The Agila packs a lot into a small body

The small five-door hatchback is a practical urban run-about which Vauxhall claims has class-leading interior space.

The Vauxhall Agila is 20cm longer, 26cm wider and 7cm lower than its predecessor and the Agila’s aerodynamic rear aids fuel economy.

Official fuel consumption figures are not available but we expect the 1-litre petrol to achieve 56mpg while the 1.3-litre diesel manages 63mpg, a considerable improvement on the current model which achieves an average of 47mpg.

All models have CO2 emissions below 120g/km, meaning the Vauxhall Agila falls into VED Band B, costing £35 per year in road tax.

Three engines are on offer at launch, a 1-litre three-cylinder with 64bhp, a 1.2-litre with 84bhp and a 1.3-litre CDTi diesel with 74bhp.

The Agila packs a lot into a small body, with five full-size seats each benefiting from a full three-point safety belt.

Vauxhall claims that its high seating position provides good visibility when driving or squeezing into a parking space and makes getting in and out of the Agila more comfortable.

Rear seats can be folded right down on all but the entry-level model, creating a flat loading area of 1050 litres.

The first generation Agila went on sale in 2000, sharing many components with the Suzuki Wagon R+. It won praise for being economical and easy to drive around town.