1990-1996 Chevrolet Corsica: Road Test

Four-cylinder engines are noisy and anemic, even with the increased power for 1992 and again for '94, delivering barely adequate acceleration. That makes the V6 a much wiser choice. Fuel economy suffers a bit with the V6, but you benefit from much better performance. Although the LTZ offered the ultimate Corsica setup for power and handling, it suffered a noticeable loss in ride comfort. The combination of base suspension and tires discourages even moderately aggressive driving. Some cars have an optional sport suspension that gives more sporting handling with no penalty in ride harshness. Space is ample up front, but rear leg room is marginal for tall passengers. Trunk space is adequate. The early 5-door body style offered fine cargo-carrying versatility, but optional fold-down rear seatbacks help extend the usefulness of the sedan's trunk. The dashboard layout, as revised for 1991, is quite serviceable, but rotary headlamp and wiper dials cannot be operated without taking your hands off the steering wheel.

Value for the Money
Neither assembly quality nor refined driving quality can match Japanese compact rivals. Even though a capable Corsica doesn't quite stand out, though, it's a sensible buy secondhand, just as it was when new.