Name: Toyota Aygo Review
Item: Toyota Aygo
Author: Gumtree.com

A combined effort of three top brands, the Toyota Aygo was one among triplets – the other two being the Peugeot 107 and the Citroen C1. The trio share the same basic shape, interiors and engine. This hatchback is a fun machine that’s also super-frugal – meaning cheap thrills at their finest for city dwellers. Between the triplets, the Aygo is genuinely more distinctive and funky with its X-styled design. It’s definitely the way to go if you just want to get to the city centre, park quickly and get on with your weekend shopping.

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What we think about the Toyota Aygo

Fun to drive, easy to insure, doesn’t cost much to run – the Toyota Aygo hits the bullseye for a city car.

Pros

Practical yet compact

Great gearbox

Best-in-class economy

Cons

–

No glovebox

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Reliability falls short of competitors

Although it’s been around since 2005, the Aygo has only seen two generations so far – in 2005 and 2014. On top of that, there have been minor facelifts in 2009, 2012 and 2018 to help keep the car up-to-date. While there’s not much engine choice, six trims, two and five-door variants, and a recent soft-top edition give you plenty of options to customise to your needs. Trims go from the entry level x and x-play to the range-topping x-claim.

Driving performance of the Toyota Aygo

Our Driving Rating8 / 10

Safety and reliability of the Toyota Aygo

Our Safety Rating7 / 10

In terms of safety, Euro NCAP awarded the Aygo a reasonable four-star safety rating. Standard kit includes six airbags, safety belt pre-tensioners, hill-hold function and electronic vehicle stability control, which adjusts traction to suit road conditions like gravel or snow. The rear seats come equipped with Isofix child seat mounting points, while the five-door versions come with child locks. For second-gen models, an optional Toyota Safety Sense kit adds more advanced features like a lane-departure warning system. Reliability isn’t quite as strong as the other two direct competitors, but it’s not bad at all.

Under the bonnet of the Toyota Aygo

Our Engine Rating6 / 10

Under the bonnet, you’ll only find two variants – a 1.0-litre petrol and a 1.4-litre diesel. The diesels are few and far between now, as production ceased after the first two years due to reliability issues. With 0-60 mph taking just under 14 seconds, it’s not the fastest hatch out there, but then again it isn’t meant to be. The manual gearbox shifts speedily, and if you want something more hands-off, the five-speed semi-auto does the job just fine.

What you'll find in the Toyota Aygo

Our Design Rating7 / 10

Urban chic is the best way to describe the styling of the Aygo. At the centre of the design is the gaping bumper that manages to merge sharp edges and rounded corners in a fun yet perky way, making the swept-back headlamps the real highlight. The canvas roof option is a particular favourite. Lots of customisation and personalisation options also keep the Aygo from melting into the hoard of superminis and hatchbacks on packed city streets.

Comfort and interiors in the Toyota Aygo

Our Comfort Rating7 / 10

Much like the exterior, the interiors have fresh look. Any plastic bits are firm and substantial – but note that higher trims do offer better quality materials if that’s of importance to you. Head and shoulder room are quite good for front passengers, but the rear seats are best occupied by kids. Those who are over six-feet tall may find it a bit uncomfortable for longer journeys. The Aygo’s driver seat sits a couple of inches higher than other hatchbacks, providing a better viewing position when you find yourself shimmying through narrow city streets.

What features you'll find in the Toyota Aygo

Our Features Rating7 / 10

All Aygos have LED daytime running lights, remote door locking and an MP3-compatible radio as standard. The LED rev counter is a particular highlight in the newer models. Moving up the trim levels will fetch you larger wheels, air conditioning and a multimedia system. On the top-line X-CLUSIV trim, you get a touchscreen infotainment system along with a push-button keyless start. Going with a mid-line trim is recommended as it isn’t too much of a splurge for just a bit more functionality.

What fuel efficiency to expect from the Toyota Aygo

Our Fuel Consumption Rating9 / 10

On the economy front, the Aygo does brilliantly. Officially, the 1.0-litre petrol engine returns 68.9 mpg, and you can expect about 56.4 mpg on the five-speed manual and 54.3 mpg on the automatic. The closest competitors would be the Renault Clio or Ford Focus, but they do come in at a much higher price point and are slightly bigger too. The Aygo is the preferred choice among hatchbacks if you just want a city car and nothing more.

Running costs of the Toyota Aygo

Our Cost Rating9 / 10

Overall, the Aygo is relatively cheap to insure, with CO2 emissions standing at 114g/km for the manual and 119 g/km for the auto. If you’ve got the Toyota Safety Sense pack, it’s likely the car will fall into insurance group 6. Perhaps the youth appeal eats into the insurance margin a bit, so be prepared to shop around and drive a hard bargain where you can. Used car buyers also need to look out for worn-out exhausts and listen in for any blowout, which seems to be an issue on some older models. Regular servicing is relatively cheap due to its small size.

Our verdict of the Toyota Aygo

4 / 5 Gumtree rating

The smallest car in the Toyota family, the Aygo perfects the trifecta of fun, fuel and finance.

Toyota Aygo Review