2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 15:44
Opel has spruced up the Agila into a small city runabout. Gone are the days of panel van design, the new generation of the small car impresses above all with its fresh look.
By Thomas Flehmer
It looks like the story of the ugly duckling. Opel has freed the Agila from the painful design and packed it in a beautiful case. Gone are the days of the box-shaped small car whose purpose seemed to be purely practical. The new Agila, the identical counterpart to the Suzuki Wagon R +, which will soon be presented as the Suzuki Splash as well as the new Agila at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, is rounder and, above all, much more handsome and is intended to attract young urban women in particular.
Recognizable as an Opel
It starts with the cute front, which also bears the new Opel brand face, even if it reminds a little of the Renault Modus. Even if the specifications from Opel were strong, the designers were able to give the Agila an independent face. "The Agila must be recognizable as an Opel in traffic," said chief designer Uwe Müller at the presentation of the prototype in Venice, "but we were able to customize the small car."
Particularly noticeable are the elongated headlights, which replaced the little googly eyes of the predecessor, which has sold 440,000 times since its introduction in 2000. There is also the crease in the bonnet and the typical radiator grille.
Gained in length
The dominant sideline has also become more dynamic and joins the Opel model range. Initially rising, it falls slightly behind the B-pillar and ends in the successful rear section. Here too, the extremely long taillights that almost completely frame the rear window stand out.
In addition, the Agila, which is manufactured in equal cooperation with Suzuki, gained an impressive 20 centimeters in length and six centimeters in width. In order to take off the van image, however, the height had to be shortened by seven centimeters, which did the fresh complexion very well. Despite the enormous shortening, even tall occupants over 1.90 meters can comfortably find space. There is still a lot of headroom available and there are no limits to legroom.
Elevated sitting position
Even the people in the back seat do not have to do without the necessary seating comfort and can stretch their legs on the comfortable seats that give a lot of lateral support. What is not possible - or is only very limited in time - is the transport of three adults in the rear. There are limits to the Agila here.
What has remained is the elevated seating position, which women particularly appreciate. However, since the bonnet drops off very steeply, the beginning of the Agila can only be judged on instinct. Here you have to get used to it. You have to take it when you look at the interior. Because this has gained significantly compared to its predecessor. Plastic is still predominant, but it makes a valuable impression. The instruments are in their place and are easy to see. Unfortunately, the steering wheel can only be adjusted in height and not in length, but that is to be tolerated.
Gasoline engine from Suzuki
The mini-van is equipped with three engines. The two gasoline engines, a one-liter and a 1.2-liter gasoline engine with 48 kW / 65 PS and 63 kW / 86 PS, respectively, are supplied by partner Suzuki due to a lack of capacity. Opel itself controls a 1.3 liter common rail diesel with 55 kW / 75 PS, which has already been used in the new Astra.
Best times cannot be expected with the Agila. But the Agila is not intended for the motorway either. The small gasoline engine has a top speed of 160 km / h, the 1.2 liter engine manages 14 km / h more. The top speed of the diesel engine, which should remain below 130 grams of CO2 emissions per kilometer, is 162 km / h.
Main sales in Italy
The prices of the new baby Opel will not be announced until later. First, the Rüsselsheim-based company wants to enjoy the start at the IAA in September. The predecessor with the small gasoline engine started at 10,474 euros. The diesel cost at least 12,649 euros.
And the market launch is also a long time coming. The Agila will not be launched in Italy until March next year. The predecessor was sold there 87,000 times, almost 20 percent of total sales. A month later, the beautiful swan will begin in Germany, especially to ensnare the female customers.
