Toyota Aygo X Hatchback (2022 - ) review

While the Aygo X represents entry to the Toyota range, it isn’t the cheapest city car in the segment, especially when you move up through the different specification grades. That said, you do get a good level of standard convenience and safety kit. Items such as adaptive cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels, a reversing camera and smartphone mirroring with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay feature on the base model, for example. That gives it an edge over rivals such as the Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto. Only one engine is available in the Aygo X, a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol that be reasonably economical to run, thanks in part to the Toyota’s relatively low weight. An officially claimed 60.1mpg and CO2 emissions of 109g/km mean it has a VED rate of £160, though choosing the automatic puts it up a band so will cost a bit more to tax each year.

Toyota enjoys a solid reputation for reliability, and even though its ranking in some consumer-based surveys has gone down in the last few years it remains in a strong position. An attractive scheme called Toyota Relax provides up to a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty as long as the car is serviced per its schedule at a Toyota dealer. As standard the car comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, which is then extended following each subsequent service. Given that the Aygo X is a city car and not likely to cover high mileages each year, this is a real plus.

Small city cars often miss out on some of the more advanced safety features in order to keep costs down, but Toyota bucks the trend slightly with the Aygo X by making some technology standard that is only an option on even larger cars. A pre-collision system can help to prevent accidents happening at slower speeds, for instance, and it is also capable of detecting cyclists and pedestrians. Meanwhile, should you need to swerve to avoid an obstacle, the emergency steering assist can help maintain control of the car. One very useful feature is the adaptive cruise control that can keep a set distance to the vehicle in front, even if it slows down. The Toyota can also read the road signs to see what the local speed limit is and will let you know on the instrument display. Additionally, a lane trace assist function ensures that you don’t drift out of your lane on a motorway. The Aygo X is equipped with six airbags and seat belt reminders for the front and rear seats. There is an ISOFIX child seat restraint system and the front passenger airbag can be deactivated.

There’s a refreshingly modern look and feel to the interior of the Toyota Aygo X, with some of the exterior colour making its way onto the tops of the doors’ inner sections. A large analogue speedometer is easy to read, and it is supplemented by a smaller inset digital display that can provide additional information for the driver. All of the main touch points have a nicer feel than the car’s predecessor, too. Despite its five-door design, getting into the rear of the Aygo X isn’t the easiest thing to do as the rear doors don’t open to a particularly generous angle and the lower section is rather narrow. That rear door design also means the Aygo X has a smaller-than-average rear window, which can make it seem darker in the back seats. It doesn’t slide down either but can pop open on a latch for ventilation. The boot is a touch smaller than some, too, though it can carry a little more than the previous Toyota Aygo. Nonetheless, the rear seats can be split and folded down to take the overall cargo capacity up to 829 litres. A reasonably wide aperture does make loading bulkier items less of a challenge.

As standard there is a seven-inch touchscreen, with mid-range Edge versions getting an eight-inch display while the Exclusive model gains an impressive nine-inch touchscreen. The two larger displays also offer wireless phone connectivity, which opens up the use of your favourite apps for navigation, messaging and music on the move. A wireless charging pad is also available. For those that love their tunes, a JBL Premium Sound System with four speakers and a subwoofer is optionally available on the Exclusive trim. Front and rear parking sensors with an auto brake function are standard on the Exclusive model and optionally available on mid-level Edge versions. Top-spec Exclusive models also get LED headlights and keyless entry and engine start. A Limited Edition model as part of the car’s introduction offers a canvas roof, heated front seats with partial leather upholstery and striking 18-inch matt black alloy wheels.

For a company known for its hybrid expertise it seems strange there’s no electrified version of the Aygo X, especially since it now uses the same underpinnings as the larger Yaris. That aside, the 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine — the only one offered for the Aygo X —suits the car well. The five-speed manual gearbox is good to use and is sufficiently geared to cope with motorway driving at higher speeds without making the car feel strained. Its power output of 72 horsepower is helped by the car’s low weight. Being relatively light means it feels quick off the mark, and it doesn’t take long to get up to city speeds even if the leisurely 15.5 seconds 0-62mph time suggests otherwise. In reality that figure is irrelevant to such a car. Having large wheels helps it feel more stable at higher speeds and in corners it remains settled and seems surefooted. The suspension does a good job at soaking up bumps without affecting handling, making it drive more like a larger and more refined car on all road surfaces.