Opel Corsa GSE Review: Is the Cheaper Cousin of the Peugeot e-208 GTi Better?

The same engine, the same performance, but a different style and price. Opel adopts the design elements from the Peugeot e-208 GTi to offer a more aggressive version of its electric city car. Here is our review of the Opel Corsa GSE.

Following the e-208 GTi and the Lancia Ypsilon HF, it’s the turn of the Blitz-based city car to don a tracksuit! As the successor to a distinguished line dating back to 1982, this new Opel Corsa GSE embodies the brand’s sporty spirit now in electric form. The promise: “an adventurous attitude in a compact package.” With 15 million Corsas sold since its first launch, this GSE should easily find its audience. We head to Vienna, Austria, to drive this compact sports car. Our test agenda includes a road trip under everyday conditions and a few laps on the track to experience this Corsa’s dynamic qualities.

Opel Corsa GSE in terms of style: understated elegance

A lot has changed since 1982! From the square silhouette of the Corsa A to the modern style of the Corsa F, not to mention the biodesign of the 1990s, this German city car has evolved significantly. And you’re already familiar with the restyled F model. With this new version, the brand makes some adjustments for a more sporty design. The Opel Corsa GSE features glossy black elements throughout to give it a more dynamic look.

Stickers on the front and rear bumpers, wheel arches, and three-spoke wheels inspired by the era’s design... Thankfully, the GSE side stickers are also available! No front splitter or other distinctive features: the cute Opel Corsa E GSi would almost look like a tuned car next to it. There’s also little variation in color schemes—just blue or shades of black/white/gray. We think it lacks vibrant colors, don’t you?

As you can see, aesthetically, the Opel Corsa GSE remains unassuming, as glossy black is now the trend. Otherwise, this electric city car retains its familiar layout with only minor changes to enhance its dynamic performance. The vehicle is 25 mm lower, with the track width increasing by 54 mm at the front and 20 mm at the rear. These adjustments help lower the center of gravity, resulting in a more sporty driving experience according to Opel.

Its dimensions are 4.06 m in length, 1.96 m in width, and 1.42 m in height. The wheelbase measures 2.54 m, and the total weight is around 1,554 kg. In terms of tires, it comes standard with 18-inch wheels fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, or optionally with Hankook Ventus S2 Evo3 tires. Finally, the trunk volume ranges from 267 to 1,042 liters, and there is no frunk area under the hood.

Inside: heritage-inspired interior, comprehensive equipment

Between us, it’s inside where the Opel Corsa GSE truly stands out. This electric city car welcomes us with an atmosphere directly inspired by its predecessors. Just like the ID Polo GTI with its Scottish tartan-style seats, the Corsa features the checkered pattern from the original Corsa GT. Up front, the standard Performance seats made of fabric and Alcantara invite us to settle in comfortably. The lateral support is quite strong, but the seating still offers comfort for everyday use.

The same treatment is applied to the back: checkered patterns, stitching, and bright yellow belts are all present. With its colorful details and GSE-marked dashboard, this city car reminds us of the interior of the Abarth 600e! And like that model, the German car offers an active sound from its internal combustion engine, though much more subdued. Regardless, the cabin is a real success.

Beyond comfort and style, the Opel Corsa GSE also comes equipped with a very comprehensive standard suite for a sporty car. Heated steering wheel and front seats, 180° rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, and active lane keeping are all standard features. In terms of technology, we find a 7-inch display behind the steering wheel and a 10-inch screen in the center. It’s an admittedly somewhat outdated pair of screens. Fortunately, it includes wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, connected navigation, and an inductive charger.

The only minor new feature is a “performance” interface specific to the GSE. It displays a G-force meter, a stopwatch, as well as battery temperature and voltage. Simply put, this electric city car offers a solid level of equipment and a very well-executed interior atmosphere. Only the console and gear shift still give off too strong a “Stellantis” vibe.

Driving and performance: from everyday use to sporty driving!

Let’s move on to what matters: performance. Under the hood, we find the same engine as in the aforementioned city cars… as well as those in the Mokka GSE SUV and Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce! It’s a 207 kW / 281 hp engine with 345 Nm of torque. This enables a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h. Let’s briefly discuss the “classic” driving experience. On the road, the Opel Corsa GSE remains true to its standard model. It has a fairly firm handling style but is comfortable enough for daily driving, with a responsive steering wheel and a healthy, agile behavior—Eco and Normal driving modes are more than sufficient.

It is therefore in Sport mode that the engine unleashes its 281 horsepower. And that’s truly delightful. The power unit has a lively and responsive character, especially appreciated on a circuit. The stiffer steering provides an impressively natural feel, as does the excellent stability at high speeds.

The Opel Corsa GSE turns out to be a very fun car, thanks to its well-developed chassis. The Torsen differential, high-speed stability, and quick steering responses make it a pleasure for track enthusiasts while also building confidence in newcomers to this genre. The limited-slip mechanical differential allows drivers to feel the torque transfer between the front wheels to maximize traction. It’s both efficient and reassuring.

The most adventurous drivers can even exploit its behavior to use the rear wheel, accelerating further by minimizing understeer. Braking is equally strong, thanks to 4-piston monoblock Alcon calipers on the front axle. These clamp down on 335 mm ventilated discs at the front, paired with 268 mm discs at the rear. In Sport mode, it’s 100% hydraulic, offering strong braking performance with precise control the moment the pedal is pressed.

Fuel consumption and range: up to 374 km?

As you can see, its effective braking and quick acceleration make it a solid electric kart. Notably, our Opel Corsa GSE comes standard with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. This is an important detail for those who pay close attention, as it also affects efficiency. Equipped in this way, the city car with 54 kWh (51 kWh net) capacity claims up to 354 km of WLTP range. By switching to Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 tires, this figure increases to 374 km, an extra 20 km.

In our road testing, we recorded a combined fuel consumption of 15.7 kWh/100 km, which translates to approximately 324 km of range between urban and suburban driving. In Normal mode, without trying to drive conservatively, the consumption quickly stabilizes at 18 kWh/100 km, resulting in 283 km of range. At speeds between 110 and 130 km/h, the consumption is around 23.5 kWh/100 km, giving around 200 to 220 km of range on the highway.

Ah, and on the road? The combined figure is 50 kWh per 100 km. Don’t expect to travel far with it, especially if you drive aggressively. Regarding charging, the Opel Corsa GSE uses the standard approach. Like the Jeep Avenger (among others), it offers a maximum charging power of 100 kW, allowing a 10-80% charge in 28 minutes. Otherwise, it supports 11 kW via AC charging, with a V2L adapter available as an option for two-way charging. There are no new features in this regard for this German city car.

Opel Corsa GSE: starting at 39,900€

So, what should we take away from this Opel Corsa GSE? In short, this compact sports car with a striking design is a real “sleeper.” It has a rather understated style, but it delivers a very appealing character and performance when pushed. Though not the most eye-catching electric city car, it shows excellent dynamic qualities on the track. In everyday driving, this translates to “reactivity” and a sense of confidence in emergency situations. Its range is naturally a weakness, but one could argue that this wasn’t the primary goal of a car designed as a GSI in the first place. Well, that’s it.

Well-equipped out of the box in the GSE version, it starts at 39,900 euros before any bonuses. The only choices and options available are delivery, matrix lighting, and a V2L adapter. It remains cheaper than its cousin the e-208 GTI (42,900 euros) and more powerful than its rivals, the Cupra Raval VZ Extreme (45,520 euros, 226 hp) or the Mini JCW E (42,600 euros, 258 hp). Personally, I would choose this GSE…with a slightly sexier exterior design. What do you think?