New Corsa's crash safety system was developed at GM's International Test and Development Centre (ITDC) in Ruesselsheim, Germany, and underwent several 'real-world' crash test scenarios to ensure it offers the best protection in genuine collisions.

As a result of this extensive evaluation, Vauxhall Corsa is expected to exceed the maximum levels for passenger protection in independent European safety testing, and to also score exceptionally well in child passenger and pedestrian safety tests.

In the event of an accident, passengers are protected by a number of 'crash zones' designed into the car's structure, which absorb load paths of energy in an accident to reduce the force of an impact on the car's passengers.

A number of restraint systems, specifically adapted to these zones, offer further protection to occupants. These include two-stage front airbags, and from Club models upward side airbags for both driver and front passenger, plus head curtain airbags that fold down to cover the entire length of the interior on the left and right hand sides of the car.

Pyrotechnic seatbelt tensioners further enhance safety by pulling the belts tight in a collision. On Club models upwards the front belts have double pretensioners which also act on the lap part of the belt. Meanwhile ramps in the seat runners reduce movement of the pelvis in frontal impacts. New Corsa also benefits from Vauxhall's patented Pedal Release System, which pulls the pedal box down and away from the driver in a crash to reduce intrusion of the bodywork into the passenger footwell.

When carrying a baby in a rear-facing child seat, the front passenger airbag can be deactivated via a button on the instrument panel, while New Corsa's standard ISOFIX system ensures the best anchorage for all baby carriers and child seats at all times.

New Corsa will even warn other motorists if you are in trouble - under heavy braking, if the ABS is activated at more than 18mph, all three brake lights will blink five times per second, while if any of the car's airbags are deployed in an impact the system will automatically switch on the car's hazard warning lights to alert other road users.

What's more, Vauxhall's designers have paid special attention to pedestrian safety in the design of New Vauxhall Corsa, with a range of state-of-the-art measures to reduce potential pedestrian injury.

Features include a special low density foam material packed into the front bumper, ahead of the crossmember, to lessen the force of lower body impacts, while stiffening to the lower part of the bumper helps spread the load of any impact across a larger area, limiting the bending of a collision victim's knees on impact. The bonnet has also been designed to efficiently absorb the energy of a pedestrian impact, while there's a large gap between the underside of the bonnet and the top of the engine to further lessen the potential for severe head injuries.


Vauxhall Corsa - Prices

The Vauxhall Corsa has always been synonymous with great value for money, and the all-new model successfully continues that well-garnered reputation.

Prices will start at just UKP 7,495 for the 1.0-litre 3-dr Expression, rising to UKP 13,795 for the flagship 5-dr Design 1.7 CDTi. That makes the entry-level car exceptionally competitive in its class - both better equipped and less expensive than the outgoing base model Corsa!

Equipment levels are generous, with even the Expression getting a CD player, electric front windows, dual front airbags and a folding ignition key.

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