Cheap And Cheerful
by David Morgan (25 Feb 08)

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.

Pulling power 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 turbodiesel, 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.

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