Don’t buy a Volkswagen Golf GTI until you’ve driven this electric alternative. Yes, really
Car changing is a big deal
Resident silly car enthusiast and senior reviews writer Mario Christou has long been convinced that an electric hot hatchback can make sense. He’s finally got behind the wheel of the Vauxhall Corsa GSE to see if his gut feeling was right.
I love hot hatchbacks. I’ve owned a few, notably a Renaultsport Clio F1 Edition and an Audi S3, and there’s a real charm to a small car with a punchy engine under the bonnet. On a good road, they’re pretty much unbeatable.
Maybe it’s because they’re just the right size for our narrow British country lanes, or because you can go full-throttle and chuck them into bends – still within the limits of the law – and get a thrill that bigger cars can’t match. Unfortunately the petrol hot hatch is a dying breed, and the electric offerings so far have been a little…lukewarm for my taste.
Enter, the Vauxhall Corsa GSE – or what I think might just be the saviour of the rowdy hot hatch.
Rather than a spicy little turbocharged engine under the bonnet, the Corsa GSE is fitted with a 281hp electric motor between the front wheels. Not only that, but there’s some proper hardware fitted to make the most of that power.
Alcon big brakes, wide wheels with sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres and a Torsen limited-slip differential give the little Vauxhall some serious spec-sheet clout. Not only that, but the sportier steering rack means dartier direction changes than a regular Corsa.
You can tell the Corsa GSE is a naughty little hatchback long before you get near the brochure, though. The aggressive bumpers, wheel arch extensions that barely contain the epic three-spoke wheels and – peering through the glass – tartan bucket seats that scream: ‘Sorry officer, I swear I was going 30mph!’
It’s a shame the rest of the cabin is a bit dull, just like the regular Corsa, but then again a hot hatchback can’t totally shed its mundane roots.
So, the Corsa GSE looks the part and has all of the right hardware under the skin, but it’s not a true hot hatch unless it can put a silly grin on your face from behind the wheel.
I’m pleased to tell you that it absolutely can, but not without some caveats. I’m fortunate to have some pretty good driving roads nearby to test performance cars on, and the Corsa GSE is a riot on most of them.
It’s not massively overweight for a small EV, and 281hp feels like just the right amount for a 1.5-tonne car. It’s the limited-slip differential that makes all the difference here. Without it, the Corsa would easily spin up a wheel around tight bends with a sharp stab of the throttle, but the GSE simply grips up and pulls itself out of the corner with real verve.
The lowered suspension and sporty tweaks under the skin mean very little and progressive body lean, but all this extra stiffness is a double-edged sword. On rough stretches of fast B-road the Corsa GSE not only rattles your spine, but I found it inclined to bounce off the ground when driving with full commitment.
That robs you of a touch of confidence, as the steering can go a little light and the rear end can swing around if you catch a big mid-corner bump. At least the fantastic bucket seats really hold you in place, but you need a smooth stretch of tarmac to make the most of the GSE’s potential.
With a 0-60mph time of 5.3 seconds and plenty of grip, the GSE is entertaining away from the lights and makes for peppy progress in town. Unfortunately, it could do with a lot more urban driving manners as it thuds through potholes and the wide track wheels mean a larger turning circle than you might expect.
Range is the GSE’s achilles heel, as it shares its battery with the regular car, but its more powerful motor and performance tyres will exhaust the power reserves in just 220 miles. Or at least, that’s Vauxhall’s claim. Spirited driving will deplete the GSE in well under 160 miles. You have been warned.
But here’s the thing, why should you even consider the Corsa GSE over an established petrol choice, such as the legendary Volkswagen Golf GTI?
It’s more fun, that’s why. The regular GTI is a bit of a snooze-fest, the GTI Clubsport (which I adore) is very pricey, and when you’re really going for it the Corsa GSE is a proper handful – something that’s lacking from the hot hatch world at the moment.
The Corsa GSE may be a bit too hard-edged for most owners – and for our appalling roads – but there’s a charm to this rowdy, imperfect and woefully inefficient hot hatchback. Maybe it’s time to focus on smiles per kilowatt hour, rather than miles per kilowatt hour?
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*Savings are made up of the maximum dealer discount off RRP – subject to dealership, location and trim. Prices correct at the time of writing.