WE LIKE
1. Improved looks
2. Nippy 1.2-litre engine
3. Spacious for a small car
WE DON'T LIKE
1. Plastic cheap-feeling interior
2. Poor build quality
3. Annoying indicator noise
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.
Average
User reviews (1)
Leave a review
socross12 December 2011
I bought a brand new 2011 Agila 1.0s Ecotec in March this year, it is very roomy, comfortable, stylish and was excelent value for money, I was very happy. However, the grough, throaty sounding engine has now settled in, and as a result, the gear box has become 'very clunky' in 1st & 2nd gears at low speed. The idle RPM is set by Vauxhall at 8-900rpm and a Vauxhall garage has confirmed that this is the correct speed. This causes a 'bad vibration' in the engine block, which bounces around the engine compartment at an alarming rate. It causes an unpleasent 'cabin wide' vibration when idling, it makes gear selection difficult, and is stressfull in traffic, and all this without having turned on the lights or air conditioning! I have owned Aisan Quality cars before, and find this is an unusual problem for them, because smooth geared cars a synonimous with Japanese cars. Sadly, this 'manufacturing feature' would have been a 'deal breaker' had I known about it prior to purchase. So be warned, try the 1.2 version if you you wish, it my be set up better, otherwise, leave it alone, the benefits do not outweigh fault!! Trust me!!
Report as inappropriateJoin Channel 5
Creating an account is free, will only take a few moments and will allow you to enjoy the full benefits of 5FWD and Channel 5:
Leave a comment