Vauxhall AGILA RANGE
Those Looking For A Fun City Car Are Missing Out By Overlooking Vauxhalls Cheeky Agila. Andy Enright Reports
Lets get it out in the open to spike the guns of those bar room experts. Yes, the
Vauxhall Agila is based on a
Suzuki Wagon R+. Note the word based, for the Agila isnt merely a badge-engineered version of Suzukis phenomenally successful city runabout, but instead a model in its own right. Whats more its been revised in recent times to offer a little more sophistication to those who could never quite square the concept of this strange confection of Oriental and Occidental cultures.
The Agila hasnt quite been the success Vauxhall had hoped, many buyers instead preferring the cuddlier styling of vehicles like the
Ford Ka, the
Volkswagen Lupo and the
Smart Fortwo. Yet on a purely practical basis, the Luton marques smallest model has them all scotched: certainly the revised line-up ought to entitle the Agila to a reassessment from those who might previously have dismissed (or never considered) it as a Citycar option. At the base of the range slots a 1.0-litre twinport engine thats shared with the Corsa. Developing 60bhp, thats 3bhp more than the old entry level unit, this representing a five per cent power boost.
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Yet the three-cylinder engine will return a full 48.7mpg on the combined cycle, up nearly two mpg on the old car. Its like having your fairy cake and eating it. More torque and higher performance are other advantages.
Whats more, both the 1.0-litre twinport and the recently added 79bhp 1.2-litre twinport engines comply with Euro4 emissions, standards which dont become mandatory for newly-registered cars until 2006. Hows that for future proofing? Go for the larger engine and the 0-60mph dash takes 12.
2s while fuel consumption of 47mpg is on the adgenda. That said, the oily bits locked up under that tiny bonnet arent going to catch the eye. Most prospective buyers will instead notice a revised grille at the front that features a bigger V grille and chubbier front and rear bumpers. The trim levels have also been revised, the range now comprising Expression, Enjoy and Design variants.
The Agila Expression is aimed at the cost-conscious customer, Enjoy for those who prefer interior and exterior colour co-ordination, and Design for those with a few more bob to their name. A combination of funky exterior colours and a big options list offers Agila customers quite a bit of freedom for personal expression.
"Just about the most fun its possible to cram into 350 centimetres ."
Safety equipment has improved further in the current Agila. Along with optional side airbags for driver and front-passenger, the Pedal Release System (PRS), ensures greater safety and theres ABS on all models. Two rear head restraints (except in Expression) electronically adjustable exterior mirrors and tinted glass are also standard. The ingeniously simple seating-concept (which puts Agila ahead of its competition) remains unchanged.
The 60:40-split rear
seat-backs simply fold down onto the seat cushion, which then sinks forward to create flat load surface in a matter of seconds. For those not so well acquainted with all things Agila, a little perspective is perhaps in order. This little car, just 138inches in length, slots into the Luton companys line-up just below the Corsa and costs from £6,255. Curious and serious omissions on such a cost-conscious urban runabout include the lack of a diesel option or an automatic gearbox (theres only a
Suzuki-sourced 5-speed manual).
As already suggested, the upright, boxy stance creates far more interior space than youd find in a conventional European Citycar. So much in fact that you could even see your Agila as a kind of tiny MPV People Carrier. This of course assumes youre not travelling four-up (in which case theres only a paltry 8.7cuft or 248 litres - of luggage space).
With the rear bench unoccupied however and the 50/50 split back seats folded flat, that area can be increased five-fold to 1250 litres. Theres plenty of oddments space too, with drawers under the front seats, cup and bottle holders and knee-height shelves for both front passengers. All that said, its as well to remember how narrow this car is before you go making any grand plans for long journeys. The rear bench is so narrow that there isnt even a centre seatbelt.
On the plus side, passengers sit 83mm higher than they would in a Corsa, so theres excellent visibility through the vast glass area. Since you wont be expecting too much in terms of road-burning excitement, its likely that youll be pleasantly surprised by the way the Agila handles. Most experts have praised the cars responsive power steering, agile change of direction and lack of body roll. As weve said, sixty is under 13 seconds away from rest in the 1.
2-litre twinport model on the way to a maximum of close to 100mph, so motorway travel is well within this Vauxhalls remit. It gets a bit noisy in the upper reaches of the rev range however, so you wont want to be undertaking too many inter-city trips. More important for potential buyers will be the Agilas urban behaviour an area in which its predictably impressive. The car will turn through 180 degrees in less than 10 metres which should prove useful in multi-storey carparks and in tight streets.
Fuel economy meanwhile, is of course very good. Maintenance costs are also very low. The Agila offers more than just a lot of space in a small box. Although its not the sleekest Citycar you can put on your driveway, its blend of practicality and sheer effervescence make it impossible to dislike.
The most recent set of changes may not be enough to convert the many confirmed sceptics amongst you, but if you can put aside your prejudices for a moment, try one for size. If you dont emerge with an impish grin on your face after a blat through the city streets, you may be sadly beyond salvation. For those with an ounce of mischief in the makeup, the Agila feels like just about the most fun its possible to cram into 350 centimetres.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR:
Vauxhall Agila range
PRICES: £6,255-£8,755 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 2E-3E
CO2 EMISSIONS: 151-156g/km
PERFORMANCE: [1.2] Max Speed 100mph / 0-60mph 12.2s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.2] (combined) 47.1mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: airbags, ABS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 3500/1620/1695mm
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