Toyota Aygo (2014 – 2022) Review

Toyota Aygo (2014 – 2022) At A Glance

3/5
Honest John Overall Rating
Easy to drive and easy to like, the Toyota Aygo is cheap to run but does come with some compromises, most notably a very small boot.

+Plenty of kit as standard. Quirky looks. Very reliable.

-Noisy engine. Interior feels cheap compared to a Volkswagen Up. Not much space.

Insurance Groups are between 1–9
On average it achieves 81% of the official MPG figure

The Toyota Aygo found plenty of favour with city car buyers, and rightly so as it offers a decent mix of low running costs, reliability and distinctive looks. There are compelling alternatives, though, including the Volkswagen Up, and Korean stablemates the Hyundai i10 and the stylish Kia Picanto. Read on for our full Toyota Aygo review.

Building on the success of the original Toyota Aygo, the second-generation car was once again a joint project with Citroen and Peugeot, who have their own versions in the shape of the Citroen C1 and the Peugeot 108.

However, this time around there was a lot more to differentiate the three, particularly in terms of looks.

The Toyota Aygo ditched the rounded look for a more angular and aggressive style, and in our opinion, it’s the most interesting of the trio.

There were lots of customisation options available with buyers able to choose different colours for the X on the front, rear bumper inserts and other exterior details.

It’s the same story inside with personalisation packs that provided gloss panels in various colours, giving it a youthful and funky feel.

The interior itself is more refined and comfortable than was the case in the first-generation Toyota Aygo, although it’s not as sophisticated as you’ll find in the Volkswagen Up.

Features like the dated trip display let it down somewhat. There’s a fair amount of hard plastic, too, but that doesn’t detract from the overall feeling of a well finished, durable interior.

This Toyota Aygo uses the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine as its predecessor, but with improvements to refinement and fuel consumption. It still has the same peppy nature, but is cheaper to run with official economy of 68.9mpg.

The model was updated in 2018 with extra sound insulation, but it’s hard to ignore the noise of the three-cylinder engine at higher speeds.

The car feels much more at home around town, with a tight turning circle and easy steering, although the short clutch travel takes a bit of getting used to. The gearchange is surprisingly precise for a car in this class.

While the Toyota Aygo doesn’t do anything revolutionary, it’s affordable to own as a used car and easy to live with. Of course, being a Toyota, a five-year warranty was standard from new, while fuel and insurance costs ought to be low.

Looking for a second opinion? Why not read heycar’s Toyota Aygo review.

Ask Honest John

What do I look for when buying my first car?

"I am finally looking to buy my first car (having been driving my mothers for about 10ish months). I am particularly interested in the Peugeot 107 (or Citroen C1, Toyota Aygo.... all the same really). I would prefer a used car as my budget is £4500 max. Is there any advice you would give when looking for a first car? What sort of things do I need to look out for, particularly with these makes?"
When choosing a first car one of the most important aspects is low running costs, particularly insurance. New drivers have the highest insurance premiums because they are less experienced, so we would recommend choosing a car with the lowest insurance group possible to minimise the insurance cost. The cars you have suggested are ideal; the Peugeot 108, Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo are all city cars with low insurance as well as low fuel and servicing costs. Other alternatives to look for include the Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto, Skoda Citigo, SEAT Mii and Volkswagen Up. As with any used car, finding an example with a full service history is recommended, as this shows that the car has been maintained correctly by its previous owners and reduces the likelihood of problems in the future. If you are unsure about what to look for we would also suggest taking along a friend or family member who is mechanically-minded to help you when shopping around. Once you have set your budget stick to it, and be sure to work out what your running costs will be including tax, insurance, fuel and servicing before taking the plunge.
Answered by David Ross

What is a good car for a new driver?

"We've promised our granddaughter a car for her 17th birthday, including insurance, total budget about £8000. She has not yet passed her test, and is not a racy driver ( pleased to say ), but she is popular and will no doubt end up ferrying friends around once she's passed her test. Have you any suggestions as to an appropriate car, and things to look out for, please?"
For a new driver a low insurance group is vital, so we would suggest cars such as the Ford Ka+, Kia Picanto, SEAT Mii, Skoda Citigo or Toyota Aygo, all of which are among the cheapest cars to insure. A large proportion of the budget will be taken up with insurance so it is sensible to factor this in when looking at purchasing a car. We would also recommend looking for a car with a full service history whenever possible.
Answered by David Ross

What would be a good first car for a new driver?

"Can you suggest make and model for a first car for a newly qualified 18 year old driver? Low cost please, including insurance (say less than £5k)."
For a new driver a low insurance group is vital, so we would suggest cars such as the Ford Ka+, Kia Picanto, SEAT Mii, Skoda Citigo or Toyota Aygo, all of which are amongst the cheapest cars to insure. With a budget of £5000, a large proportion of that will be taken up with insurance and a used car will mean a lower premium in any case, so we would suggest this is the best option.
Answered by David Ross

What's the best small automatic car for a new driver?

"What cars would you recommend for a new driver that needs an automatic?"
We would suggest looking at cars like the Toyota Aygo and Peugeot 108, both of which are cheap to insure and tax, and are available with automatic gearboxes. Also look at the excellent Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10.
Answered by David Ross
More Questions

What does a Toyota Aygo (2014 – 2022) cost?