Toyota Aygo X review: New frugal city car has X factor
This fun, frugal, superbly equipped and good-looking urban crossover is ideal for city life, writes Jim McGill
We’ve long been told the time of the petrol city car in Europe is dead. Everyone who drives in the city will switch to electric. It’s the way of the future. Well, that memo doesn’t seem to have reached the offices of Toyota. Because the Japanese boffins have breathed new life into the Toyota Aygo X and created a compelling hybrid city car which knocks spots off its nearest petrol-powered rivals.
The original Aygo X was always attractive in terms of its likability, versatility, styling and perfect size for the city. Its one big flaw? Its engine. It struggled with an ageing 1.0-litre petrol unit which didn’t really have the power to lift the skin off a rice pudding.
But now Toyota has fitted a larger engine to the latest Aygo X and mated it to hybrid technology.
Ok, so tell me more
It sports a 1.5-litre hybrid powertrain taken from the larger Toyota Yaris. And we all know what a stonkingly good engine that is. In doing so, the Toyota designers have had to increase the length of the Aygo’s nose by 76mm to accommodate the larger powerplant. At the same time they’ve given the car a cleaner, sharper look with a newly restyled front-end that includes a new grille, bonnet, bumper and headlights. The overall appearance is much sharper and cleaner.
These changes combine to shift it significantly ahead of its principal petrol rivals in the city car stakes, namely the Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10. Yes, really. The Aygo X Hybrid takes things to another level, and the differences are hugely positive, including significant improvements in fuel economy and performance over the previous model.
Worth highlighting that the Aygo X Hybrid is now only available as an e-CVT automatic: there’s no manual gearbox available across the range.
Sitting on the same platform as the Yaris, the Aygo X adopts a new approach to accommodating its hybrid battery cell stacks. Being 20cm shorter than the Yaris which stores the cells in parallel, the Aygo X stores them longitudinally simply to allow them to squeeze below the rear seats. The engine is mated to two electric motors to deliver a combined 114bhp as opposed to the 71bhp of the previous engine.
It won’t surprise you to learn the new version is significantly faster than the previous model. In fact it slashes six seconds off the 0-62mph time which now comes round in just 9.2 seconds and carries on to a max of 107mph. CO2 figures have also fallen significantly, down from 110g/km in the Aygo X to 85g/km in the X Hybrid.
It gets even better when it comes to fuel consumption. Toyota’s official figure is 74mpg. Over my time with the car I regularly saw in excess of 80mpg, without even trying to be light-footed, and even on an extended motorway journey returned 78.8mpg. So it’s a frugal little thing.
Prices and trim
The new tech, automatic gearbox and larger engine have all contributed to a rise in price: the entry-level Aygo X Hybrid is around £4,000 more expensive than the previous Aygo X. But it should be emphasised there is nothing else on the market in the city car sector which offers a proper hybrid powertrain. You can choose from four trim levels, Icon, Design, Excel and GR Sport. The range starts at £21,595 and rises to £26,895, with the Design priced from £23,695 and the Excel from £26,045.
What’s it like inside?
While you might expect things to be tight inside the design team has cleverly created more space than you otherwise might expect. There’s ample room for two upfront and the dashboard is clean and well-organised. By city car standards the interior is really pretty decent, and it’s a cabin which is easy to live with.
There’s a new seven-inch digital instrument display; a new heater panel which is the simplest thing in the world to operate, and the controls mounted on the steering wheel are well placed and equally easy to operate. The centre console has also been redesigned, basically because it no longer has to accommodate a manual handbrake.
A 10.5-inch touchscreen, which is clear and easy to use, is standard on higher-specification models which also benefit from dual-zone climate control.
Overall build quality is excellent, and right up there with Toyota standards. Some of the interior materials are verging on the cheap side, but that’s where you have to remember the price point of the car. Yes, some more soft-touch materials would have been nice, and despite the fact there’s no glovebox overall the cabin for the driver and front passenger hits the spot.
Rear passengers though might have a few words to say to you. Here the space is tight, something to be expected given the car’s dimensions. Rear legroom for adults is compromised and you wouldn’t want to be sitting in the rear for too long. Of course, it’s fine for kids. Headroom too is on the tight side, especially when you have the super-cool electrically retractable canvas roof fitted, as my test car did. Bootspace, even for a city car, is on the rather small side at 230 litres.
And how does it drive?
This is where the Aygo X Hybrid properly thrives. It is perfectly at ease skipping down your favourite A-road or ticking off the miles on the motorway. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how versatile a wee thing it is … as long as there’s no more than you and your passenger in it.
Urban driving is a delight thanks to the electric motor which provides immediate response from low speeds and ensures you can seamlessly duck-and-dive with the city traffic. It’s a lively and confident package, and always feels perfectly at ease with its surroundings. Remember, power has increased from 71bhp to 114bhp in the new model, and the immediate performance is improved further thanks to the electric motor. Small it may be, but it’s a mature, grown-up city car.
As you would expect, handling is nimble and the steering well-weighted which makes the Aygo X Hybrid a delight to drive in town where its superb, tight turning circle makes parking and manoeuvring simple. Visibility, aided by the car’s excellent and elevated driving position, is clear and unobstructed.
I touched on the fuel economy earlier and its frugalness is likely to have you scratching your head and tapping the fuel gauges to ensure it’s actually working, such as its ability to sip fuel at such a slow rate.
Safety
There’s a strong suite of safety equipment as standard, with Toyota claiming a “best-in-class” package including upgraded Toyota Safety Sense technologies and new hybrid-specific features.
There’s an upgrade to the Pre-Collision System’s millimetre-wave radar and monocular camera which provides better detection of pedestrians, cyclists and crossing traffic at junctions when the vehicle is making a turn. Adaptive Cruise Control, operated via a switch on the steering wheel, is also standard, as is Extended Regeneration Control which contributes to more effectivebattery charging.
Predictive Efficient Drive learns driver behaviour and conditions on routes programmed into the cloud-based navigation system. This information is used by the hybrid system to optimise battery charging and discharge control, in line with the road and traffic conditions. Plus of course there’s Lane Trace Assist which helps the driver stay within their lane.
Warranty
The Aygo X Hybrid is eligible for Toyota’s warranty protection for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first). This comprises an initial three-year manufacturer warranty, followed by up to a further seven years of service-activated warranty.
Verdict
It is a fun, frugal, superbly equipped and good-looking urban crossover ideal for modern day city life. It’s actually difficult to find fault, within its city car remit.
Of course it costs more than the previous generation, but essentially the Aygo X Hybrid is a completely new car. No longer does it feel or drive like a car which really should limit itself to the city. It now has the strength and versatility to venture comfortably and unashamedly out onto the A-roads and motorwayswhere it will more than hold its own.
But it’s in the city where it really shines, where its combination of drivability, nimbleness, ease of parking, reliability and running costs make it impossible not to recommend. Throw in the warranty, and it’s a no-brainer.
The facts
Toyota Aygo X Hybrid
Price: From £21,595
Engine: 1490cc, 3-cylinders, 12-valve, twin electric motors
Transmission: e-CVT automatic, front-wheel drive
Power / Torque: 114bhp / 120Nm
Top Speed / 0-62mph: 107mph / 9.2secs
Fuel consumption: 74mpg (WLTP)
CO2: 85g/km
Dimensions (L/W/H in mm): 3776 / 1740 / 1525
On sale: Now
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