Opel Agila

Opel Agila at a glance

The Agila sat below the Corsa in the range; the full line-up is in our Opel catalogue.

Generations and model history

Agila A (2000-2007)

The first Agila went on sale in August 2000 as Opel's entry into the small high-roof segment. It was a rebadged Suzuki Wagon R+, built by Opel in Gliwice; ADAC describes it as a high-roof model only 3.50 m long. Opel fitted its own small petrol engines: a 1.0 three-cylinder (973 cc) and a 1.2 four-cylinder (1,199 cc). Special editions included the two-tone Njoy, the Color Edition and even a Haribo edition in 2003. The facelift of mid-2003 brought Twinport versions of both petrol engines and a 1.3 CDTI diesel. The engine line-up is one of the clearest differences from the Suzuki: the European Wagon R+ used a larger 1.3-litre petrol engine, while the Agila made do with 1.0 and 1.2 litres. The Twinport 1.2 raised output from 55 kW (75 PS) to 59 kW (80 PS) in July 2004, and the diesel added a frugal option for buyers who covered longer distances.

Agila B (2008-2014)

The second Agila was shown at the 2007 Frankfurt motor show and went on sale in April 2008. Suzuki and Opel developed it together with the Suzuki Splash, and both were built by Magyar Suzuki in Esztergom; the Agila has its own front and rear styling. It is about 200 mm longer than its predecessor but not quite as tall. In 2010 the 1.2 gained power, from 63 kW (86 PS) to 69 kW (94 PS), and LPG versions were offered for a few months. A 1.2 ecoFLEX with start-stop followed, and from late 2011 the 1.0 ecoFLEX had 50 kW. The diesel was dropped from the German price list in 2010, so later Agilas are petrol-only. Production ended in November 2014, and the Karl took over in March 2015 as a more conventional small hatchback.

Engines, transmissions and performance

Power figures and years are from ADAC's German price lists. Every Agila B had a five-speed manual, and the 1.2 petrol could be ordered with a four-speed automatic. For the 1.3 CDTI, English Wikipedia's table gives 51 kW (70 PS) while its text and ADAC give 55 kW (75 PS). Want to convert outputs between units? Use the power converter.

Dimensions, space and boot

The tall body is the point of the Agila: it gives an upright driving position and easy access on a city-car footprint. The Agila B's 225-litre boot grows to 1,050 litres with the rear seat folded.

Fuel economy and running costs

Official CO2 figures for the Agila B petrol engines were 120 g/km for the 1.0 and 131 g/km for the 1.2 from 2008 to 2010, falling to 119 g/km for both after the 2010 update. The 1.3 CDTI was rated at 120 g/km. LPG versions, offered in 2010, could run on cheaper autogas. To estimate your own costs, try the fuel cost calculator.

Trims, equipment and prices

The Agila A started at EUR 9,590 for the 1.0 in Germany (2000), with Comfort, Elegance, Njoy and Color Edition versions. After the facelift the trims were Enjoy, Cosmo and Edition, and the 1.3 CDTI started at EUR 12,649 (2003). The Agila B came as the basic Agila and the Edition (Essentia and Enjoy in some markets): EUR 9,990 for the Agila 1.0 and EUR 14,160 for the 1.2 Edition in Germany (2008). Head airbags were optional on the Edition.

Safety

Euro NCAP tested the structurally identical Suzuki Splash in 2008: four stars for adult occupant protection (30 points), three stars for child occupant protection and three stars for pedestrian protection. We found no separate Euro NCAP result for the Agila A.

Reliability and known issues

Our sources contain no reliability statistics or recurring faults for either generation, so we do not list any. As with any city car that may be 10 to 25 years old, check rust, the clutch and the service history; for the LPG versions, also ask for the gas system inspection records.

Sales

German registrations totalled 127,364 between 2000 and 2015, with the best year in 2001 at 22,928 cars.

Rivals

Photo gallery