Test Car Specifications
Model tested: Toyota Aygo X Limited Edition
Pricing: £19,640 as tested
Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol
Transmission: five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Body style: five-door, four-seat city car
CO2 emissions: 109g/km
Combined economy: 57.6-58.8mpg
Top speed: 98mph
0-62mph: 14.9 seconds
Power: 72hp
Torque: 93Nm
Boot space: 231-829 litres
What's this?
Toyota is replacing its angular city car with a slightly larger and more crossover-themed model called the Aygo X. Pronounced 'Aygo Cross', this new city car utilises similar underpinnings to the larger Yaris, although Toyota has stopped short of offering any hybrid technology. Instead, it sticks with a naturally aspirated 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that is available with the choice of a five-speed manual or CVT automatic transmissions, both of which send the power to the front wheels.
The design remains pleasingly true to the 2021 Aygo X Prologue design concept, resulting in a larger car than the previous generation Aygo. Overall length increases by 235mm, with the wheelbase growing by 90mm, and the Aygo X is now 50mm taller, helped by an increase in ground clearance of 11mm. That lift, combined with the plastic cladding around the sills and wheel arches, galvanises the compact Toyota's crossover look, which is rounded off by the fitment of larger wheels. The entry grade Aygo X Pure gets 17-inch wheels while all other versions ride on 18-inch wheels.
The styling illustrates Toyota putting yet another nail in the coffin of its boring car past. Designers have made the Aygo X look interesting; from the LED headlights that give it a friendly face to the angular rear door design that accentuates the two-tone colour scheme, the Aygo X is sure to turn heads on the high street.
One negative aspect of this design becomes apparent when you open the rear doors to get in, because their shape and aperture make it tricky for passengers to get in and out of the rear seats. The legroom is average at best in the back seats. Thanks partly to the pagoda-roof design, the headroom is decent for adults of average height. It still seems dark in the back as the side windows aren't that large and don't wind down; they only pop out from the rear corner, which is one of the few aspects that makes the Aygo X feel cheap. A retractable fabric roof accompanies the top-tier Aygo X Limited Edition to add wind-in-the-hair driving when the weather permits.
A fresh look in the front features a multifunction steering wheel and a simple but effective instrument binnacle comprising a prominent analogue speedometer and a 4.2-inch TFT display for various trip computer functions. All Aygo X models get a touchscreen display of some kind, ranging from seven to nine inches and all featuring Bluetooth and smartphone mirroring for Android and Apple devices.
How does it drive?
To begin with, getting into the driver's seat of Aygo X couldn't be easier, as it’s 55mm higher than its predecessor. Combined with the manual height adjustment, that should be a boon to those with slightly reduced mobility. The steering wheel can only be moved for height but not reach, which is fairly standard for this segment. Outward visibility is quite good thanks partly to that raised seating position and A-pillars set at a 24-degree angle.
Despite sharing the same architecture as the Yaris, the Aygo X doesn't receive any hybrid technology. Instead, it makes do with only the one engine offering, a 72hp, 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol unit available with a choice of five-speed manual or CVT automatic transmissions. Toyota says the latter has come in for a raft of improvements, including a weight reduction of more than 20kg, but we're driving the manual here, which is likely to account for most sales. The clutch is light and shifting between the gears is more positive and accurate than in the old Aygo.
Speed isn't something that the Aygo X excels at, but it does seem brisker than the near-15-second 0- 62mph time would indicate. The three-pot engine is reasonably smooth and quiet, and only when you drive it that bit harder does the distinctive thrum of its cylinder configuration become more vocal. Navigating the modern cityscape is made easier with light steering and a tight turning circle when needed. It will happily cruise along in third gear in traffic, so you won't need to be endlessly working that manual gear shifter either.
Out on the open road and motorway, the Aygo X remains composed with a fifth gear that is long enough to keep engine revs at a reasonable rate. Indeed it's in this setting that the true sense of the Aygo X's refinement comes to the fore. It holds its line well for a small car, and having additional driver assistance, including adaptive cruise control as standard, is a plus. Despite wearing sizeable 18-inch alloy wheels there is no discernible tyre roar to speak of and wind noise at higher speeds isn't overly loud. We'd like it if the 1.0-litre engine had just a bit more pep to it, as the 72hp output starts to show its limitations at higher speeds, and overtakes on the motorway require some forward planning.
Verdict
The Toyota Aygo X feels like a more substantial small city car than its predecessor. Its design is more attractive and the interior quality is better. It is also more expensive, part of which is attributable to the level of standard equipment, but this marks it as one of the best in the segment, especially in relation to safety features.
Exterior Design
Interior Ambience
Passenger Space
Luggage Space
Safety
Comfort
Driving Dynamics
Powertrain
