Vauxhall Corsa Electric

Small electric hatchback is brought up to date, gaining a slightly bigger battery option On sale Now Price from £32,445

- Lawrence Cheung

"DON'T GO CHANGING" sang Billy Joel, in a sentiment that might chime with Vauxhall Corsa owners. You see, this small hatchback has been popular for decades, and its sales figures attest to how buyers love it "just the way it is".

The updated Corsa Electric, then, should put their minds at rest. In electric and petrolpowered forms alike, the Corsa's proven formula hasn't been messed with, but it now has more of a family resemblance to the brand's Astra family car and Mokka SUV, and there's a broader choice of electric versions.

A new Design trim markedly undercuts the Corsa Electric's previous entry-level GS, and Long Range variants are now available in GS or Ultimate trim. These are powered by a punchier, 154bhp electric motor, fed by a slightly bigger battery with a 48.1kWh usable capacity. The current 134bhp electric motor and 46.3kWh battery will continue to be offered in conjunction with the Design and GS trims.

The Long Range's official 0-62mph time of 8.2sec isn't much quicker than the regular version's (8.9sec); even driving the two back to back, you struggle to notice the difference. Neither version feels sluggish; even the Eco and Normal driving modes (which restrict the electric motor's output) give you enough power to keep up with motorway traffic, although you have to be firmer on the accelerator in Eco. Only Sport mode gives you access to full power, providing more muscle when overtaking.