Everything has changed but the name

(Published June 2008, picture taken by me)

The first generation Opel Agila, introduced in 2000, was a boxy city car with four doors, a three cylinder engine and very little to excite any driver.
The new Opel Agila is a very different animal. This attractive city car now boasts a wider engine range, a roomier and better quality interior, a higher specification and a greater fun factor. In fact the only thing that hasn’t changed is the name.
The figures tell you a great deal about the potential attractions of the Agila even before you put yourself behind the wheel. Currently there are two petrol engines available, although a diesel is expected soon. The 1 litre engine is available in the entry level Expression and mid-range Club specifications. This revvy three-cylinder engine offers tax-busting emissions which not only mean a keen list price, but also mean just E100 a year in road tax.
The 1.2 litre engine fitted to the test car offers a bit more poke for not a lot more money. And crucially, it is just E150 to tax for the year.
The new Agila has a look of quality and solidity which would have been unthinkable in a city car only five years ago. The car has a funky centre console wrapped in a choice of colours (the test car came with bright orange) as well as a sporty white-faced speedometer with a rev counter mounted on a pod above the centre console.
The Agila is a tactile delight when you first sit in. The supportive seats are easy to get comfy in, even if the seating position is very upright. The gearshift falls in easy reach while all the dials for the standard CD player and heating controls feel built to last.
The entry-level Expression comes with a full complement of safety systems including anti-lock brakes, emergency brake assist, front and side airbags.
This version, the Club, offers remote central locking, MP3 compatible CD player, multi-function trip computer, electric front windows and a choice of blue or orange centre console surrounds.
They also come with very easy to use 60/40 split rear seats which turn the relatively small boot into a very large one for carrying bigger loads.
The top spec Design models come with air conditioning, 15 inch alloy wheels and a leather covered steering wheel. Most will opt for the Club as it offers the best combination of specification and price.
The Agila kicks off at E12,495 incl. works, for the 1.0 Expression. This 1.2 Club is E14,995, offering a lot of metal for the money.
On the road the Agila feels like a very grown up car. The controls move with a reassuring linearity. The gearstick is chunky and is well damped as it moves about the gate. The steering, which gets lighter at parking speeds, weights up reassuringly when you are above 50kph.
Even though the 1.2 litre engine has just 85 horsepower, the Agila does not feel short of power off the line. The first three gears are quite close together, making it easy to keep up with traffic around town. It has to be worked a bit harder to catch up with traffic out on the open road, but at the national speed limit the car is quiet, with minimal engine or wind noise.
The Agila has a long wheelbase compared to rivals like the VW Fox and Ford KA, but this does not necessarily bring a smooth ride. The tall body has a tendency to lean in corners so Opel have made the suspension quite firm to reduce this.
The side-effect is that the car can sometimes crash over potholes or speed bumps and can become quite unsettled on broken surfaces.
This is the only major negative point about the car however. It has space, it has enough power to keep up with most traffic and it radiates a sense of quality inside and out.
In fact you could make the argument that those looking for a bigger car, in the mould of a supermini like the Opel Corsa or a family hatchback like the Opel Astra, should check out the Agila first. It might be all the car they need.