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Opel Corsa Sail Review

Opel Corsa Sail is one of the best hatchbacks available within the Indian market. With the aid of superior German technology Opel Corsa has set new benchmarks in its category.

The Opel Corsa has unique Space Share design and its international style exterior comes with an extra large spacious interior. Opel Corsa Sail's suspension has been specially designed for Indian roads and it ensures a smooth and comfortable ride even on the toughest roads. Opel Corsa Sail comes in two variants - Opel Corsa 1.4 Sail & Opel Corsa 1.6 Sail. The Corsa is an extremely popular model from General Motors and is sold across many countries in Europe and South America as also in China. While the three-box Corsa is sold as the Buick Sail in China with very respectable sales numbers, the two-box hatchback is not sold in that market. However, it is the sub-compact, two-box hatchback that is a major hit in Europe, especially in the UK, where it is sold under the regional label called the Vauxhall.

Both the Opel Astra and the Corsa were trying to address a similar set of customers, that is, the sedan buyers, though the two cars were positioned at two different price points. So, the Corsa Sail was launched so that GM could exploit the brand's potential to the full. The car, starting at Rs 4.55 lakh ex-showroom, is positioned at the emerging cusp between the B (small car) and C (sedan) segments. Though, dimensionally, it will be classified with the small cars, the Corsa Sail is longer on the outside and larger on the inside in terms of shoulder space when compared to the Maruti Zen, the Hyundai Santro and the Suzuki Alto. However, the Fiat Palio and the Tata Indica will be able to match the Corsa Sail's vital stats. The extra size also affords this car a larger 300-litre boot which goes up to 1,150 litres when the rear seat is folded.

In terms of engine performance, the comparison is again loaded in favour of the Corsa Sail, whether it is the 1.4 litre (1,378cc) or the 1.6 litre (1,598cc) powertrain options. Even going by the other yardstick of "bhp per tonne," or power to weight ratio, the Corsa Sail leads the competition's (B segment) average of about 75bhp per tonne.

The Corsa Sail is otherwise identical on the outside to its larger sibling, of course, minus the boot. The safety and comfort features on the Corsa Sail are again ones that have been carried down form its predecessors.The tropicalised air-conditioning along with the higher power availability, frill-free and extremely functional dashboard and the India-specific suspension that the Corsa is renowned for, are also available on the Corsa Sail.