Used Toyota Aygo X 2022-present review

Is it a city car? Is it a small SUV? No, it's the Toyota Aygo X!

That said, the Aygo X – pronounced Aygo Cross – is much more urban runaround than it is a wilderness explorer. Sure, it sits 11mm higher off the ground than the previous Aygo, for increased ground clearance and visibility, but its 4x4-inspired exterior doesn't translate underneath.

Unlike the Suzuki Ignis and Fiat Panda, there isn't a four-wheel-drive Aygo X. You can only get the model with front-wheel drive, and the only engine available is a 71bhp 1.0-litre petrol unit – that's good for fuel economy, but not so much for off-roading. The gearbox options consist of a five-speed manual and a CVT automatic gearbox.

• Looking for an older car? Read our 2014-2022 Toyota Aygo and 2005-2014 Toyota Aygo used buying guides

We can forgive the Aygo X's lack of off-road ability, but what's harder to do is overlook its lack of on-road grunt. Around town, its 71bhp is enough to get by, but getting up to motorway speeds demands a heavy right foot and some patience – officially, it'll do 0-62mph in 14.9sec.

Despite only being slightly more powerful, the 82bhp engine in the Hyundai i10 makes noticeably lighter work of high-speed roads.

Fortunately, the rest of the driving experience impresses. City cars can often feel top-heavy, reducing their handling prowess. They can also have busy, choppy rides, decreasing comfort. The Aygo X, while still firm, rides remarkably well for a city car, resisting body roll and soaking up bumps with relative ease.

Unlike previous Aygos, the Aygo X sits on a modified version of the larger Toyota Yaris's mechanical underpinnings (and is all the better for it).

The steering response could be sharper, but there’s enough weighting to help you place the car accurately on the road. The Aygo X's turning circle is also helpfully tight. The five-speed manual offers a precise, satisfying shift as well.

Continuing with the good news, even the entry-level Pure trim gets you all the kit you’ll need, including 17in alloy wheels, electric front windows, automatic headlights, air conditioning and touchscreen infotainment.

Mid-range Edge trim adds a two-tone paint finish, 18in alloy wheels, climate control, automatic wipers and rear privacy glass, while range-topping Exclusive trim gets you keyless ignition, LED headlights, ambient lighting and some faux-leather on the seats.

A Limited Edition version was on sale briefly – when the model launched in 2022 – and comes with heated front seats, an opening canvas sunroof, black alloy wheels and metallic green paint. The Air Edition also features that canvas sunroof, but gets the equipment of the Edge trim.

Inside, it's easy to find a comfortable driving position in the Aygo X – again, that's not something always present in city cars. The seat is height-adjustable and the steering wheel and pedals line up well. The instrument cluster has a 4.2in colour screen and displays useful information including your speed, fuel economy and media selection.

There are three different sizes of infotainment screen available for the Aygo X, yet all of them have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring. Entry-level Pure trim gets a 7.0in set-up, mid-range Edge has an 8.0in display, while Exclusive and Limited Edition get a 9.0in one.

The 9.0in screen has a much simpler main menu for your navigation, media and phone functions, while the 7.0 and 8.0in displays feature a far less intuitive layout (as used on older Toyota infotainment systems).

As a whole, the interior looks funky and feels well built, but there are a plethora of cheap-feeling materials everywhere. It's on par for the class, but some rivals, such as the Kia Picanto (in its high-spec trims), feel slightly more premium inside.

There's plenty of space on offer up front, with enough elbow room to avoid a cramped feel, as well as a decent amount of leg and head room for those over 6ft tall. In the rear, space is tight for adult passengers, while the canvas sunroof reduces head room further. With limited leg room and small side windows (which pop out instead of wind down), tall adults won't want to sit back there for too long.

The Aygo X’s 231-litre boot is pretty puny, with the i10 and Picanto offering more than 250 litres. There's enough space for your weekly shop or a couple of carry-on suitcases, but the opening of the boot is rather small and there’s a very high lip, making it awkward to load larger items.

If you're interested in finding a used Toyota Aygo X or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.

As of writing, the most affordable Toyota Aygo Xs – 2022 Pures – will set you back around £13,000. It should have a low mileage, be in excellent condition and still be within the Toyota dealer network. At most, spend around £19,000 on a nearly new Exclusive example.

Check the value of a used Aygo X with What Car? Valuations

Find used Toyota cars for sale

MPG

The Aygo X's official average is 60.1mpg, while our True MPG results puts it at 52.2mpg.

Road tax

You'll be paying the current flat-rate fee of £180 per year in road tax.

Insurance and servicing

Insurance groups range from five to seven, depending on specification. As such, the Aygo X should be very inexpensive to insure, compared to other cars.

You can buy a full service of the Aygo X for £315 through Toyota.

Engine

Go for the manual gearbox if you can. While the CVT automatic will give your left leg a break, the limited grunt of the Toyota Aygo X means the engine revs rise for prolonged periods of time as the auto 'box struggles to manage what little power there is. Things soon become noisy and unpleasant.

Trim

Entry-level Pure is well equipped, not to mention it's the most affordable trim of the lot. Unless you have some extra cash and really fancy, say, the canvas roof of the Limited Edition and Air Edition models, stick with Pure.

Our favourite Toyota Aygo X: 1.0 VVT-i Pure

The city car class has been dwindling in recent years, meaning nearly new rivals aren't quite as plentiful as they used to be. However, the Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto are still going strong. Compared to the Toyota Aygo X, they offer more variety and more power in their engine ranges, as well as a slightly higher level of practicality.

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here

If you're interested in finding a used Toyota Aygo X or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.