Vauxhall Agila review
by David Morgan (25 February 2008)
Vauxhall's new Agila is really a Suzuki Splash in disguise. There's nothing new in that – manufacturers have been sharing designs for years and Vauxhall's most recent clone of the Corsa with the Fiat Grande Punto has been a great success. Irrespective of where it originates the simple fact is that it's a great little lightweight car that will be cheap to run and reasonably well-equipped.
At this level a car's success depends on price and with Vauxhall dealers likely to follow their current trends by offering some eye watering discounts throughout the range, there's a fair degree of anticipation that a keen buyer might well be able to snap up a new Agila later this summer for well below its already impressive start price of just £7595.
When it arrives in British showrooms in April that entry price will get you a modest three-cylinder one-litre petrol unit delivering 65bhp and trimmed to Vauxhall's base Expression level. It's great value even before discount and will average 55mpg, accelerate briskly in town and from rest to 62mph in 14.7 seconds when you head for the open road.
Torque is a puny 65lb/ft at a frenetic 4800rpm so there's a lot of gearchanging to be done. But the good news is that so clean is this tiny 12-valve unit that it pollutes at only 120g/km. The second engine in the line up is a brisker 1.2 petrol with 85bhp, an average of just over 50mpg, livelier acceleration, pulling power of 84lb/ft at 4400rpm and emissions of 131g/km. It's a better choice if you plan longer trips or expect to carry weight.
But by far the best Agila is the 1.3 CDTi turbo diesel, a remarkable little 75bhp oil burner that should easily average 62mpg, has emission figures of just 120g/km but best of all delivers uncanny pulling power of 140 lb/ft at a laid-back 1750rpm. It makes for delightful mid-range acceleration and an ability to climb hills and cruise with a heavy load without apparent strain.
With such low emission levels the 1.0 petrol and 1.3 CDTi turbo diesel fall into Road Tax Band B which delivers an annual bill of just £35. It was my favourite at the Agila's press launch and at £11,995 for the top Design trim level represents pretty good value.
This is a roomy little front-drive city car/supermini MPV with five-doors, five full size seats and a choice of small petrol or turbo diesel power. It's short at 3.7 metres and turns in just 9.6 metres so it will be handy in city traffic. But with a kerb weight as low as 975kg it's rather lively over rough surfaces and feels jittery.
Transmission is standard five-speed manual or, for the first time on Agila, an automatic for the 1.2 petrol power plant - it's easy to drive, offers reasonable comfort, handles well and is easy to park thanks to its high seating position and tall body with short overhangs.
Interior room is good and versatile. On all by the Expression entry-level model the rear seat backs fold down to create a useful and flat load floor for those times when you might need to carry bulky objects. It means the Agila can offer a flexibly large luggage capacity of 1050 litres - among the best in this sector.
The dash is basic, plasticky and brash - but it works well with a large central main instrument dominating the driver's view through the wheel.
Steering is speed-sensitive but very light, as are the brakes. The gearchange on the manual versions I drove is slick.
The three trim levels follow Vauxhall's current style of entry-level Expression, mid-range Club and top end Design. The trio deliver reasonable value on the equipment front depending on your taste and budget, but it's the Club trim that makes most sense. All of the test cars I drove came with ABS, Brake Assist, front and side airbags, immoliliser, tinted glass, body colour bumpers and a trio of three-point rear seat belts as standard.
The Agila follows a successful predecessor renowned for its value and practicality. Like the new model it was lightweight and that feeling persists with thin body panels and flimsy plastics in evidence everywhere to minimise kilos and maximise mpg - it's a trade-off between quality and efficiency, and at this level costs matter both for the make and the buyer. Simply, you get what you pay for.
The Expression gets 14" steel wheels with uninspiring plastic wheel covers, with 15" steels on the Club model and 15" alloys once you move on to the Design level that gets air-conditioning, darker tinted glass, leather trimmed steering wheel and other little luxuries to justify Design prices of £9595 for the 1.2, £10,595 for the 1.2 auto and £11,195 for the 1.3 CDTi.
The Agila is much the same as other cheap and cheerful superminis - pared construction and light weight. But in the market where it will be fighting it is up against more of the same - Citroen C1, Peugeot 107, Toyota Aygo, new Renault Twingo and its twin Suzuki Splash.
My only real gripe is Vauxhall's decision to make electronic stability programming (ESP) a £400 option on all models. Given that lightweight vehicles in the Agila class are designed for family use, ESP ought to be a standard safety feature.
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