Bearing in mind that my previous company car was a 1.3 CDTi Vauxhall Corsa, this car has turned out to be a big disappointment given its class and price. I had few expectations of the Corsa but it basically did what it says on the tin!

Okay, I know I've not actually bought it and should be grateful but honestly, I can't believe how many niggles there are with this car and how many poorly thought-out design flaws there are within the cabin area. Here's a few:

Why do away with a handbrake and replace it with a handle... on the right...under the dashboard...that you PUSH on and Pull off? I can't tell you the number of times I've exited the car and watched it roll away!

Why stick the 12V supply IN the armrest, two feet away from the dashboard?

Why is the Infotainment Control Knob in such a position that you can't use it without taking your eyes off the road and which isn't really at a suitable arm's length away from the armrest? The armrest also gets in the way of fitting the driver's seatbelt!

Why have a simple switch on the dash to override the engine cutout function but put the Collision Avoidance controls within a menu, within a menu, within a menu? Believe me, this becomes a major issue when you have to re-set this function to OFF, every time you switch the engine off especially if, like my car, it insists on audibly warning you that you are in close proximity to a metal roadside safety fence, coming in the opposite direction...or a van on the opposite carriageway? Don't even get me started on the fact that it has actually used the ABS at less than 2mph in a traffic queue! Or that the car uses its ABS to brake when the car, 30 feet in front, has turned into a side street and being fully aware of this, I'm only travelling at 15 mph already...unlike the BMW who's driver is wondering why I've performed an emergency stop for a turning vehicle!

Other annoying features include;

Hill Start Assist that burns out the clutch plate.
No cruise control. Even the Corsa had that!
Tiny windows and huge pillars which gives poor visibility for such a big car.
Rear sensors but not front sensors despite the massive bonnet.
Fair sized boot but no ability to attach a bike carrier to the tailgate.
Inability to buy any aftermarket roof rack system.

Verdict; looks good, drives well but overwhelmingly impractical and full of useless, aggravating features. A manual car that's trying to be an automatic...and failing miserably.