The Toyota Aygo X, introduced in March 2022, is the Japanese carmaker’s smallest car on sale in Europe replacing the previous Aygo city car. It could be claimed the ‘X’ (pronounced Cross) is actually a new model in itself as there are many differences between both cars.
Agyo X differs from the previous model as it is built on the platform first introduced with the brand’s new Yaris and more recently with the Yaris Cross hybrid SUV. The car is styled as a mini crossover for city streets but with the design cues of an off-roader with its rugged looks. But an SUV it is not!
The exterior look of my top spec Limited version was enhanced by special edition colours of green-black with lots of contrasting bright orange accents both inside and out that added a bit of extra spice to the overall look. You can choose your spice from the sharp kick of Chill Red to Tarragon Green, or Ginger Beige.
At 3.7 metres long, this is a brilliant little motor for navigating city streets, with its tight turning circle, and easily fits into tight urban spaces. Customers can make a personal statement with their car as there are quite a few customising options to choose from. On top of all that, Aygo X is also a fun car to enjoy, putting a smile on my face every morning. I just wanted to get in and drive it.
The car is longer, wider and taller than the previous iterations of the nameplate. The car's slightly raised driving position makes it easy to get in and out of and also provides decent visibility, helped by the narrow front windscreen pillars. Thickish B-pillars block your side view, though.
The interior is cheerful and colourful with strong curves on the dash and door trims. Orange accents appear throughout, even on the piping of the sporty seats which were nice and comfy and offered good support. The driver’s seat gets manual seat adjustments but the front passenger’s seat has no height adjustment setting, not great for tall people. Front seats can be heated. There's fair elbow room up front but there's very little leg room in the rear for an adult seated behind a tall person. Children, though, will have no such bother. Small rear side windows are hinged to open outwards, making the rear a bit claustrophobic for some.
The boot capacity is 231 litres — which makes it a useful space for more than a few shopping bags, as was the case in the previous Aygo. That suggests the designers opted for more boot space over rear legroom.
The dash is dominated by the stylish central infotainment screen which starts at 7-inches on the entry-level models but which can be upgraded to 9-inches. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard which allows you to mirror your phone onto the screen for entertainment, navigation and communications. The instrument cluster provides all the information you require. There are physical climate control knobs and buttons.
Cubbies include a bucket-type glovebox, two cupholders and good front door bins. There is no front armrest. You’ll find a USB port and a 12-volt power socket in the front — there are none in the rear, just a 12-volt socket.
On the technology front, Toyota’s Smart Connect seamlessly keeps your phone and car in sync. This feature is only available on the near top Envy grade as is a wireless phone charger. I found the rear view camera worked fine on dull days but the view fades somewhat when reversing in bright sunshine.
The entry level Pulse trim gets 17-inch alloy wheels, a tyre repair kit, rear view camera; the mid Design spec adds a contrast roof colour, rear privacy glass, a CVT automatic transmission option, and bigger touchscreen, while the Envy adds 18-inch bi-tone alloys, climate control, blue ambient lighting.
Besides its special exterior paintwork and contrasting black roof, my Limited trim car had orange inserts on its black alloy and front and rear parking sensors.
Toyota Safety Sense includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control.
Power is from a 1.0, three-cylinder petrol engine outputting 72hp and 93Nm torque, and mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Toyota claim a combined fuel consumption of 4.8 L/100kms which compares favourably with the 4.5 L/100kms (63mpg) achieved for my week with the car.
The little engine takes around 15 seconds to go from 0-100km/h, but it is actually a fun car to drive when you rev up the engine. Besides its city driving credentials, I found the car also works fairly well for long distances.
Aygo X is produced in Toyota’s manufacturing plant in the Czech Republic and was awarded a four-star safety rating by Euro NCAP in 2022.
