VAUXHALL AGILA

The previous generation Agila was let down by its unimaginative styling and cheap finish. So Vauxhall went away, had another bash at it, and came up with this. And on the whole they've not done a bad job. Like the previous car it is essentially a Suzuki; the Agila's sister car is now called the Splash, which replaces the Wagon R. It's much better looking than the previous Agila, with a curvier front end and large headlights giving it far better styling. There's a decent engine line-up too, with 1.0i 12v, 1.2i 16v petrol engines and the impressive 1.3 CDTi 16v ECOTEC-4 diesel, which boasts a combined fuel consumption figure of 62.8mpg. The Agila is a much more competent drive than the previous car and now feels quite good fun around twisty roads as, despite its height, it doesn't suffer from too much body roll. The 1.2 16v offers the best performance of the bunch and is surprisingly nippy and also quite refined on the motorway. It will reach 62mph in 12.3 seconds, whilst fuel economy is 47.9mpg.


Inside, the Agila is let down by its cheap-looking, plasticky interior. It also has one of the oddest indicator noises we've ever heard - surely Vauxhall is already working on a replacement for the demented cartoon-character squeak. The dash is basic and functional, but doesn't feel terribly well-built - even our test car had a few little rattles and creaks around the cabin. However, it is deceptively spacious both in the front and rear and could easily accommodate four adults for a short time. The seats aren't the most comfortable though and the driving position feels quite high, especially for tall drivers. The Agila's boot is average by city-car standards, but split-folding rear seats - available on Club and Design trim levels - offer the flexibility to carry a larger load.



The Agila is well equipped for a city car, but its price reflects that. Choosing the diesel - which will be of little benefit to this type of car anyway - bumps the price up even further. Overall, the Agila is massively improved on the previous car, but it just doesn't feel up to the standards of the rest of the Vauxhall range. If you're looking for a city car with decent interior space and a decent drive, the Fiat Panda is both cheaper and a more complete package.


STYLING
Gone is the old telephone- box look, replaced by a curvier body and chunky front-end. It looks funky compared to the old one, average compared to everything else.


HANDLING

Again, a huge improvement on the old car, the Agila now feels reasonably fun and agile on twistier roads. There's not too much body roll - considering its height - and it feels comfortable at motorway speeds.


COMFORT
Not the most comfortable of interiors as most of it is made of hard plastics. However, there's a reasonable amount of adjustment in the front to get the best position out of the seats, and not a huge amount road and wind noise either.


QUALITY & RELIABILITY
This is what lets the Agila down, as it just doesn't feel up to the quality of Vauxhall's other products. The plastics look cheap whilst even the seats feel hard too. The build quality isn't great and it would be likely to develop creaks and rattles over time. Reliability shouldn't be an issue however.


PERFORMANCE
The 1.2i 16v is the best of a decent bunch. It will manage 0-62mph is 12.3 seconds, and feels eager and nippy around town. It will hold its own on a motorway too.


ROOMINESS
One of the key features of the Agila is the amount of interior space. A high roofline benefits those who are taller than average, and in the rear there is room enough for adults - although probably not for a long journey. The boot is average for a city-car, but some trim levels come with split-folding rear seats if more load space is needed.


STEREO / SAT NAV
The stereo/CD player is basic and the four speakers sound a little tinny, but it is functional. Steering wheel mounted audio controls come as standard on the Club and Design models. Sat nav is not available as an option.


RUNNING COSTS
All the engines offer decent fuel economy, with the 1.2i 16v offering the lowest - 47.9mpg. The diesel claims around 62.8mpg on the combined cycle and with CO2 emissions of 120g/km costs just £35 a year in tax.


VALUE FOR MONEY

Not wonderful value, as although the Agila is reasonably well equipped, it does cost considerably more than some of its rivals. Choosing the diesel pushes the price up even more, and it doesn't quite warrant the extra premium.


ENVIRONMENT
A very average performance. Most models are around 120 g/km of CO2 which is reasonable, but lots of city cars do better.