The city car market is overflowing with competition, so it can be tough to stand out. But what about Toyota’s little Aygo?

Well, the Aygo ticks the basic boxes of city car prowess – it has a stylish exterior, plenty of kit on offer and efficient powertrains. It still has to go toe-to-toe with the likes of the Volkswagen Up and Fiat 500 though, so buyers will be looking for reasons to side with the little Japanese city goer.

The ace up the Aygo’s sleeve is its low entry price and impressive five-year warranty, but for younger buyers, will that be enough to make them run to their parents and ask them to buy them one?

Performance

The only engine option for the Aygo is a three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine producing 68bhp. Being a three-pot, it comes with some recognisable characteristics, like a loud grumble under pretty much any acceleration and a distinctive lack of power, taking 14.2 seconds to get to 62mph.

The Aygo’s lack of oomph isn’t helped by the fact that it is naturally-aspirated instead of turbocharged. The flipside to this however is that acceleration in the Aygo is incredibly smooth right through the rev range – unlike the inconsistent bubbles of power you get with a turbo. This makes the Aygo a predictable and pleasurable drive in a close quarters city environment.

That three-cylinder 1.0-litre is mated to a smooth five-speed manual gearbox, which further enforces its smooth power delivery. The Aygo may not have fire in its belly, but for those who want a no-nonsense, responsive drive, the Aygo plays the part very well.

Ride and Handling

The Aygo isn’t what we would call sporty, but take it out on a twisty road and it is actually quite fun, with loads of grip and accurate steering.

A city car should be stress-free to drive – and that’s exactly what the Aygo is. Drive around busy streets and the light steering and comfy ride is ideal. Its snug size makes tight parking a breeze as well, especially when you have the reversing camera option ticked. The Aygo isn’t what we would call sporty, but take it out on a twisty road and it is actually quite fun, with loads of grip and accurate steering. Sure, the steering lacks feedback and you can feel a fair bit of body roll when cornering at speed, but for such an out and out city-dweller, the Aygo handles itself well. Motorway driving will remind you of its city car roots though, with lots of wind and road noise, and a lack of overtaking-finesse.

Interior and Equipment

The Toyota Aygo is built on the same platform as the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 108.

The first thing you will notice in the Aygo’s interior is the body-coloured panels that pave the doors. This is a popular feature of city cars and superminis, and on many models it can make them look cheap. Our Aygo, however, managed to get away with it, as its yellow door panels matched its vibrant Yellow Fizz paint job, air vent surrounds, gear knob and seat stitching. Quality in general in the interior is very plastic-heavy, but hard-wearing and appropriate for a city car. The layout of the interior offers a familiar city car feel too, with two cup holders in the centre console and a centrally-mounted infotainment system which houses everything from radio to Bluetooth controls. Highlights of the x-cite trim we tested included Bluetooth, DAB radio, a reversing camera, a four-speaker audio system and, for an additional £400, sat-nav. Being a city car, the Aygo is hardly what you would call practical. The rear seats will sit two adults – just about – but head and leg room is limited, so you’ll want to keep it to short journeys. The boot is tight as well, with just 168 litres, which is fine for a few shopping bags, but not much else.

Cost

Go for a well-equipped model like our x-cite and you’ll be looking at closer to £12,500, which seems like a lot more but is still competitive against the likes of the Fiat 500.

An entry-level Aygo will cost you just £8,495 – but that is very basic, with the likes of Bluetooth being excluded from the kit list. Go for a well-equipped model like our x-cite and you’ll be looking at closer to £12,500, which seems like a lot more but is still competitive against the likes of the Fiat 500 when you consider the amount of kit that comes with it. The Aygo also comes with a head-turning five-year 100,000 mile warranty. When it comes to running costs and CO2 emissions, the Aygo’s lack of power starts to make sense, as it comfortably returns between 40-50mpg around the city and emits just 98g/km.

Our Verdict

You have to delve deep into the Aygo to discover its superior qualities, but they are definitely there. It is easy, yet surprisingly fun to drive, it’s stylish, has low running costs and a decent amount of kit. For many parents looking at first cars for their kids, the five-year warranty will be a great perk as well. For those who want to focus more on affordability as opposed to costly style options, then the Aygo is one of the best city cars currently on sale.