The third generation of the Corsa was unveiled in 1999 as a 2000 model, and it was the smallest car offered by Vauxhall on the British market.
The Vauxhall Corsa was a big success in the U.K, despite the stiff competition offered by the Japanese, French, and Italian car-makers. But with a little help from the Opel, the Vauxhall was back on track and started to perform better in comparison tests.
The new "edge" design trend affected the little 5-door Corsa, and the designers installed bigger headlights with an angle toward the grille. The small doors provided access for both front and rear seats. Right behind the rear doors, a small and narrow, vertical side window was included in the C-pillar. That was a Corsa-specific feature in the small-segment. To protect the taillights from scratches and parking bumps, they were installed on the C-pillars.
Inside, the car featured good amenities for its segment, even though the base model didn't feature power-windows or air-conditioning. The Corsa was fitted with a good sound system with CD-player, on-board computer, and four power-windows moving up to the trim level and options list.
The Corsa was available with a wide choice of engines ranging between 1.0-liter and 1.7 liters, gasoline, and two turbodiesels. The standard transmission for the entire range was with a 5-speed manual. There was an option for a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed automated (Easytronic). The top of the range engine, 1.8-liter gasoline, was available only for the 3-door version.