in terms of ride and handling versus performance and feedback creates a disjointed overall product. As a driver, you’re left with a car that handles as a hot hatchback should, but one that lacks the engine and gearbox to make it anything spectacular. Add to the fact that at 1 214kg it is nearly 250kg heavier than the Suzuki Swift Sport, you have a product that is thoroughly beaten from a driving experience point of view.
Verdict
The Corsa GSi was a car that left me slightly cold. The good chassis and solid brakes were let down by the lacklustre engine, a hesitant gearbox, the slightly hefty kerb weight and a rather eye-watering price tag.
Service plan and warranty
The Corsa GSi is sold with a three-year/ 60 000km service plan as well as a three-year/120 000km warranty.
Price
R365Â 900
We like
- Exterior styling
- Handling and braking
- Well-built and appointed interior
We dislike
- Price
- Engine and gearbox
- Ageing Corsa range
