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The What Van? Road Test: Vauxhall Corsavan
Date: Friday, April 13, 2018 | Author: Steve Banner
Engine and gearbox
Equipped with a variable geometry turbocharger and an intercooler and married to a six-speed manual gearbox, the LE Nav’s four-cylinder 16-valve double overhead camshaft common-rail diesel delivers maximum power at 3,750rpm.
Top torque of 210Nm bites across a 1,500-3000rpm plateau.
A particulate filter is fitted but Euro6 has been achieved without the need to employ AdBlue.
Stop/start can be switched on and off using a button on the fascia.
Driving
With rapid acceleration and a quick, precise gear change, the Corsavan LE Nav is huge fun to drive. It really does corner as though it were on rails, and the sports seats help keep you in place as you tackle tight bends.
Few vans are as handy around town. Spot a tight parking space and you can swing into it quickly thanks to the speed-sensitive electric rack-and-pinion power steering, which delivers a 10.6m kerb-to-kerb turning circle. You can always push the City Mode button on the fascia if you need a bit more assistance, although this facility is lost if you specify the Driving Assistance Pack.
Low-speed manoeuvring was made easier by the optional rear-view camera and sensors.
Independent suspension with MacPherson struts plus an anti-roll bar help support the front of the vehicle, while a compound crank axle with a Watts link designed to assist straight-line stability does the same job at the rear. Coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers are fitted all round.
The suspension system works well, delivering a smooth ride over all but the worst road surfaces.
Drawbacks? The vehicle’s in-cab noise levels need a bit of attention, with the engine and tyres among the culprits, although it is far from being a major issue.
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