Toyota Aygo Review (2005 to date)

Quick Summary

Citycars used to be about as sophisticated as a karaoke night at the Queen Vic. The Toyota Aygo shows just how far they've come and makes a very convincing case for itself as a viable downsizing option. As a used buy, it's not the cheapest citycar you'll find but it might just be the best.

Overall:

Models Covered:(3/5dr hatchback 1.0 petrol, 1.4 diesel [Aygo, Aygo+, Sport])

EYE-CATCHING AYGO

Just when we thought the Yaris was the definitive small Toyota, the Japanese company brought us the Aygo. Cheeky, smart and keenly priced, the Aygo was one third of a partnership that also produced the Citroën C1 and the Peugeot 107. Had Toyota risked their impeccable build quality record for a quick hit? It would seem not as Aygo owners seem very satisfied with their cars. Used examples are available if you search for them and they're well worth tracking down.
Used Toyota Aygo for sale

History of the Aygo

The Aygo came about due to inflation. As the Yaris got bigger, room was freed up at the bottom of Toyota's product portfolio for a city car. Even for a company of Toyota's financial muscle, building an entirely new small car platform is not an inconsequential expense. What's more, carbon dioxide weighting regulations meant that they needed a new small car quickly in order to continue selling big models like the Land Cruiser. For the Aygo project, they teamed up with Citroën and Peugeot. This at first seemed a gamble, as Toyota's reputation for reliability is way ahead of either of these French companies and the scope for customising the basic package isn't enormous. Nevertheless, public reaction to the Aygo has been promising, helped by a canny piece of PR whereby a team of Aygos were given to BBC's Top Gear to use in a giant football match. The 1.0-litre petrol engine was initially the only powerplant offered when the Aygo was launched in May 2005 but a 1.4-litre diesel followed in February 2006.
Used Toyota Aygo for sale

Toyota Aygo Road Test

The Aygo is a citycar first and foremost, reflected in a sprint to 60mph that takes 14 seconds. The good news is the fact that the 1.0-litre petrol engine is predictably excellent in terms of fuel economy and emissions. The combined economy figure is 61.4mpg and emissions are pegged at a laudable 109g/km. These figures are helped by the fact that the 1.0-litre was billed as the world's lightest production engine. A five-speed manual transmission is the default choice, but Toyota's Multi-mode Manual Transmission is also available as an option, offering clutchless gear changing for those who want to take the drag out of city driving. Effort is further removed by the fitment of electrically-assisted power steering, making light work of turning the Aygo about face in just 9.46 metres. With 55bhp on tap, the 1.4-litre common-rail injection diesel engine actually generates less power than the 68bhp petrol alternative and posts a slower 0-60mph time but it dwarfs the 3-cylinder unit with its massively superior torque. If your Toyota is to be used for low speed, urban motoring where every traffic light seems to be red and pulling out of junctions is a pedal to the metal, drop the clutch affair, the 130Nm of torque available from 1,750rpm in the diesel will be a real boon. The petrol option can only manage 93Nm at a lofty 6,000rpm, so that gesticulating driver you've just pulled out in front of will be looming in the mirror like he's sitting in your back seat by the time you get up to speed. The diesel displays more muscularity than the petrol alternative at the kind of velocities that urban congestion forces us to do and its punchy nature should assist in extricating yourself from sticky situations. The penalty you pay for this is that it's substantially noisier than the petrol when idling and cruising.
Used Toyota Aygo for sale

Buying a Toyota Aygo

The Aygo is too new for any significant faults to emerge, and being a Toyota, it's likely to be a long time until they do. Insist on a fully stamped up service record.
Used Toyota Aygo for sale

Toyota Aygo Typical Pricing

Prices start at around £6,000 for a 1.0-litre Aygo, with the Sport model commanding £6,400 on a 2005 05 plate. You'll still need around £7,700 to get your hands on one of the desirable diesel variants. For most, the petrol will work out the more cost-effective proposition. As you might well expect, insurance for the Aygo is extremely cheap with the 1.0-litre cars rated at Group 1 and the 1.4-litre diesels at Group 2.
Used Toyota Aygo for sale

Toyota Aygo Parts

(approx based on a 2006 Aygo+ 1.0) Aygo spares are competitively priced and it's not unknown for Citroën C1 and Peugeot 107 owners to make a visit to their Toyota dealers to take advantage of this fact. A starter motor costs around £100 and brake pads are £25 a set.
Used Toyota Aygo for sale