The Vauxhall Agila is reborn this spring.

Sharing only its name with the original model, the new Agila will be sold on its style, simplicity, practicality and low running costs.
A single five-door body will be available in three trim levels and with three powertrains, including for the first time with an Agila badge, diesel and automatic versions.

Produced as a joint venture with Suzuki Splash in Poland, the Agila is the latest model to enter the booming monocab sector where Renault Modus, Honda Jazz and Fiat Panda have done so well. It will also joint the larger Vauxhall Meriva and Britain’s best selling MPV, the Zafira.
After the latest Budget gave still more incentives to buy and run smaller more fuel efficient models, the Vauxhall Agila is expected to prove a big hit with young women and couples with double income but no kids. Some owners may be Vauxhall drivers who want to buy a modern, fuel efficient and low polluting car to replace a larger and  aging second hand model.
Vauxhall anticipate its newcomer will take 5,000 sales in the UK market in a full year in a sector which last year saw 94,264 registrations.
New Agila will be offered with three different engines from launch – two all-alloy lightweight petrol units, plus GM’s award-winning 1.3-litre CDTi.
The entry-level power plant is a three-cylinder, 1.0-litre petrol engine based on that found in the previous generation Agila, and renowned for its free-revving, lively nature.
It produces 65PS and 90Nm of torque and accelerates from 0-62mph in 14.7 seconds, with a top speed of 99mph. 
Moving up the engine range, the Agila 1.2i 16v develops 86PS and 114Nm of torque and accelerates from 0-62mph in 12.6 seconds with a top speed of 109mph.
Both petrol units come with a five-speed manual gearbox as standard, but for the first time there is also an automatic option for Agila. Available only on the Agila 1.2i 16v, it is mated to a four-speed automatic gearbox.
New Agila also sees for the first time a diesel engine, the familiar 1.3-litre CDTi 75PS unit, which debuted in the Corsa and this not only offers frugal fuel consumption of up to 70.6mpg, but also emits just 120g/km of CO₂ meaning it benefits from low road tax.
The automatic will achieve close to 48mpg, the petrol versions well past 50mpg while the diesel will exceed 60mpg on the combined running tests.

There are three trim levels in the UK. The entry-level Expression, is available only with the 1.0i 12v engine, while the plusher Club, is offered with all three engine choices and the option of automatic transmission on the 1.2.
The top-of-the-range Design comes with the 1.2-litre petrol engine in manual or automatic versions and the 1.3 CDTi. Prices range from £7,595 to £11,195, with the first cars arriving in Vauxhall retailers in late Spring and officially goes on sale 3 May.

Inside the new five-door body there is over 1,000 litres of load space, a high volume for such a compact car, and when it’s not needed for carrying the odd grand piano around it will seat five with full lap belts and those in the front can even have height adjustable seats on all but the base model if they wish.
A completely new MacPherson strut and A-frame front suspension is matched with a torsion beam sprung rear axle so the Agila should handle as well as it looks.
Optional electronic stability programme is available for maximum safety but Agila comes with standard speed dependent power steering and a particularly tight turning circle of 9.6 metres between kerbs.

DAVID MILES was won over by the surprisingly good diesel

I know it costs £1,600 more than the 1.2-litre petrol unit but the annual road tax from 1 April is only £35 compared to the £120 for 1.2-litre petrol unit. The diesel motor will be free from the London Congestion Charge as well from October so it will be financially user-friendly for commuters or residents.
The official average fuel economy is also better at 62.8mpg over the 51.4mpg of the 1.2-litre petrol unit, but it is the vastly better driveability and performance it gives to the new five-door Agila that really impresses.
Sure if you only want the Agila just to run a few miles to and from town each day by all means go for the 1.0-litre petrol engine, but don’t expect to get anywhere in a hurry and steer clear of steep hills.

The 1.2-litre petrol engine is marginally better and some longer journeys, but not too long, can be undertaken. However the best option of all is the diesel power unit.
Whilst it has marginally less power at 75PS than the 86PS 1.2-litre petrol engine, it has far more torque at 190Nm from just 1,750rpm.  The extra weight of this engine also improves the handling of the car. It is more stable at higher speeds and it is better during cornering with more front wheel grip.  It makes using the Agila for long motorway journeys a very real possibility.
The noise levels are low, the driving responses are much sharper and it is really nice to drive in town, in the country or on open roads. Just having that better handling, driving refinement and more power for hills and motorways made the car more enjoyable.