Going it alone has been a big problem for Toyota. While he was threesome until then with Peugeot (106) and Citroën (C1), thus dividing the investment in the Czech factory, the abandonment of the post of the French reshuffled the cards of Aygo. This defection is motivated by increasingly demanding regulations that force small models to be priced well beyond their natural price. Toyota, bravely, still believes in the city car, but it realizes that it must increase the benefits and justify a higher price.
Thus was born the Aygo X, which is not a letter, despite appearances, but a kind of logo signifying Cross. Not very clear, you agree, but the laws of marketing are sometimes impenetrable. We should find this X on other models, which will thus create a family of urban crossovers. How did Toyota come up with this much newer model than it looks? By naturally drawing on his huge organ bank.
If the silhouette strongly evokes a previous generation Aygo but outrageously bodybuilt, it is no longer the same car at all. In reality, you have to look at the side of the big sister Yaris, produced in France, to find the base significantly enlarged according to the new canons of the urban car. Enough to assume its crossover mission, including sidewalk climbing. In this regard, it is rather a broken promise, because the ground clearance of 14 cm is nothing exceptional and also owes it to 17 or even 18 inch wheels. All great!
But the X has gained 235 mm in length, which now reaches 3.70 m. Bad news for rear passengers, however, is that only 90mm benefits the wheelbase, with the rest going to the very decent boot size at 231l (829l with seats folded down). That sounds a bit optimistic, with capacity downgraded by the optional JBL sound system subwoofer or included in the limited launch Air Limited, which includes a power canvas roof.
Curious architecture for a city car, especially when you decide to ride in the back. The narrow access does not allow a girl’s foot to pass normally and you will need ballerina’s ankles to settle on the seat. The rear windows are ajar on antique compasses, but the situation is much better up front.
You sit higher (5.5 cm), but above all more wide, with seats further apart by 20 mm and improved shoulder space by 45 mm. This was enabled by the increased structure width of 13cm, which has its small effect on the cabin volume increased by 16%. For the design, Toyota claims wheels that are 40% of body height, which is code for the premium crossover.
If the cabin environment didn’t yield so heavily to hard plastics, it could be described as successful, and even playful with the contrasting color accents of the doors, air vents and 9-inch rectangular multimedia screen in its ovoid housing. This is rather responsive and manages multimedia and wired connection or not with Apple Car Play or Android Auto.
At the driver’s disposal on the Aygo X are a host of amenities usually seen in the upper echelons. In fact, pedestrian detection, day and night, traffic detection at intersections, emergency directional assistance, reading of road signs, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with Lane Keeping Aid and Automatic High Beams will go a long way towards earning a 5 star Euro NCAP rating.
What also to face the urban jungle with these bicycles, scooters and pedestrians respecting nothing, and especially not the arrival of a car, considered non-priority. This Aygo X is a toy in town, reminiscent of the ease of the original Minis or the Fiat 500 today, clearly the core target. With its turning radius of 9.40 m, the Aygo X sneaks like no other and makes U-turns on the spot. The older ones would have just liked the steering wheel to also adjust in depth to match the back of the seat.
Available in a 5-speed manual gearbox, which shows the spirit of the small 3-cylinder at start-up, the Toyota can also be fitted with the continuously variable S-CVT automatic transmission. Pleasant in town as long as you don’t force the accelerator, the CVT always plays the moped skids afterwards. It’s up to you to adjust the right foot to avoid this inelegant skating.
On the road, the Aygo X procrastinates and is lazy in times. The small 3-cylinder 1.0 l, with its 93 Nm of torque, cannot work miracles and is noisy. It will therefore be necessary rather to undergo the rhythm of the traffic, the small Toyota leaving its favorite job, the city. Because of this vocation, the CVT box can be recommended, especially since it is practically as good in consumption as the manual box. It remains to pay the bill for it, and it is still salty. If the range starts at 15,990 euros, and two finishes, Dynamic and Design, each make a leap of 1,000 euros, it is the Collection version that will have to be retained, at 19,690 euros, to have the exact reflection. of this test.
MOST
– Original lines
– Rich Equipment
– Economical engine
– Urban trend
THE LESSERS
– Rear Accessibility
– Road trips
– High prices
– Plastic fillings
Engine: 3 cylinder petrol
Displacement: 998 cc
Power: 72 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 93 Nm at 4400 rpm
Drivetrain: front wheels
Transmission: 5-speed or CVT automatic
Dimensions L x l x h : 3 700 x 1 740 x 1 525 mm
Trunk: 231 to 829 l
0 à 100 km/h : 14,9 s / CVT 14,8 s
Vitesse : 158 km/h / CVT 151 km/h
Consumption: 4.8 -4.9 l / CVT 4.9-5.0 l
CO2 : 108 – 110 g/km (bad) / 112-114 g/km (not bad)
Poids : 940 kg (13,05 kg/ch)
Price: from €15,990 / CVT €17,990 to €22,990
