The What Van? Road Test: Vauxhall Corsavan

Date: Friday, April 13, 2018 | Author: Steve Banner

Operating

No matter how hard you push you still get respectable fuel economy, although perhaps not quite as respectable as the official figures suggest.

We were achieving a steady 60mpg compared with an official combined cycle figure of 68.9mpg.

Service intervals are set at one-year/20,000 miles and the Corsavan is covered by a three-year/60,000-mile warranty with no mileage limit for the first year.

Roadside assistance is provided for the first 12 months and the anti-perforation corrosion warranty lasts for six years.

Exterior side-rubbing strips might make sense in order to protect the little van from minor damage.

They could be matched to the LE Nav’s body-coloured exterior handles.

Vauxhall Corsavan Limited Edition Nav 1.3CDTi 95hp

Price (ex VAT)                             £15,115
Price range (ex VAT)    £11,830-£15,115
Gross payload                                  543kg
Load length                                1,257mm
Load width (min/max)    969/1,264mm
Load bay height                           921mm
Load volume                                 0.92m³Loading height                              532mm
Rear door aperture               771x650mm
Gross vehicle weight                    1,720kg
Braked trailer towing weight     1,250kg
Residual value                               15.6%*
Cost per mile                                    33.0p
Engine size/power 1,248cc, 95hp @ 3,750rpm
Torque           210Nm @ 1,500-3,000rpm
Gearbox                                      6-speed
Fuel economy                              68.9mpg
Fuel tank                                     45 litres
CO2                                            108g/km
Warranty                         3yrs/60,000mls
Service interval                1yr/20,000mls
Insurance group                                    2E
Price as tested                            £17,415

*after 4yrs/80,000mls source: KwikCarcost

Options fitted

Driving Assistance Pack      £1,110
OnStar                                      £360
Rear parking sensors               £260
Rear-view camera                    £235
Winter Pack                            £205
Upper load restraint mesh         £75
Load area rubber mat                £55

ONFinal Verdict

Rivals

Ford Transit Courier

Price (ex VAT)            £12,295-£15,295
Load volume               2.3m³Gross payload              577-663kg
Engines      100hp 1.0 petrol, 75hp, 95hp 1.5 diesel

Verdict: As the What Van? Small Van of the Year for 2018, the Ford Transit Courier offers impressive handling, copes well with this country’s battered road surfaces, and delivers a slick gear change as well as respectable fuel economy. The petrol variant of this light commercial vehicle is worth investigating given the growing hostility that diesel is attracting.

Dacia Duster Commercial

Price (ex VAT)            £10,095-£13,045
Load volume               1.6m³Gross payload             550kg
Engines      109hp 1.5 diesel

Verdict: The bargain-price five-door Dacia Duster Commercial has been winner of What Van?’s 4x4 Van of the Year prize for three years running. It is available as a 4x2, and comes with a decent level of equipment, plus (in 4x4 guise) an ability to keep going in demanding conditions. A new Duster Commercial is on its way later this year.

Fiat Professional Fiorino Cargo

Price (ex VAT)            £11,765-£14,995
Load volume              2.5m³Gross payload              610-660kg
Engines      77hp 1.4 petrol, 80hp, 95hp 1.3 diesel

Verdict: What Van? ran a Fiat Professional Fiorino Cargo for almost a year and we can confirm it is a practical, inexpensive, cost-effective runabout that in Adventure guise is as at home in the countryside as it is in crowded urban streets. The light commercial is marketed as a combi and crew van as well as in van guise.

What Van? Britain's biggest and best van buyers' guide