New Toyota Aygo X Debuts As An Adventurous City Car For Europe

Toyota has taken the wraps off the brand new Aygo X which is their new model in the A-Segment infusing crossover elements into their city car. The production version of the Aygo X Prologue retains most of the quirky styling of the concept car and is set to arrive in Europe in 2022 with a single non-hybrid engine option.

Toyota first launched the Aygo in 2005 as part of the collaboration with the PSA Group, alongside its Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107 siblings. The trio had a second generation in 2014 as significantly redesigned versions of the original models but with Peugeot and Citroen choosing not to launch a replacement, Toyota wanted something radical for the next generation Aygo.

As one of the few remaining automakers still investing in the A-Segment, Toyota decided that European buyers would fancy a “compact urban crossover”. The concept was designed in France, with the production version developed in Belgium. Toyota’s designers did a great job in transferring the design of the concept to the production model and while a few details are toned down, the Aygo X still looks fresh.

The large-diameter wheels measuring 17- or 18-inches have a positive impact on the proportions of the car while increasing the ground clearance by 11mm (0.4 inches). The crossover looks are enhanced thanks to the plastic cladding around the wheelarches matching the bi-tone treatment of the heavily sculpted bodywork. The full-LED headlights and taillights have modern graphics while the shape of the side windows adds some sportiness to the mix.

The Aygo X has some bold color options including Cardamon, Chilli, Ginger, and Juniper, all combined with black on the b-pillars, roof, and rear section. A retractable canvas roof is also available for an open-air feel.

Unlike its predecessors, the all-new Aygo X is based on Toyota’s own GA-B platform that also underpins the Yaris and Yaris Cross, with reduced overhangs and a downsized rear chassis section. Naturally, it is the most compact model in Toyota’s range, measuring 3,700 mm (145.7 inches) in length, 1,740 mm (68.5 inches) in width, and 1,525 mm (60 inches) in height, with a wheelbase of 2,430 mm (95.7 inches) and a curb weight of 940 kg (2,072 pounds).

The new platform brought a larger footprint compared to its 3,455 mm (136.0 in) long predecessor, with the extra 235 mm (9.3 inches) in length resulting in more space for the rear passengers and a larger boot while keeping it agile with a 4.7 m (185 inches) turning radius. The cargo space is 231 lt (8.2 cubic feet) up to the tonneau cover, which is considerably larger than the 168 lt (5.9 cubic feet) of the previous generation, and it can grow up to 829 lt (29.3 cubic feet) with the rear seats folded.

Moving inside, the styling is again focused on younger demographics with curved lines and color touches matching the exterior.

The focus is on the 9-inch touchscreen integrating the Toyota Smart Connect infotainment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, over-the-air updates and cloud-based navigation. Other features include the three-spoke steering wheel with integrated buttons, a small display on the instrument cluster, ambient lighting, wireless charging, and a JBL four-speaker audio system with a 300W amplifier and a 200 mm subwoofer in the trunk.

The driver seats 55 mm (2.2 inches) higher compared to the previous model with improved forward visibility thanks to the increased angles of the A-pillars. Toyota engineers have also improved noise insulation and claim it is among the best in the A-Segment. Unfortunately for the rear passengers, they only have access to pop-up windows that can’t slide down.

In terms of safety, all variants of the Aygo X come standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite combining a monocular camera sensor and millimeter-wave radar. ADAS includes the Pre-Collision System (PCS) with vehicle detection, day and night Pedestrian Detection, daytime Cyclist Detection, Collision Mitigation Support, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Trace Assist and Emergency Steering Assist.

Toyota’s heavily electrified range mix allows them to offer a non-hybridized city car which was cheaper to develop thus more affordable. Thus, the Aygo X is offered with a single powertrain option, a naturally aspirated 1.0-liter 12-valve three-cylinder gasoline engine which produces 71 hp (53 kW / 72 PS) and 93 Nm (68.6 lb-ft) of torque. The mill is mated to either a five-speed manual gearbox or an S-CVT automatic sending power to the front axle.

City cars are not focused on performance so we didn’t expect the Aygo X to be a pocket rocket. The manual-equipped model accelerates from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 15.6 seconds and has a top speed of 158 km/h (98.2 mph), while the numbers for the S-CVT are 15.5 seconds and 151 km/h (93.8 mph) respectively. In terms of efficiency, Toyota claims a WLTP combined fuel consumption of 4.7 lt/100km (50 mpg) with the manual and 4.9 lt/100km (48 mpg) with the CVT. Carbon dioxide emissions are 107 g/km in the combined cycle.

The Toyota Aygo X will be available in the European market starting from 2022. Pricing will be announced closer to the market launch.