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Toyota Aygo (2014 – 2022) Review

2021 Toyota Aygo 1.0 VVT-i X-Play TSS 5dr Toyota Aygo
1.0 VVT-i X-Play TSS 5dr
£10,495
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Toyota Aygo (2014 – 2022) At A Glance

3/5

+Plenty of kit as standard. Quirky looks.

-Noisy engine. Interior feels cheap compared to the Volkswagen Up. Not much space. Steering wheel doesn't adjust for reach.

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

Building on the success of the first Aygo, the second generation is once again a joint project with Citroen and Peugeot who have their own versions in the shape of the C1 and 108. However, this time around there's a lot more to differentiate the three, particularly in terms of looks.

So, the Aygo ditches the rounded and soft look for a more angular and aggressive style. Toyota wants the Aygo to be unashamedly Japanese in its design, and there's certainly plenty going in. In our opinion it's the most interesting of the trio. There are lots of customisation options available with buyers able to choose different colours for the x on the front, rear bumpers inserts and other exterior details.

It's the same story inside with personalisation packs that give you gloss panels in various colours, giving it a youthful and funky feel. The interior itself is more refined and comfortable than the original Aygo, although it's not as sophisticated as a Volkswagen Up.

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

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

Toyota updated the Aygo for 2018 with extra noise insulation but it's hard to dampen the noise of the three-cylinder engine at higher speeds. Things are better around town, with a tight turning circle and easy steering - although the short clutch travel takes a bit of getting used to. The gear change is surprisingly precise for a car in this segment.

While the Aygo doesn't do anything revolutionary in the same way as the Volkswagen Up trio, it will be an affordable city car to own and an easy one to live with. Of course, being a Toyota, it comes with a five-year warranty as standard, while fuel and insurance costs ought to be low.

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

 

 

What do owners think of the Toyota Aygo (2014 – 2022)? Check out our Owners' Reviews from people who live with the car day in, day out.

Real MPG average for a Toyota Aygo (2014 – 2022)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

81%

Real MPG

43–70 mpg

MPGs submitted

276

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Reviews for Toyota Aygo (2014 – 2022)'s top 3 rivals

Volkswagen Up
5/5
Funky little city car. Cheap to run with low CO2. Lively and fun to drive. Large enough for four adults....
Peugeot 108
3/5
Good standard specification for a low price, cheap to run and cheap to insure, surprisingly mature driving...
Fiat 500
3/5
Stylish and full of character. Really affordable to buy. Low running costs.

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
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