The long-lasting small car collaboration between Vauxhall and Suzuki didn't start out well with its Agila/Wagon R first fruits - both cars were out of step with the European fashions of the time and weren't the commercial success that either manufacturer hoped they would be.
They came back for a second bite of the cherry, though - Suzuki with its Splash and Vauxhall opting to keep the Agila badge. The newer car retains the same idea as the first-generation model, with its upright stance and supermini footprint.
Unfortunately for Vauxhall, though, it is Suzuki that gets the most out of this particular partnership - the Splash is an impressive car for the Japanese company, which doesn't have a great reputation when it comes to interior quality. As a result of the low expectations the handling and zippy engines are able to shine more.
The Agila's interior, however, is a letdown for a Vauxhall and not up to the decent standards of the rest of the company's range - the plastics look and feel cheap and the dashboard isn't especially well assembled. It is a shame that these detract from the rest of the package, which is reasonably impressive.
The car's styling is a big improvement on what went before, and despite its diminutive size will hold four adults over shorter distances. There is no issue over headroom in the Agila and the boot is about par for a city car.
On the move the Agila is surprisingly fun to drive, with an eagerness on turn-in and resistance to body roll that belies its height. It is also composed and mature at a cruise on the motorway and road and wind noise at speed is notable by its absence, meaning that the Agila needn't be confined to the city.
It doesn't really feel like you're able to get the best out of what the black stuff has to offer when you're driving the 1.3-litre diesel model. The 1.2-litre petrol unit offers a much perkier performance that better suits the Agila's newfound agility and still returns nearly 48mpg.
The Agila is a big improvement on the previous-generation car, a decent package if you have to have a Vauxhall badge on your city car - the fact does remain, though, that there are cheaper rivals that are better resolved. We'd consider a nice Fiat Panda over the Agila.