Test drive in the new Toyota Aygo X: Get out of the gas trap with a small car

Created: 3/31/2022Updated: 3/31/2022 10:46 am

By: Rudolf Boegel

Renaissance for the small car.

Since the price of sports has been rising so rapidly, cars like the new Aygo have become interesting again.

©Toyota

Can a small car be sexy?

The new Toyota Aygo X is the best proof of that.

Not only the curvy shapes convinced us, but also the curves with the little rascal.

• The small car Toyota Aygo X from Japan is available for prices starting at 15,400 euros.

• With five liters of fuel consumption, the Aygo defies even the biggest energy crisis.

• Beeping switches and annoying gears - these details are lacking, however.

Does it always have to be an SUV?

Do you really need one of those giant pieces of equipment in front of the front door that works on terrain but starts to swim at the first big puddle?

No, it's time for a renaissance.

The

.

You almost have to look for it with a magnifying glass because it is sorted out by the large corporations in rows.

Too little return, they say.

does not let the mini-fun on four wheels be taken away and has

reinvented the smallest in the range, the

Which models in the driving test might also interest you*.

The Aygo X is modern and tidy – but not boring on the inside.

The boldly staged screen is an eye-catcher.

©Toyota

Toyota Aygo X: The vehicle colors contain pepper

The

- that's the cheeky little one with the X face.

Because that fell a little short with the facelift, the X has now been included in the name.

The Aygo is now called the

.

That the distinctive

has receded into the background a little, but that doesn't mean that the city runabout has lost its character.

He's more of an adult.

More mature maybe.

But by no means boring.

The two-tone paintwork alone ensures that.

And there's quite a bit of pepper in there.

Because the color combinations are based on spices.

This is modern lifestyle.

Chili, ginger, cardamom and juniper - that means nothing else like red, golden, yellow and blue.

We liked the gold combination with the black roof best.

Looks valuable.

Not at all like small cars.

It's also funny that the paintwork continues on the inside of the doors.

Should not only the passers-by have something of the conspicuous appearance.

The nine-inch screen with the corresponding multimedia system is only available from the Explore equipment upwards.

©Toyota

Toyota Aygo X: Spherical air vents as an eye-catcher

The interior is also extravagant.

Although the

is built on the same technical platform as the larger Yaris and is therefore just as comfortable in the rear, it looks very different.

The

also has character.

Right and left with the large spherical air vents, in the middle the screen, which can be up to nine inches in size, was staged in a lively manner.

Positive: The display disappears flush in the dashboard and doesn't look like a tablet that was added on later.

accepts both

and

via

without a murmur

.

However, this is only in the higher quality configurations, but the cable connection still works in the basic version.

Summer fun with sunroof.

Must of course be ordered separately.

The Aygo is available in a total of five trim levels.

©Toyota

Design of the Toyota Aygo X: Better overview through higher seats

is proud

because the Aygo is now clearer.

On the one hand, the A-pillars have been slimmed down and, on the other hand, the seating position has been increased.

5.5 centimeters more - the all-round view increases considerably.

If only Toyota hadn't skimped on the seats.

They are a bit uncomfortable after a long drive.

And that's a shame, because the

is otherwise pretty good for longer distances.

Because it is well insulated, largely leaves the street noise outside and offers plenty of space in the front.

Children sit in the back or, if need be, adults on short journeys.

But at least the Aygo is a genuine

, so that no one has to snake past the folded driver's seat.

Speaking of space, one of the main criticisms of the predecessor was the trunk volume.

However, because the new Aygo uses the Yaris kit and, to put it simply, the rear has only been shaved off a little, the

offers quite a lot in this class.

If that's too abstract for you: Two small suitcases fit in the back in the standard hand luggage format for airplane cabins.

If you fold down the seats, you almost have a station wagon in the back.

829 liters volume, that's quite a lot for a 3.70 meter long car.

Spicy like chili.

Red and black is the most fiery color combination offered on the Toyota Aygo X-Cross.

©Toyota

The small car meanders through the curves

Small but great!

With the Toyota Aygo X, this not only applies to design and space.

But also on the handling.

With a

of 4.70 meters in radius, the proverbial powerslide on a beer mat won't do, but it can turn in one go on most roads.

This can be an unbelievable advantage, especially when looking for a parking space in the city, which is dominated by great competition.

But the

also has a fun factor that is not to be scoffed at.

The rascal meanders through the curves almost like a sports car.

Only relatively late, but all the more courageously, does the safety system intervene in the curves when the car wants to push over the front axle due to excessive speed.

One liter displacement, three cylinders and 72 hp.

The petrol engine is not a racing machine, but it only has to move a ton of car.

©Toyota

Real driving pleasure - but only with the handset

And even the

does not turn out to be a spoilsport.

With

Depending on the speed, powerful power can even be built up.

If you want to save fuel, you can get by with just under five liters even with a brisk driving style.

That's pretty much what is stated.

These values ​​were confirmed during our test drives once through the morning traffic of Barcelona and then in the Penedes hills near the Catalan capital.

We can advise against the CVT automatic transmission at this point.

The abbreviation stands for "Continuously Variable Transmission".

Older semesters will remember the Variomatic from DAF - the principle is simple: Put simply, there are no gears as you know them from conventional transmissions, but the engine can always run in the most efficient range.

Which is usually the case at higher speeds.

As a result, the petrol engine howls like an old wolf heartbroken.

This sounds annoying, especially when accelerating.

And while we're on the subject of acoustic annoyance: the beepy feedback from the control buttons is a real impertinence.

The question arises above all with the volume control on the steering wheel.

Why does the button have to beep when you turn volume up and down?

Too bad, because the optionally available sound of the JBL speakers is great cinema even for such a small car. 

The 231 liters of luggage space expand to 829 liters with the seats folded down.

This is great for weekend shopping.

©Toyota

Manoeuvrable, practical, inexpensive - that's our verdict on the new Aygo X

Nevertheless, our

is positive and a real plea for the

: Manoeuvrable, fast, practical and pleasant to drive.

This is how a car should be.

You can afford the Aygo even with a small purse.

If you look at the fuel prices, then daily operation is still cheap.

And it will be some time before a comparably affordable electric car comes onto the market.

Therefore, small cars still have a great future, especially in inner-city traffic.

Specifications Toyota Aygo X Entry (Basic Version)

• Engine: three-cylinder petrol

• Displacement: 998 cc 

• max. power: 53 kW (72 hp) at 6,000 rpm

• Max. torque: 93 Nm at 4,400 rpm

• Drive: Front

• Transmission: 5-speed shifter

• 0-100km/h: 14.9 seconds

• Top: 158 km/h

• Standard consumption: 4.7 - 5.2 l/100 km

• CO2 emissions: 115 - 118 g/km 

• Length / width / height: 3.70 / 1.74 / 1.53

• Trunk: 231 - 829 l

• Empty weight / payload: 940 / 420 kg

• Price from: 15,390 euros

Of course, the year 2022 also has some new electric cars to offer - which models you can look forward to in spring or summer.