There’s a special kind of stillness up on the Schwarzer Grat, where the air cuts clean through the pine and the Sackberg’s hairpin bends snake like veins through the Allgäu. That’s where we took the 2024 Opel Corsa Hybrid to feel its final combustion-powered pulse. A place that forces a car to reveal itself, not in numbers, but in nuance. Here, on the ragged edges of elevation and descent, the Corsa spoke clearly.
What you’re about to read isn’t a brochure. It’s what a long, winding day on the Schwarzer Grat reveals about the last generation of a car trying to make sense of its legacy, before the future goes fully electric.
Price of the Corsa Basic Version: 20,800 Euros
There was a time when small cars meant small prices. Not anymore. Opel’s Corsa now starts at €20,800 in its most basic form with the naturally aspirated 75 hp engine. That’s for a three-cylinder that, on paper, seems modest, but under real-world throttle and twisty alpine tarmac, it puts up more of a fight than the spec sheet suggests.
That base trim won’t hand you heated seats or a reversing camera unless you pay more, and before long you’ll be brushing up against the €23,000 mark if you want modern-day comfort like Apple CarPlay or a warm steering wheel. But even stripped back, this little five-door hatch doesn’t feel cheap. In fact, it feels grounded, German engineering in its most no-nonsense form.
If you want more go and modern convenience, you’ll look at the 100 hp Turbo Hybrid, like we did. And then, you’re spending from €22,680 and upwards, our GS test car tipped €26,000 with optional packages.
But here’s the thing: whether you choose the €20,800 starter model or the up-spec hybrid, this isn’t just about price. It’s about whether this might be your last chance to own a Corsa that breathes petrol.
Moderate Consumption Values in the WLTP Cycle
From the first ascent up the Sackberg, it became obvious: this hybrid knows how to ration fuel. The WLTP claims 5.8 L/100 km, but through careful throttle and downhill coasting, we repeatedly dipped below 5.0 L/100 km on our Schwarzer Grat loop.
Here’s the trick: crest the hill with purpose, let off the gas just enough, and let that integrated 21 kW electric motor keep the Corsa gliding. The engine shuts down seamlessly. You feel it go quiet, not sluggish, not hesitating, just efficiently silent.
When accelerating from low speeds, especially in village traffic below 50 km/h, the hybrid system covers short gaps on electricity alone. It’s a small battery and not a plug-in, but it’s enough to ease the sting out of stop-start driving. It’s not about zero-emission range, it’s about trimming your consumption without even trying.
Good Driving Performance, High Dynamics
Let’s talk rhythm.
Up in the Schwarzer Grat curves, the Corsa didn’t just keep up, it danced. Its 100 hp may sound like a school project compared to the Autobahn brutes we’re used to, but twist the steering into an apex, and you’ll discover it’s got more balance than brawn.
The dual-clutch 6-speed transmission isn’t buttery smooth, it’s honest. Sometimes you feel the shifts, but that’s part of the engagement. It’ll keep the engine in the sweet spot, especially if you give it a nudge with the steering-mounted paddles. The gear ratios are nicely spaced. Third gear holds beautifully between tight bends and shallow climbs, with enough elasticity to flick the revs without chasing the limiter.
Acceleration from 0–100 km/h comes in 9.9 seconds, quick enough. But it’s the mid-range shove, from 60 to 100 in 5.9 seconds and 80 to 120 in 7.6, that impressed most on overtaking stretches. That’s where the Corsa Hybrid feels alert, eager. That’s where it becomes more than a commuter.
Last Generation with Combustion Engine
You can feel it.
That strange weight in the throttle. Like you’re pushing not just against the incline, but against time itself. This is it, one of the last Corsa generations with a fuel tank. Opel has drawn the line at 2027. After that, it’s all electric.
You realize that up here, engine noise is part of the charm. The light thrum of a 3-cylinder climbing through forest shadow, bouncing off sandstone. It’s not just what it does. It’s what it means.
So if you’ve ever loved driving for the mechanical dialogue it offers, the subtle messages between foot and engine, this hybrid might be your last small, simple, honest ticket to that world.
More and More Security Details
But don’t mistake “simple” for “barebones.” Opel’s been steadily fitting the Corsa with tech you don’t see, but definitely feel.
Take the adaptive matrix LED headlights. On mountain switchbacks at dusk, they were more than useful, they were surgical. The system carved light around oncoming traffic like a scalpel, keeping our path bright without blinding anyone.
Standard safety kit includes forward collision warning with auto-braking and pedestrian detection, intelligent cruise control, lane assist, and drowsiness detection. Some features, like active lane keeping and enhanced traffic sign recognition, cost extra and are only on the GS model. But what’s there, even as standard, shows Opel hasn’t forgotten its responsibility in the small car segment.
A minor annoyance? That mandatory speed warning system that dings when you go a kilometer over the posted limit. You can deactivate it,but only every time you start the car.
Technical Specification
Technical info is taken directly from Opel’s official website to ensure it’s correct.
| Specification | Opel Corsa 1.2 DI Turbo Hybrid (2024) |
| Engine | 1.2L 3-cylinder turbo petrol + 48V mild hybrid |
| Power (combined system output) | 100 hp (74 kW) |
| Electric Motor Output | 21 kW (28 hp) integrated |
| Transmission | 6-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| 0–100 km/h | 9.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | 188 km/h |
| WLTP Fuel Consumption | 5.8 L/100 km |
| CO₂ Emissions (WLTP) | 106 g/km |
| Boot Capacity | 250 – 890 liters |
| Length | 4.06 meters |
| Curb Weight | ~1220 kg |
| Base Price | €20,800 (75 hp) / €22,680 (100 hp hybrid) |
| Drive Type | Front-wheel drive |
Conclusion
Up on the Schwarzer Grat, with the wind pushing through the spruce, the 2024 Opel Corsa Hybrid made more sense than any press release could explain.
This isn’t a car that stuns. It’s a car that earns trust.
It doesn’t shout about its tech, but you’ll notice when it subtly cuts fuel use by slipping into electric glide. It doesn’t pretend to be sporty, but you’ll smile when it nails a tight curve without drama. It’s not flashy, but it’s solid, grounded, and, critically, one of the last of its kind.
If the roads you love still echo with the sound of gears and combustion, now’s the time. The Corsa is quietly bowing out. And on its final lap, it’s better than it’s ever been.
Can I still buy a non-hybrid Opel Corsa?
No, the 2024 Corsa uses a mild hybrid system with a 48V battery. It charges automatically through regeneration, no need to plug in.
Is the hybrid Opel Corsa a plug-in?
No, the 2024 Corsa uses a mild hybrid system with a 48V battery. It charges automatically through regeneration, no need to plug in.
Is the Opel Corsa suitable for long drives or highways?
Absolutely. The 100 hp hybrid model performs confidently on motorways, with solid mid-range acceleration and stable high-speed handling. It’s compact, but never feels underpowered.
