Home › Vauxhall › Vauxhall Corsa 2014

Vauxhall Corsa 2014 review

Hatchback Petrol

Vauxhall Corsa 2014 — front three-quarter view

Overview

A typical 2014-plate Corsa is a Corsa D, not a Corsa E. The D was built until October 2014 and the E only reached UK showrooms that month, so cars registered from January to September 2014, on 14 plates and early 64 plates, are D cars, and only late-2014 64-plate cars are E cars. The tell-tale is the older nose and the 3,999 mm length. This page covers the Corsa D, and the 1.4i 16v 100PS Excite five-door is the volume used buy, the mainstream petrol in the best-selling trim.

The facelift 1.4, engine code A14XER, makes 100 PS and 130 Nm and is chain-driven, so there is no timing belt to replace. It reaches 60 mph in 11.5 seconds and tops out at 112 mph, with 51 mpg on the old NEDC test and 129 g/km of CO2, which puts it in VED Band D at £170 a year under the pre-April 2017 rules. Insurance is group 9, and the car carries a five-star Euro NCAP rating from the 2006 test, with six airbags, ESP and Isofix as standard thinking.

Excite trim brings air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, LED daytime running lights, a leather steering wheel, steering-wheel audio controls and a CD30 stereo with CD, MP3 and aux-in, plus hill-start assist, electronic stability control and tyre-pressure monitoring. The five-door is a genuinely usable supermini, with a 285-litre boot expanding to 1,100 litres with the seats folded, and over 700,000 Corsa Ds were sold in the UK, so parts and specialists are everywhere.

Buy on condition and service history, not price alone. Listen for a rattle on a cold start, because timing-chain stretch and tensioner wear are the best-known fault on the 1.2 and 1.4 petrols, and the facelift A14XER is better than the earlier engine but not immune. The average UK timing-chain replacement costs around £688 fitted. Test the electric power steering for smooth, consistent assistance, because sudden loss of assist is a common Corsa D fault, and check for clutch judder, broken suspension springs and rust on the rear axle carrier. Check the individual car on the DVSA recall checker, including the urgent October 2014 steering recall that covered around 3,000 Corsas and ADAMs registered from February 2014. The 1.4 non-turbo Excite is not affected by the April 2016 fire recall, which covered 1.4 Turbo models only.

UK price from: £13,770

Specifications

Engine	1,398cc 4-cylinder petrol, 16v (A14XER)
Power	100 PS (98 bhp) @ 6,000 rpm
Torque	130 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
0-60 mph	11.5 seconds
Top speed	112 mph
Fuel economy (NEDC combined)	51 mpg
CO2 emissions	129 g/km
Gearbox	5-speed manual
Boot space	285 litres (1,100 litres seats folded)
Insurance group	9
Euro NCAP	5 stars (2006 test)
Fuel tank	45 litres
Road tax (VED)	Band D, £170 per year (pre-April 2017 rules)

Features

Air conditioning with pollen filter
CD30 stereo with CD and MP3 and aux-in, with steering-wheel audio controls
Front fog lights and LED daytime running lights
16-inch alloy wheels
Hill-start assist, electronic stability control and tyre-pressure monitoring
Height-adjustable driver seat and reach and rake adjustable steering column
60:40 split-folding rear seats, with a 285-litre boot expanding to 1,100 litres

Common parts & prices

Part	Price (GBP)	Notes
Front brake disc (each)	£25.49	Verified catalogue listing (Meyle 257 mm), parts only excl. fitting
Front brake pads (set)	£52	Typical UK pattern-part retail estimate, parts only excl. fitting, not catalogue-verified
Clutch kit (Valeo KIT2P 828406)	£122.44	Verified catalogue listing, parts only excl. fitting
Battery (12V, 44-54Ah)	£55	Typical UK pattern-part retail estimate, parts only excl. fitting, not catalogue-verified
Wiper blades (front pair)	£20	Typical UK pattern-part retail estimate, parts only excl. fitting, not catalogue-verified
Oil filter	£8	Typical UK pattern-part retail estimate, parts only excl. fitting, not catalogue-verified

Prices are typical UK aftermarket/OEM guide prices and may vary by supplier.

Pros

Cheap to buy and run, with group 9 insurance, 51 mpg NEDC and £170 a year road tax
Proven, simple 1.4 petrol with no turbo, no DPF and no timing belt to replace
Surprisingly roomy for a supermini, with a genuine five-seat five-door body and a 285-litre boot
Strong safety for its age, with a five-star Euro NCAP rating, six airbags and ESP
Enormous used choice and dealer network, with over 700,000 Corsa Ds sold in the UK

Cons

Timing-chain rattle and electric power steering failure are real, potentially expensive faults
Dated interior and infotainment, with no touchscreen or Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Modest performance, at 11.5 seconds to 60 mph, and the 1.4 feels strained on motorways with a full load
Firm ride and a below-average 285-litre boot versus newer rivals, with tight rear legroom for tall adults

Frequently asked questions

Is a 2014 Vauxhall Corsa a Corsa D or a Corsa E?

Mostly a D. The D was built until October 2014 and the E reached showrooms that month, so a car registered before October 2014 is a D. Only late-2014 64-plate cars are E cars. Check the grille and the length: the D is 3,999 mm.

Does the 1.4 Corsa have a timing belt or chain?

A timing chain. There is no scheduled belt change, but listen for a rattle on a cold start: a stretched chain or worn tensioner is the best-known fault, and replacement averages around £688 fitted in the UK.

What is the road tax on a 2014 Corsa 1.4?

Band D, £170 a year, at 129 g/km CO2 under the pre-April 2017 rules. The frugal 1.3 CDTi ecoFLEX is £20 a year.

Is the 2014 Corsa 1.4 reliable?

Generally yes if serviced. The facelift A14XER engine is better than the earlier 1.4, but check the timing chain, electric power steering, clutch and rear axle for rust, and confirm all recalls were done.

How economical is the 1.4 Excite?

Officially 51 mpg combined on the NEDC test. Expect low-40s mpg in real mixed UK driving. The 1.3 CDTi diesel claims 85 mpg but suits high-mileage drivers only.