Opel Corsa 1997–2000 car dimensions: 3741 mm long, 1608 mm wide and 1420 mm high. Unladen weight is 930 kg. Braked towing is 700 kg.
The cabin seats five with a solid, well-finished interior and good space use. The height-adjustable driver's seat suits people up to about 2 m tall, while the rear fits up to 1.8 m. A pollen filter is standard. Driver and passenger airbags are standard, with side airbags and ABS as options. Power steering is optional. Heating is strong and adjustable with standard recirculation, but no air conditioning is available. Instrumentation is clear with an info display, though a rev counter is not standard. Storage is limited and lighting sparse. No advanced driver aids are fitted.
Boot space is 260 litres with seats up. The rear seat folds to give 515 litres to the window line or 1050 litres to the roof. The load lip is low and protected for easy loading.
Braked towing capacity is 700 kg and unbraked is 420 kg. Payload is 420 kg. Roof load is limited to 100 kg. The car suits light duties with its compact size and fold-flat rear seats, but has no heavy-duty cooling or reinforced suspension noted.
The cabin is basic and solid with a pollen filter and recirculation as standard. Front seats offer good support and height adjustment on the driver's side for taller drivers. Heating is strong and easy to control with three knobs. Power steering and air conditioning are extras on this Eco grade, and the space works well for a small hatch with room for average adults in back.
Combined fuel use 5.8 l/100 km on Super petrol
Oil and filter service every 15 000 km or 12 months
Euro NCAP adult occupant rating two stars
Driver and passenger airbags standard
ABS and side airbags optional extras
The 1.0 12V three-cylinder runs on Super petrol and returns 5.8 l/100 km combined with a 46-litre tank. Urban use sits higher at 7.6 l/100 km while motorway drops to 4.8 l/100 km. The chain-driven camshaft needs less frequent attention than belt engines in the range.
Oil changes fall due every 15 000 km or once a year. Coolant renews every two years and brake fluid at the same interval. The 1.0 unit uses around three litres of oil. Regular checks on brakes, exhaust and driveshaft gaiters keep it reliable.
Driver and passenger airbags come as standard. ABS and front side airbags cost extra. The 1997 Euro NCAP test gave two stars for adult protection. The body held its shape in frontal impact though footwell intrusion and passenger head contact with the fascia limited the score. Side protection was adequate without major weak points.
Rust on edges needs watching on older examples. Seat-belt and seat-rail recalls from 2001 should be checked. Parts stay easy to find and running costs stay low for a light city hatch.
Length 3741 mm, Width 1608 mm, Height 1420 mm, Wheelbase 2443 mm (Corsa 1997–2000)
Sources: manufacturer data, ADAC Autokatalog Herstellerangabe, Opel Corsa 1.0 12V Eco 3-door, Chassis from Adam Opel AG Corsa B data in Opel-Data 1899–1995.