Should you buy one?

The Toyota Aygo X is a great-looking vehicle with loads of plus points, but one or two negatives that mean we can’t wholeheartedly recommend it. It’s a city car with the Goldilocks factor—not too big, nor too small. The redesigned nose brings it in line with the Toyota range, without losing that iconic Aygo lineage, but if rear-seat room and luggage space are important to you, look elsewhere.

Spacious upfront with a generous safety spec and an elegant infotainment interface that won’t date quickly, the disappointment of the engine noise and unpolished gear shifting fades quickly. The interior comfort, low running costs and compact turning radius pile on the fun factor. Meanwhile, Toyota’s reputation for reliability, maintaining residual costs and extendable warranty all factor into the Aygo X’s appeal.

The target driver for the Toyota Aygo X isn’t after a punchy supermini. City dwellers will find the drive and handling suitable for their needs. Though undeniably electrified runabouts are brilliant for urban environments, and much quieter, EV charging infrastructure means a petrol-powered Aygo X is still a very relevant and compelling proposition.

‘The Aygo X proved perfect for the kind of journeys I think most owners buy them to do – short jaunts across town,’ Tom said after finishing his long-term test.

‘I live just outside Peterborough and most of my social life goes on in the city centre – so I spend a lot of time driving in and out. The 10-mile or so trip takes me about 20 or 30 minutes usually, and that’s a sweet spot for the Aygo.

‘The problem I had is that my journeys are often further afield – airport runs, journeys home to see my parents or cross-country to see friends. It’s on these journeys that the Aygo’s lack of grunt and motorway manners show through – and it’s why I’ve defaulted to using alternative cars for those kinds of journeys, keeping the Aygo’s mileage down.’

What we like

It drives well, aside from a lack of sparkle in the engine department, and you can’t argue with the sheer amount of tech on offer.

What we don’t like

It’s a shame that the rear seats are so cramped and the prices are on the high side – but it probably wouldn’t come with half the kit it does if it were a budget-priced car.

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