VAUXHALL'S fourth generation Corsa is without doubt one of the most significant cars the brand has launched in recent years.

The supermini is the Griffin-badged brand's most popular model in the UK and hopes are high that it can finally clinch top spot in the nation's best-seller car list from its Ford Fiesta arch-rival.

At first sight nothing much has changed. The overall shape is the same so it is as spacious as ever with enough room in the rear for three passengers.

The three-door version is definitely more stylish but families might prefer the practicality of the five-door for easier access to the back.

Keeping the same layout was a money saver but the cash has been splashed on a major re-skin job with updated bodywork, LED running lights and a nose that looks as if it's been taken straight from the Vauxhall Adam.

The front end is lower to the ground, the doors have creases running across them while at the rear, the lights extend over the tailgate. Overall, the Corsa looks fresh and modern.

The differences are more obvious inside the cabin where the dashboard gains the touchscreen from the Adam, grouping all the cabin functions together except for the climate controls. The cabin is neat, well built and any plastic that adorns the cabin is of good quality.

The car's running gear has been re-engineered to make sure it competes with the Fiesta's driver engagement. The basic platform is the same but a new suspension set-up improves the ride considerably and gives better body control.

This one was the 95bhp 1.3-litre turbodiesel in VX-Line trim. It takes 11.9 seconds to get from zero to 62mph, not the fastest in its class, but very refined. Top speed is 113mph.

In town, once warned up, and at higher speeds there was very little noise intruding into the cabin and the engine pulls strongly even from very low revs.

Underpinning the car is a redesigned chassis, sporting a 5mm lower centre of gravity, stiffer front sub-frame and a sharper suspension geometry. The power steering gets a 'city' mode for ease of parking and it has been tuned specifically for the UK's pot-holed strewn roads. Both Comfort and Sport suspension set-ups have improved dampers that help ride quality.

As the Corsa hasn't changed shape or size, practicality has not been affected with bags of room front and back and generous headroom as well.

The 285-litre boot sits in the middle of its VW Polo and Fiesta rivals but a high boot lip doesn't help with loading and unloading.The rear seat splits 60-40 but doesn't fold entirely flat.

The Corsa costs around £1,000 less than its equivalent Fiesta but it doesn't miss out on standard kit - USB connectivity, daytime running lights, cruise control and multi-function steering wheel across the range.

The VX-Line model on test also had automatic lights, tyre pressure monitoring, hill start assist, air con, electrically adjustable heated door mirrors, electric front windows and sports style seats in its £15,560 price.

It also has a firmer sports suspension, side sills, rear roof spoiler, rear lower skirt and a chrome effect tailpipe extension.