Opel Corsa Electric 50 kWh

Overview

The 2021 Opel Corsa-e 50 kWh was a cracking electric supermini, bringing zero-emission motoring to the masses with familiar Corsa style. This zippy hatchback, built in Spain, offered a compelling package for city dwellers and commuters in the European market. Though now discontinued, it's a popular find on the used market, with this specific trim available for around €12,880. Its key highlights include a punchy electric motor, a practical real-world range for its class, and a well-equipped interior, making it a smart choice for an affordable, stylish EV experience.

What's New for 2021?

For the 2021 model year, which marked the end of this particular iteration's production run (2020-2021), the Opel Corsa-e 50 kWh largely carried forward the successful formula from its launch. Opel focused on refining the existing package rather than introducing major overhauls. Buyers in 2021 got a mature version of this electric hatch, benefiting from any minor running changes or software tweaks Opel might have implemented to optimise efficiency or user experience. It remained a strong contender in the burgeoning small EV segment in Europe, offering a consistent and proven electric drive.

Design & Exterior

The 2021 Opel Corsa-e 50 kWh sports a sharp, contemporary design that's instantly recognisable as a Corsa, but with subtle EV cues. It's a handsome little hatchback, measuring 4060 mm in length, 1765 mm in width (excluding mirrors), and 1433 mm in height. The styling is neat and unfussy, appealing to a broad audience. Depending on the specific pack chosen at purchase, it featured stylish alloy wheels and modern LED daytime running lights, giving it a crisp look on European roads. The charging port is conveniently located where you'd traditionally find the fuel filler.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Inside, the Corsa-e 50 kWh offers a modern and functional cabin. Material quality is generally good for the supermini class, with a focus on durability. Passenger space is decent up front, with a comfortable driving position. Tech-wise, it typically came equipped with a user-friendly infotainment system, often a 7-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For storage, you get a practical 309 litres of boot space, which expands to a useful 1118 litres when the rear seats are folded down. Unfortunately, there's no frunk for extra cable storage.

Performance & Driving Experience

This little Opel Corsa-e 50 kWh is quite the pocket rocket! Thanks to its 100 kW (136 PS) Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor delivering an instant 260 Nm of torque to the front wheels, it zips from 0-100 km/h in a brisk 8.1 seconds. The single-motor, front-wheel-drive setup makes for nippy and agile handling, perfect for darting through city traffic. It offers a comfortable ride for daily duties, and selectable driving modes allow you to tailor the experience. Regenerative braking helps to recapture energy, adding a bit of juice back into the battery during deceleration.

Range, Battery & Charging

The 2021 Corsa-e 50 kWh is powered by a battery with 46.3 kWh of usable capacity. This delivers Green Cars Compare's calculated real-world range estimate of 291 km, making it a capable daily driver. Its efficiency is rated at a solid 6.29 km/kWh. For charging, it uses the European standard CCS Type 2 port. AC charging is handled by a standard 7.4 kW on-board charger, with an 11 kW version available as an option. On DC fast chargers, it can impressively pull up to 100 kW, meaning a quick top-up from 10-80% can take around 30 minutes.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

The Opel Corsa-e, upon which this 2021 50 kWh model is based, secured a respectable 4-star Euro NCAP safety rating. Standard safety kit was decent for its class in Europe, often including essentials like lane keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, and automatic emergency braking. Depending on the specific equipment level or optional packs chosen when new, features such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and enhanced parking aids could also be found, bolstering its safety credentials on busy European roads and making for a more relaxed drive.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

When new, the 2021 Opel Corsa-e 50 kWh typically came with a standard manufacturer warranty in Europe, often around 2 years with unlimited mileage, though specifics could vary by country. Crucially for an EV, the high-voltage battery was covered by a more extensive warranty, usually 8 years or 160,000 km, guaranteeing a minimum of 70% state of health. Electric vehicles like the Corsa-e generally benefit from lower routine maintenance costs compared to their combustion-engine counterparts, thanks to fewer moving parts in the powertrain.