Vauxhall Corsa VXR review - can it match the Ford Fiesta ST? - Vauxhall Corsa VXR MPG and running costs
The Corsa VXR is faster and more composed than its predecessor, but its rivals are a tough bunch to beat
Vauxhall claims that the Corsa VXR can achieve 37.7mpg combined. Our experience with the previous-gen car suggests that this mpg figure will be difficult to achieve, as we struggled to average more than 30 in our (admittedly often heavy footed) months with a Fast Fleet 202bhp Clubsport-spec VXR. That car featured an earlier version of the new car's turbocharged 1.6.
And as expected, after a lengthy period of time running a Corsa VXR in a variety of situations our long-term Fast Fleet car didn't show any major improvements in fuel economy. A 70mph motorway run will see figures in the low 30s, with figures dropping into mid 20s when driving the car hard.
Over the course of a year, we averaged around 31mpg. For some, that might not be worth complaining about, but since rivals from Ford and Peugeot will comfortably attain numbers in the 40s when you're not larking about, the Vauxhall's thirst does bump up running costs compared to its rivals.
Current tax brackets ensure that the new VXR's claimed output of 174g/km of CO2 places it in tax band H. It'd therefore cost £295 in the first year and £205 for every year after that to tax. From April 1, 2017, that same 174g/km will result in an £800 first year tax bill.
