With great about-town driveability, minimal running costs and a body shape that oozes style, the all-new Corsavan is a vehicle which Vauxhall is rightly proud of. The new Corsavan is a purpose-built commercial vehicle. While it shares many of its components with the award-winning new Corsa car, a panel van was part of the model’s development programme from the very beginning, designed to cater for the needs of fleet users requiring city-bound service vans and small business users who want a van that has great driveability. The original Corsavan’s replacement may have a lot to live up to, but it’s a vehicle that’s up to the challenge. It has a uniquely-designed, purpose-built load bay with a ‘proper’ flat floor, a best-in-class payload of 550kg, a choice of lively yet frugal powerplants and the all-important benefit of good looks.The new Corsavan was designed from day one to give operators more than the current model, and in so many different areas. Bigger, more practical and even more fun to drive, new Corsavan is the perfect vehicle to complement new Astravan, which set the bar for new levels of comfort and driving dynamics at its launch last year. From the outside, smart body-coloured bumpers, full-width wheel trims, and a choice of vibrant colours add to its appeal, while inside the funky cabin of the award-winning Corsa car is unchanged.That means high-quality fabrics and plastics, a superb driving position and a curvy yet durable dashboard, with all of the key controls sensibly located within easy reach. Translucent backlit dials for the stereo and ventilation controls add further to the van’s youthful appeal. The cabin is practical, too, with storage pockets in both doors and under the passenger seat, a spacious glovebox and a useful cubby hole/cup holder ahead of the gear lever.
New Corsavan comes with either a 75PS 1.3-litre CDTi diesel or an 80PS 1.2-litre TWINPORT petrol engine, The 1.3 CDTi is expected to account for the lion’s share of sales, while the 1.2, which will appeal to the lower mileage customer or small business buyer. Both units have already been highly successful in the Corsa car, and are both responsive and economical. Whichever engine you choose, a five-speed manual gearbox comes as standard.Both units are economical, which will make them appeal to both fleet and small business customers.Access to the business end is easier than ever before, too, with a taller loading aperture and a low sill height, thanks to a large tailgate that lifts well out of the way to give you greater headroom, yet extends down into the bumper moulding to make the van easier to fill up with heavy or cumbersome objects. A sturdy half-height steel bulkhead and durable plastic panelling around the edge of the load bay add further protection, while load lashing eyes are provided to help prevent shifting loads.
Further security features include remote central door locking with deadlocks on both models, anti-theft protection for audio equipment, an electronic engine deadlock immobiliser and a dash mounted button which allows the doors to be locked or unlocked from the comfort of the driver’s seat. New Corsavan will also fit easily into a standard-sized garage, meaning you can lock your van – and its load – snugly away for the evening or weekend.One of the advantages of sharing its underpinnings with the Corsa hatchback is that new Corsavan is both rewarding and agile to drive. The electric power steering system features enhanced, speed-sensitive assistance, delivering more weight at speed and proving both light and responsive around town. The new Corsavan provides a safe environment for travelling, combined with a high level of comfort and a well thought-out interior space, while at the same time it is exceptionally enjoyable to drive.
