Opel Corsa Electric 50 kWh

Overview

The Opel Corsa-e is a cracking electric supermini, perfect for zipping around town. Fresh from a major facelift, it now sports Opel’s slick ‘Vizor’ front end, giving it a much sharper look. This 50 kWh version is the sensible, value-focused entry point to the range, blending practicality with zero-emission driving. With a new price of around €29,990 and used examples dipping under €23,000, it’s a compelling package for anyone looking to make the electric switch without breaking the bank. It’s a straightforward, no-fuss EV that gets the job done.

What's New for 2025?

For 2025, the Corsa-e carries over its significant recent updates. The biggest news is the styling overhaul, ditching the old grille for the futuristic ‘Opel Vizor’ panel that’s now all over the brand’s lineup. Inside, you’ll find an upgraded infotainment system with a sharper display and improved software. Under the skin, the powertrain has been tweaked for better efficiency, helping you squeeze a few more kilometres from every charge. It’s more of a nip-and-tuck refresh than an all-new car, but the changes make a real difference to its appeal.

Design & Exterior

The Corsa-e's new look is dominated by the sleek, black ‘Vizor’ grille, which neatly integrates the headlights for a clean, modern face. It’s a smart-looking hatchback that looks planted and contemporary. Compared to its predecessor, it's a huge step up. This trim comes with stylish alloy wheels that complement its city-slicker vibe. Its compact dimensions make it a doddle to park, measuring just 4,061 mm long, 1,765 mm wide, and 1,435 mm tall, making it perfectly suited for tight European streets and car parks.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Inside, the Corsa-e feels solid and well-built, with a driver-focused dashboard. You get a digital driver’s display and a central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, keeping you connected on the move. Passenger space is decent for a supermini, but it’s best for four. For your luggage, there’s a 267-litre boot, which is about average for this class. Fold the rear seats down, and that expands to a useful 1,042 litres for bigger shopping trips. Unfortunately, there’s no frunk for storing your charging cables.

Performance & Driving Experience

Don’t let its city-car looks fool you; the Corsa-e is surprisingly zippy. Its 100 kW Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor delivers 260 Nm of instant torque to the front wheels, letting you squirt away from the lights. The 0-100 km/h dash is handled in a respectable 8.7 seconds. It’s a doddle to drive around town, with light steering and a comfortable ride that soaks up bumps well. On the motorway, it’s stable and refined, though its top speed is capped at 150 km/h to preserve range. Selectable regenerative braking modes help you claw back energy.

Range, Battery & Charging

This model is fitted with a 46.3 kWh usable battery pack, which Green Cars Compare estimates will deliver a real-world range of around 311 km – plenty for the weekly commute and more. It’s quite efficient, managing about 6.72 km/kWh. For charging, its CCS Type 2 port is standard. At home on a wallbox, the standard 7.4 kW on-board charger will do the job overnight, with an 11 kW upgrade available to get you topped up quicker. On the road, it can accept up to 100 kW from a DC fast charger.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

Safety is solid, with the Corsa-e earning a 4-star rating from Euro NCAP. It comes packed with a decent amount of standard kit to keep you safe, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and traffic sign recognition. If you want all the bells and whistles, you’ll need to tick some option boxes for features like adaptive cruise control, which can maintain your speed and distance to the car ahead, and a more advanced blind-spot monitoring system. It provides good peace of mind for a small car.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

Opel provides a fairly standard warranty package for the Corsa-e. You get a 2-year, unlimited-kilometre basic vehicle warranty across Europe, which is a bit behind some rivals. However, peace of mind comes from the more substantial battery warranty, which covers the high-voltage pack for 8 years or 160,000 kilometres, whichever comes first. This includes a guarantee that the battery will retain at least 70% of its original capacity. Maintenance is minimal, with scheduled services typically focused on checks for brakes, tyres, and cabin filters, keeping running costs low.