Vauxhall Agila hatchback (2008 – ) expert review

The Vauxhall Agila is cute-looking like most city cars, with a high side profile and set of 15-inch alloys. The front is masked with a set of huge headlights while the rear lights are even larger, stretched down each side of the back. As seen with many new superminis and city cars, the Agila also gets a few sleek lines stretching the width of the vehicle. It’s a big shift over the previous Agila which was tall and boxy.

Vauxhall has gone for a Mini-like giant speedo placed behind the steering whee,l which really suits city cars. As a result, there is no room for a rev counter which has been moved out of the traditional area and mounted on the dashboard to the left of the wheel. This gives the Agila  character – something essential in a market relying on interesting features to get sales. The gearstick is raised to a comfortable position for the frequent changes necessary around town. However, one incessant irritation was the Agila’s indicator sound which was so annoying it could put you off signalling.

While small, manufacturers are really trying to make city cars practical – and this is clear with the Agila. It’s got a high roofline for taller passengers, room in the back for two adults, good all-round visibility and a flat back to make reverse-parking simple. The boot’s 225 litres is adequate but if you’re going away for a weekend you may need to flatten the rear seats to boost the capacity.

On the road, the ride is fairly soft, absorbing the bumps of Britain’s battered roads. But it’s when you get to corners that the Agila starts to struggle. Due to the plush suspension and tall bodywork, the Agila rolls through the corners. However, as a city car, the Agila is unlikely to be hammered through tight bends, so this isn’t too much of an issue. The steering is light and the tight turning circle makes parking and manoeuvring through tight streets a simple task.

The Agila is offered with three engines: 1- and 1.2-litre petrol or a 1.3-litre diesel. Our 1.2-litre model produces 85bhp and 84lb/ft of pulling power. This gives a 0-62mph (100mph) time of 12.3 seconds and a top speed of 109mph. On the road it feels slower than these figures suggest, with the Agila struggling to make an impression at overtaking on the motorway. But it’s a city car and is fairly brisk to 20mph. The 1-litre 12v model hits 62mph in 14.7 seconds and reaches 99mph. The diesel has an impressive 140lb/ft of torque and a top speed of 103mph.

The 1-litre and 1.3-litre engines both emit 120g/km of CO2, placing them in tax band B (£35 a year). The 1.2-litre with 131g/km will cost £120 a year and with an automatic gearbox this is raised to £145 per annum. If you’re going to be doing very little driving on motorways or dual carriageways opt for the 1-litre model which will also average a claimed 56.5mpg. Our 1.2-litre model has a claimed average of 51.4mpg but we were closer to 47mpg after 300 miles of driving. The diesel, which costs £2,500 more than the 1.0 will average 62.8mpg.

The Agila feels well built, and if there are any issues you’re covered by Vauxhall’s lifetime 100,000-mile warranty. Vauxhall is ranked above average in the reliability index which judges cars on the frequency and cost of breakdowns.

All models get four airbags as standard. Our top model also benefitted from electronic stability programme which is a £400 option. This is disappointing as it’s standard on the Suzuki Splash which also features traction control and two more airbags – and is slightly cheaper. Although it hasn’t been EuroNCAP crash tested, the Suzuki Splash was awarded four stars.

The Agila is available in three trim levels: Expression, Club and Design. Entry level Expression models get power steering, CD player, tinted glass and 14-inch steel wheels. Opt for Club and you gain remote central locking, a trip computer, rev counter, electric front windows, 15-inch wheels and front fog lights. Our range-topping Design model adds 15-inch alloy wheels, leather-covered steering wheel with audio controls and air conditioning.

The Vauxhall Agila serves its purpose as a cute city car with impressive practicality. City cars are cool, but when the indicator sound is so irritating it puts you off signalling, you’ve got a problem – how could Vauxhall let this intensely annoying noise get through research and development?