Toyota Aygo X review | Auto Express (2024)

At a time when many brands are walking away from the city car segment, the Toyota Aygo X has put a new spin on the established formula. Its funky pseudo-SUV looks and sense of fun give the tiny Toyota a certain appeal, and set it apart from the more grown-up contenders in this class.

However, the Aygo X simply isn’t as refined, practical or cheap as its closest city car rivals – in fact, the Aygo X falls into the same price range as larger, more spacious and more powerful superminis – making it a bit of a heart-over-head choice.

About the Toyota Aygo X

The Toyota Aygo was one of the original sub-supermini-sized city cars, packing perky three-cylinder power, lots of scope for personalisation and just enough space for four people. The first iteration of Toyota’s dinky urban runabout was produced from 2005 to 2014, with its follow-up lasting up until 2021. Many other brands stepped away from the city car segment in that time, but Toyota clearly wasn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet, launching the Aygo X in 2022.

The first two generations of Aygo were mechanically identical sister cars to the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 108, with all three being built in the same factory in the Czech Republic. But with the Aygo X, Toyota decided to make the most of its in-house knowhow, and use a shortened version of the platform that underpins its Yaris supermini.

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However, its big brother’s frugal hybrid powertrain wasn’t carried over in an effort to keep the price down. Instead, the Aygo X features a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, offered with a choice of five-speed manual or CVT automatic gearbox.

While its predecessors had to fend off dozens of contenders in the city car class, the field has thinned in the time of the Aygo X. The entry-level Toyota’s main rivals are the Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10 twins, the now decade-old Volkswagen up! and the chic Fiat 500 –both the latest all-electric model and older mild-hybrid version. The price of the top-spec Aygo X also puts it in the same price bracket as superminis like the Renault Clio and Vauxhall Corsa, which are more refined, more spacious and more powerful, making it dangerous territory for the little wannabe SUV.

Starting from nearly £16,000, the entry-level Pure trim gets 17-inch wheels, a seven-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, adaptive cruise control and a reversing camera as standard. Edge spec adds larger 18-inch rims, automatic air-con, an eight-inch touchscreen and front foglights for an extra £1,100, while the Exclusive trim we tested gains LED headlights, parking sensors all round, an even larger nine-inch touchscreen and wireless phone charging, but brings the price up to roughly £19,000.

The top-of-the-range Undercover model features a unique grey and black two-tone exterior, a solid black finish to the standard-fit 18-inch wheels and coral-coloured decals and detailing to the interior, plus heated front seats. There are plenty of customisation options, including bi-tone paint schemes, sticker sets, chrome and Tokyo Red styling packs, and an opening canvas roof, though the latter is only available on Edge and Exclusive trim cars.

For an alternative review of the Toyota Aygo X, visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk...

In this review

• 1Verdict - currently readingToyota’s tiny pseudo-SUV might be a charming city car, but it costs as much as cars in the class above
• 2Engines, performance and driveThe Aygo X is easy to drive around town, but it lacks the refinement offered by its closest rivals
• 3MPG, CO2 and running costsThe Toyota Aygo X will be cheap to run, just not as cheap as its rivals
• 4Interior, design and technologyThe tiny Toyota’s new look has a sense of charm missing from the city car class in 2023
• 5Practicality, comfort and boot spaceWhile its boot is bigger than Toyota’s previous city cars, rear space in the Aygo X is very limited
• 6Reliability and safetySafety kit list is strong in the Aygo X, while Toyota offers up to ten years of warranty coverage