Vauxhall Agila - Does size matter? Well, that’s a fifty million dollar question. As far as cars go, the odds are staking up against the giant ‘Chelsea Tractors’. But for indecisive motorists, there is a new breed of cars coming through called ‘Monocab’ that is one of the fastest growing segments in the UK and Vauxhall is the innovative leader.
Monocab is a new design that maximises space and practicality yet at the same time maintains driver appeal and a distinctive character. Vauxhall were the pioneers of this new trend with the original Agila launched eight years ago followed by the Zafira and Meriva. With spring being a traditional time to bring on new life, it seems very appropriate to breath a bit of new life into the old Agila and the result is surprisingly refreshing. The line up is also refreshingly simply with three trims, Expression, Club and Design mated to either a 1.0 litre or 1.2 litre petrol engine or a 1.3 CDTi diesel. All Agila’s are five door variants on a five speed manual gearbox with the automatic an option on either Club or Design.
All variants come with driver and passenger plus side airbags in addition to Vauxhalls patented Pedal Release System, which automatically draws the car’s pedals away from the driver’s feet in the event of a collision
Cheltenham was the chosen destination for the launch of the Agila to emphasis the flexibility this car now boasts, doubling up as a true city car as it eases its way in and out of this wonderful shopping town to the glorious open roads of the surrounding countryside.
Call me a girlie or what, but the most noticeable thing that immediately struck me when I saw the Agila’s all lined up outside the Hotel de Vin, was the striking exterior colour. Moroccan blue was my favourite; a kind of baby blue followed swiftly by Lemon Grass that is a pale minty green. Some exterior colours are extended into the interior on the seats; door panels and central console trim making them look really funky. Just be sure to wear sunglasses when you see the Sunset Orange! The new Agila has certainly matured in looks and now sports a modern wedge shaped profile, a raised waistline, distinctive body crease and striking angled tinted side windows reminiscent of the Corsa. At the front, the bumper tapers down to meet the lovely almond shaped light clusters that flank the smiley shaped radiator grille with the Vauxhall emblem sitting proudly in the middle. Expression and Club sees 14 and 15 inch steel wheels respectively while Design gains 15-inch alloy wheels.
Thanks to the high roofline and uniform arrangement of glass, the interior of the Agila is a very bright spacious place to be in with plenty of head, leg and elbowroom. . Entry level Expression is pretty basic and comes with a CD player. Club models get, a pod-mounted rev counter, a stereo-radio CD player with MP3 format, steering wheel audio controls, electric front windows, electrically-adjustable and heated body-coloured door mirrors, body-coloured door handles, silver effect interior door handles and gear knob insert. Design gains air conditioning and leather on the height adjustable steering wheel. The gear lever is dash mounted thus frees up more interior space for our bits and pieces as well as being easier to operate.
Despite its small dimensions, The Agila is packed with useful storage solutions so we can shop till we drop. There is a top box in the middle of the dashboard, a large glove box, chunky door pockets with bottle holders, a small bin above the gearbox plus a box in front of the handbrake. If we need more space to hide our secret purchases the Agila comes with an innovative new feature, a 35 litre hidden storage space under the load floor of Club and Design models. At launch all three engines were available to drive. So I started in the 1.2 litre petrol and was very impressed as the uptake and the way it maintained the speed on the open roads. This engine sprints from 0-62mph in 12.3 seconds, has a top speed of 109 mph with fuel consumption standing in at 51.4 mpg on a combined cycle. CO2 emissions are 131g/km. The Agila has never had a diesel engine before but shares the same 1.3 litre CDTi that made its debut in the Corsa and whilst it boasts great fuel consumption at 62.8 mpg on a combined cycle and CO2 emissions are slashed at 120k/gm meaning a VED cost of just £35 per year, I found it rather noisy and not as punchy as the 1.2 litre. So will the frugal 1.0 litre sway me? Not too bad albeit a little noisy but it is the most fuel efficient at 64.2 mpg on a combined cycle that makes it a tempting contender.
The power assisted steering is lovely and will breeze in and out of those parking bays. But you will equally wanting to hit the open road for the driving dynamics are very impressive on this new Agila. It boasts a simple yet effective suspension layout that improves handling and ride comfort. ESP is an optional extra across the range at £400.
All variants come with driver and passenger plus side airbags in addition to Vauxhalls patented Pedal Release System, which automatically draws the car’s pedals away from the driver’s feet in the event of a collision. Other features include ISOFIX mountings on both outer seats, five full sized seatbelts, ABS and Emergency Brake Assist. Securing the Agila is an electronic ignition immobiliser, while the Club and Design gains remote central locking. The Agila falls into insurance groups ranging from just 1D to 4E depending on model.
What a fabulous little ‘monocab’. I loved the new colours of the Agila, just as I loved the price tags. The Expression offers excellent value for money at just £7,595 but I enjoy creature comforts in my cars so would opt for the Agila 1.2 litre petrol on the Design trim, a snip at just £9,595.
The pennies saved on the car means just one thing - more shopping!
FemaleFirst - Jackie Violet