Toyota plays tricks on us. You have to be careful. The Toyota Yaris GR, the super-trick four-wheel drive hot hatch, is actually part-Corolla and part-Yaris. And this Aygo X is not really an Aygo at all.
The Toyota Aygo as we know it is a small city car that was the result of a joint venture with Citroen and Peugeot. A great little machine that was, and is, the perfect car for students and young drivers.
The Aygo X is actually based on the bigger Yaris. Or rather, half of its components are shared with the larger car. Because the Aygo X uses the Yaris platform it is 235mm longer than the regular Aygo and 125mm wider. This has resulted in more shoulder room in the car but not unfortunately more rear legroom, which is on the tight side for larger adults.
The boot is bigger though, which is good news. As you might have guessed from the photographs, the X bit in the car’s name refers to its slightly raised stance and the grey plastics around the wheelarches. It is what we call a faux off-roader. Like Ford’s Active spec as used on the Fiesta and Focus.
The Aygo X is 11mm higher off the ground and 50mm taller overall. There’s only one engine offered, no fancy off-road electronics and it’s front wheel drive only. That engine is a 1.0-litre naturally-aspirated three-cylinder with only 71bhp.
You do have the option of an automatic CVT transmission but our car has the standard five-speed manual gearbox.
Surprisingly, considering it’s a Toyota, there’s no hybrid tech in the car at all. Not even mild-hybrid kit. Why? Because Toyota was determined to keep the weight and price down.
Both goals have been more or less achieved because the Aygo X weighs only 965kg and costs from £14,805. According to Toyota’s engineers, if the car was fully electric it would weigh an extra 500kg.
There are four trim levels to choose from starting with Pure, Edge, Exclusive and finishing with Limited Edition.
Ours is an Edge and costs £16,505. It has optional two-tone pearlescent Chili red paint for an extra £320. It’s worth it as it turns an already attractive small car into something eye-catching. The original and current Aygo rides on diddy wheels but the Aygo X comes with 17in wheels on the Pure, 18in on our Edge.
Inside there are splashes of orange trim around the air vents and gear lever surround. There’s an 8in multimedia screen, smart phone mirroring and enough manual controls for heating and ventilation to not create a distraction from driving.
As mentioned, the rear is still quite cramped but a luggage area 125mm longer than the standard Aygo’s is welcome.
The small, non-turbo engine does a good job around town and keeps up on motorways, but by modern standards it feels short of puff for hills and when overtaking.
Toyota quotes a 0-62mph time in 14.9seconds which, while not being in Citroen 2CV territory, is not brisk. That’s made up for by managing 57mpg and being comfortable even over choppy surfaces. The manual gearbox has a nice action and although we haven’t driven the automatic, I suspect the latter (especially as it’s a CVT gearbox) is less pleasant to drive as CVT boxes tend to let the engine revs rise and fall in an annoying way.
There aren’t that many cars like the Aygo X left. Simple city cars with economical petrol engines that are light, efficient and easy to park. Vauxhall no longer makes one; the Ford Ka+ is gone and the Smart is only available as a BEV.
Toyota is apparently going to replace the current Aygo and it will be similarly small and uncomplicated.
There’s room in the market for that and this Aygo X.
The facts
Toyota Aygo X Edge
Price: £16,505
Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol, 71bhp
0-62mph: 14.9 seconds
Fuel consumption: 57.65mpg
Co2: 110-117g/km
