Ford Fiesta vs Vauxhall Corsa (2026): Which Is the Better First Car?
The short version
The Ford Fiesta is the better car to drive. The Vauxhall Corsa is cheaper to buy and insure. For most families buying a first car on a budget, the Corsa E 1.4 (£4,500-£7,500) offers the best balance of insurance, reliability and value. If your teen cares about how the car feels and you can stretch to £7,000+, the Fiesta Mk8 1.1 Ti-VCT is worth every penny.
At a glance
| Metric | Ford Fiesta (Mk7/Mk8) | Vauxhall Corsa (D/E/F) |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance groups | 2-6 (young driver engines) | 1-8 (young driver engines) |
| Used price range | £4,000-£15,000 | £2,000-£18,000 |
| Euro NCAP | 5 stars (Mk7: 2012, Mk8: 2017) | 5 stars (D: 2006, E: 2014), 4 stars (F: 2019) |
| Best engine (young drivers) | 1.1 Ti-VCT 75PS (Mk8) | 1.4 90bhp (Corsa E) |
| Fuel economy | 42-48mpg (1.1 Ti-VCT) | ~42mpg (1.4) |
| Boot space | 292 litres | 285-309 litres |
| Annual cost (17yo) | ~£4,220 | ~£3,980-£4,150 |
| Engine to avoid | 1.0 EcoBoost (wet belt) | 1.0/1.2 Corsa D (timing chain) |
| Carbi rating | 4.5/5 | 4/5 |
Ford Fiesta
- Best handling in the supermini class.
- 5 star Euro NCAP on both generations. Mk8 (2018+) has standard AEB.
- Naturally aspirated engines (1.25 and 1.1 Ti-VCT) are mechanically simple and reliable.
- More expensive.
- 1.0 EcoBoost wet belt is a catastrophic failure risk (£1,500-£3,000 repair or write-off).
- Production ended in 2023. The used market is shrinking.
Vauxhall Corsa
- The lowest possible insurance group on the Corsa D 1.0.
- Huge used market. Thousands available at every price point.
- Corsa E 1.4 has no timing chain issues and no wet belt.
- Not as engaging to drive. Light, vague steering compared to the Fiesta.
- Corsa D 1.0/1.2 timing chain stretch is common and can destroy the engine.
- Corsa F PureTech 1.2 Turbo has its own wet belt risk.
Insurance and running costs
Insurance is the biggest annual expense for a young driver. A 17 year old in the UK pays an average of £1,932 per year. The difference between a low and high insurance group can add £700+ annually.
The Corsa wins on insurance. The Corsa D 1.0 sits in Group 1 (around £1,500/year for a 17 year old). The Corsa E 1.4 sits in Group 6-8 (around £1,900/year). The Ford Fiesta's lowest group is Group 2 for the 1.25 Studio (Mk7) or the 1.1 Ti-VCT Style (Mk8), with estimated premiums around £1,800/year.
The gap narrows at the recommended buy level. A Corsa E 1.4 Design (Group 6-8) costs roughly the same to insure as a Fiesta Mk8 1.1 Ti-VCT Zetec (Group 6). That's around £2,000/year for a 17 year old. Remember insurance quotes vary a lot depending on location.
| Cost comparison (17yo, annual) | Fiesta Mk8 1.1 Zetec | Corsa E 1.4 Design |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance | £2,000 | £1,900 |
| Fuel (10,000 miles) | £1,600 | £1,600 |
| Road tax (VED) | £190 | £20-£190 |
| Servicing | £200 | £180 |
| Total | £3,990 | £3,700-£3,870 |
The Corsa E has a hidden advantage on VED. Pre-April 2017 registered Corsa E models qualify for CO2 based tax as low as £20/year. A 2016 Corsa E saves £170/year on road tax compared to a 2018 Fiesta Mk8. Over four years, that's £680.
On purchase price, the Corsa is cheaper at every level. You can buy a decent Corsa D 1.2 with service history for £2,000-£4,000. The cheapest usable Fiesta Mk7 starts around £4,000. The recommended buys are closer: £4,500-£7,500 for a Corsa E 1.4 Design vs £7,000-£10,000 for a Fiesta Mk8 1.1 Ti-VCT Zetec.
Insurance experts at MoneySuperMarket explain the logic behind insurance groups: cars in lower groups have less powerful engines, lower repair costs and better reliability records. Both the Corsa E 1.4 and the Fiesta Mk8 1.1 Ti-VCT fall into that sweet spot.
Safety
Both cars are safe. The question is how much active safety tech you get for your budget.
The Ford Fiesta Mk8 (2018+) includes standard AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) and scored 5 stars in Euro NCAP's 2017 test. Matthew Avery, Director of Research at Thatcham Research, noted that the Mk8 offers "far, far greater levels of protection to its occupants" than previous generations. From 2018, Ford made AEB standard on all Fiesta models.
The Vauxhall Corsa E (2014-2019) scored 5 stars in the 2014 Euro NCAP test but has no AEB on any model. The Corsa F (2019+) has standard AEB and scored 4 stars under the stricter 2019 test protocol. The lower score reflects a basic Lane Keep Assist system rather than structural weakness.
For parents who want AEB without spending Corsa F money (£9,000+), the Fiesta Mk8 is the better option. A 2018 Fiesta Mk8 with standard AEB starts around £7,000 used. The cheapest Corsa with AEB is a Corsa F at £9,000+.
Both cars share a real-world safety strength that matters more than ADAS features for new drivers: predictable handling. Electronic Stability Control is standard across all generations of both cars. Neither the Fiesta nor the Corsa will surprise a nervous teen mid-corner. That stability builds confidence faster than any lane departure warning.
What it's like to drive
This is where the Fiesta pulls ahead. The Ford Fiesta is the best handling supermini you can buy under £15,000. Steering feels great, body control is excellent and the car goes exactly where you point it. For a new driver learning car control, the Fiesta builds confidence because the steering talks to you.
...the Fiesta puts "a much bigger smile on your face on a country road."
That's not just a reviewer's opinion. The Fiesta's hydraulic steering (Mk7) and well tuned electric steering (Mk8) give better road feel than any Corsa generation.
The Corsa is adequate, not exciting. The steering is light and easy around town, the ride is comfortable and the Corsa E improved body control a lot over the Corsa D. But the Fiesta does all of that while also being fun. For keen drivers, the gap is noticeable.
In town, both cars are easy to park. The Fiesta is 3,969mm (Mk7) to 3,976mm (Mk8). The Corsa D is 4,021mm. Light steering across both ranges. Visibility is decent from both, though the Corsa E has thick A-pillars that can block your view at roundabouts.
On the motorway, the Fiesta Mk8 is the more composed cruiser. The Corsa D with the 1.0 engine struggles at sustained motorway speeds. The 1.2 and 1.4 Corsas are fine. Neither car's recommended engine is fast (the Fiesta 1.1 Ti-VCT does 0-62mph in 14.9 seconds, the Corsa E 1.4 in 12.3 seconds) but both are adequate for safe motorway driving with a bit of planning on slip roads.
Tech and interior
The Fiesta Mk8 comes with SYNC 3 and Apple CarPlay as standard across all trims. The system works, the 6.5-inch screen is clear and physical buttons for climate control reduce distraction. Interior materials are hard plastic but durable. The driving position is excellent.
The Corsa E gets a 7-inch IntelliLink touchscreen with Apple CarPlay on models from late 2016 onwards. Earlier Corsa E models have a smaller screen without smartphone integration. Many mid-range Corsa E trims include heated seats and a heated steering wheel as standard. That's a genuine comfort bonus through a British winter that the Fiesta doesn't offer.
The Corsa D has basic infotainment: CD player and Bluetooth on higher trims. No touchscreen, no CarPlay. If your teen expects to plug in their phone, the Corsa D isn't the right generation.
For teens, neither car is Instagram-worthy. The Fiesta's cockpit feels sportier. The Corsa E's heated seats are more practical. The Corsa F (if budget allows) has the best tech of the lot: modern touchscreen, digital instruments and a genuinely premium feel. But at £9,000+, a Corsa F competes with a well-specced Fiesta Mk8 on price.
Boot space is similar: 292 litres (Fiesta) vs 285 litres (Corsa D/E) or 309 litres (Corsa F). Neither is class-leading. The VW Polo manages 351 litres.
Reliability and what to watch
Both cars have a "safe" engine and a "risky" engine. Choosing the right one is the single most important decision.
Ford Fiesta: the EcoBoost wet belt
The 1.0 EcoBoost runs its timing belt inside the engine, bathed in oil. When the belt degrades, it shreds into the oil system and can destroy the engine. Repair cost: £1,500-£3,000. Independent specialists recommend replacement at 5-8 years or 50,000-80,000 miles, not Ford's official 10 years/150,000 miles. The engine must use Ford specified oil (Castrol 5W-20 or equivalent meeting Ford WSS-M2C948-B). Many independent garages use generic 5W-30, which is wrong for this engine.
The safe Fiesta choice: The 1.1 Ti-VCT (Mk8) or 1.25 Duratec (Mk7). No turbo, no wet belt, no timing chain worries. Mechanically simple.
Vauxhall Corsa: timing chain and PureTech
The Corsa D 1.0 and 1.2 engines have a timing chain that stretches over time, particularly if oil changes have been skipped. A rattling noise on cold start is the telltale sign. Repair: around £688 at a Vauxhall dealer if caught early. If the chain snaps, the engine is gone.
The Corsa F 1.2 Turbo uses a PureTech wet belt with the same catastrophic risk as the Ford EcoBoost. Stellantis revised the replacement interval down from 10 years/100,000 miles to 6 years/60,000 miles. Oil changes every 12 months are non-negotiable.
The safe Corsa choice: The 1.4 90bhp (Corsa E). No timing chain stretch, no wet belt, no turbo. Coil packs fail occasionally (£30-£60 per coil). That's it.
Both cars have an automated gearbox to avoid. The Ford Powershift and the Vauxhall Easytronic are both unreliable and expensive to repair. If you need an automatic, buy a Toyota Yaris hybrid or VW Polo with a torque-converter auto instead.
The verdict
The Ford Fiesta is the better car. The Vauxhall Corsa is a decent budget option.
Buy the Corsa E 1.4 Design (£4,500-£7,500) if:
- Budget is the priority and you need to keep total costs as low as possible
- Your teen mostly drives in town with occasional motorway runs
- You want the widest choice on the used market
- Insurance savings matter more than driving feel
Buy the Fiesta Mk8 1.1 Ti-VCT Zetec (£7,000-£10,000) if:
- Your teen cares about how the car drives (the Fiesta is genuinely fun)
- You want standard AEB from 2018 without paying Corsa F prices
- You can stretch the budget by £2,500-£3,000 over the Corsa E
- You value handling and road feel over interior gadgets
At the recommended-buy level, insurance costs are nearly identical (Group 6-8 Corsa E vs Group 6 Fiesta Mk8). The real difference is purchase price and driving experience. If your teen would appreciate a car that makes them a better, more confident driver, the Fiesta justifies the premium. If they need wheels that get them from A to B cheaply and reliably, the Corsa does the job brilliantly.
For detailed breakdowns, see our full Ford Fiesta review for young drivers and Vauxhall Corsa review for young drivers.