Opel Corsa 1,6 Sport 5-dr

The balance of sportiness and practicality is the holy grail of many carmakers and few, if any, have managed to convincingly crack it. Opel has decided to give it a go with the introduction of the Corsa 1,6 Sport 5-door. Could this seemingly innocuous warm hatch have found that fine balance?

In principle, anything wearing the "Sport" moniker has to at least look the part. In this respect the Opel takes a rather subtle approach to sporty styling. Neat 17-inch alloy wheels with a five-spoke design, slightly massaged sills and bumpers, a hint of a roof spoiler and some understated "Turbo" badging compliment the Corsa's curved profile nicely. In terms of the practical aspect that extra set of doors, thankfully, doesn't jar the overall effect.

The interior appointments are not quite as easy on the eye, however. The red trim on the seat bolsters and bottom of the steering wheel don't really gel with what is otherwise quite a neat, classy cabin. Admittedly, the glowing fruit pastille effect of the air-con, volume control and light dials is an acquired taste, but the facia is tidy, the fit and finish good and a wealth of seat adjustment means the front is a comfy place to be. Room for the rear occupants is also quite respectable, but at a glance the boot appears to be rather shallow until you lift the floor panel and more space greets you in lieu of a spare wheel - that duty is taken care of by a mini compressor and small tub of tyre-sealing gunk stashed in the side compartment.

Power is provided by a turbocharged 1,6-litre petrol engine developing 110 kW and 210 N.m of torque. That may not sound like a great deal, but it doesn't mean the Corsa is boring to drive. A prod of the accelerator is greeted with a gruff exhaust note and the car gains momentum more swiftly than one might expect, although the front end can become a bit light if the road's a bit slippery.

For its size, the Corsa manages to feel like a substantial car. Although the suspension has been lowered and mildly stiffened, the ride is far from jarring and the steering is reasonably responsive and carries a pleasant weight. Body roll is kept well in check and the 1,6 Sport doesn't mind being hurried through bends, with just a bit of manageable understeer presenting itself when really pressing on. The gearshift is slick and accurate, but the clutch has a tendency to take rather high up and that can make the Corsa appear to lurch somewhat when swapping cogs quickly.

So, what Opel has produced here is effectively a car that can ably ferry your family about and still prove fairly entertaining to scoot around twisty roads. The R219 900 price tag attached to a Corsa may seem off-putting, but a flick through the new model guide in CAR magazine reveals it to be generally quicker and more powerful than rivals sitting R10 000 either side of its asking price. My sojourn through the price guide did, however, reveal that an R8 000 premium will bag you a VW Golf 6 1,4 TSI in Trendline spec, while a similarly-specced 1,6-litre model costs R5 500 less than the Corsa. Strong contenders, especially in terms of brand cachet, but when the option boxes are ticked to match the Corsa's appointments (think multi-function steering wheel, styling extras and sound system) the 1,6 Golf gains parity with the Opel while the TSI moves further away.

All things considered, the Corsa 1,6 Sport 5-door is a likeable car that does a respectable job of bridging the sporty/practical divide. The only thing that stops me from wholeheartedly recommending this car is the brand's uncertain future in the South African new car market... Only time will tell what will become of Opel, but in the meantime, this car is not a bad choice for those searching for that elusive balance between thrills and utility in their daily runabout.