Cars Toyota Aygo x-Clusive News Idition

The original Aygo was a big hit for Toyota, with its compact dimensions, minuscule running costs and cheeky looks earning it strong sales across the UK. So the Japanese brand hasn’t messed too much with that winning formula, instead investing in striking looks and new tech.

Interior space is marginally improved, and a new x-touch smartphone-optimised infotainment system brings it bang up to date. Buyers can change the colour of the ‘X’, wheels and rear bumper, as well as a selection of snap-in interior parts. It’s a tactic designed to attract young fashionable customers to the brand, and proves Toyota is trying to put an era of bland designs behind it.

The ride is exceptionally good, and body roll is reasonably well controlled. Chunky front seats are nicely shaped and make comfy places to park your behind, so basic comfort is impressive. At start-up, the characteristic noise of the three-pot engine is a slight annoyance, but the engine fades to a barely distinguishable background thrum at low revs. When you put your foot down, though, a vocal three-cylinder 'growl' adds a bit of sporty character in lieu of any real feeling of acceleration.

While there's no doubt that the Aygo comes with a lot of kit, including an excellent seven-inch touch-screen multimedia interface and navigation unit, it's also a little pricey, and certainly a few hundred pounds more expensive than the rival Citroen C1 and Peugeot 108. But the bags of style will ensure that this will be a big-seller. Compare it with the previous version and it is like looking at two completely different cars.

It's also big on choice and value, with an 11-strong line-up of three and five-door models, starting from £8,595. All are powered by the latest version of Toyota’s 1.0-litre VVT-i petrol engine, a unit famed for its great fuel economy and low emissions. In fact it produces so little CO2, customers don’t have to pay any annual road tax Yes, the Aygo is a radical change in direction and it is aimed fairly and squarely at young, funky urban and suburbanites with an eye on their first new car.