AUGUST ROAD TEST: Toyota Aygo Edge

Looking for a smart small four-seat town car that you can take on the open road, then consider the Toyota Aygo Edge X, the latest evolution of what in these days we call a crossover.

In times gone by manufacturers were lavish with loan vehicles, BTN’s original motoring expert, Ted Wilkinson, boasting that one year he road-tested 52 cars, his own Triumph Stag not coming out of the garage.  These days Toyota relies on its dealers to help support press review cars.

I must start my review by saying that Steven Eagell Ltd of St Albans were generous with the loan of a demonstrator, writes Malcolm Ginsberg, Editor-in-Chief of BTN, a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers.

Whether you are a car customer or in for service one is met by a “hostess” ready to quickly point you to the right person.  Established in 2002 the dealership now has 32 outlets and is said to be the largest Toyota seller in Europe.

In December of this year Toyota will celebrate 30 years of UK production with a major assembly plant at Burnaston in Derbyshire, with an engine factory located in Deeside, North Wales.  It is the home of the Corolla mid-size saloon and less obvious Suzuki Swace.

Toyota Aygo is made in Kolín (Czech Republic).

Originally born in 2005 and continuously developed, the 2022 version is a sophisticated small city car sitting on 18-inch beautifully engineered alloy wheels, which would not be out of place in a car three times the price.  Designed for the narrowest city streets, Aygo X has an exceptionally small turning radius of just 4.7m, one of the tightest in the segment, but at the same time the door mirrors are manual.

The Aygo X is actually based on the bigger Yaris.  Because the Aygo X uses the Yaris platform it is 235mm longer than the regular Aygo and 125mm wider. This has resulted in more shoulder room in the car but no more rear legroom. Large adults will not be happy in the back.  The Aygo X is 11mm higher off the ground and 50mm taller overall. It sits up nicely with its well-modulated front end.  Front wheel drive a 1.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol driven three-cylinder engine which offers only 71bhp making motorway driving less than exciting, compensated by a fuel economy giving near on 60mpg.  With a 0-60 of just over 14secs you will not win a traffic light grand-prix.

However, you do have the option of an automatic CVT transmission, the test car offering a five-speed manual gearbox, handbrake in the middle where it should be and a slot in the traditional place for putting the key.  Drivers can use either the analogue or digital speedometer.

Luggage space is generous for such a small car with 231 litres, which is increased to 829 litres with the seats folded.  For all its good exterior looks once inside there is considerable bare metalwork to be seen.  

Surprisingly, considering it is a Toyota, there is no hybrid tech in the car at all. Not even mild-hybrid kit. Why? Because Toyota was determined to keep the weight and price down.  According to Toyota’s engineers, if the car was fully electric it would weigh an extra 500kg.  

The latest Toyota Safety Sense employs a combination of a monocular camera sensor and millimetre-wave radar. The pre-collision system (PCS) with vehicle detection now operates at higher speeds while its day and night pedestrian detection, daytime cyclist detection, collision mitigation support functions, intelligent adaptive cruise control, lane trace assist and emergency steering assist all make their Aygo debut.  This is only part of the extensive safety and driver assistance technology package.  A reversing camera and rear seatbelt reminders are provided as standard, but no satellite navigation, drivers expected to connect via a wire to the 8-inch screen and use a navigation system of their choice.  

In summary it is one of the best equipped small cars with the exception of the satellite navigation.  What happens if you have left your mobile phone behind?  A flat battery is no excuse.  There is a USB outlet in the front for charging (providing you have taken a wire with you). Front and rear LED lights makes the Aygo much more visible to other cars.  Automatic air conditioning comes as standard and just above the reversing mirror is a button for an emergency call, works independently from your personal phone and pinpoints your position.  A real crisis offering now fitted as standard to Toyota cars at the bottom of the product list.

The official price for the Toyota Aygo X Edge as tested, is £18,205, but talk to the nice people at Stephen Eagell and there could be a good saving.  

Although classed as a “Super Mini” this Aygo model reaches out to a new market, those wanting a superior small car that stands out, at a sharp price.  And no infuriating add-ons.  

The road test car came with a metal roof, but a retractable canvas version is available.

Performance 6
Handling 8
Transmission 8
Noise 6
Economy 9
Ride and Comfort 8
Accommodation 7
Styling 8
Brakes 6 (hybrid cars are better)
Finish 7

TOTAL 73%

https://mag.toyota.co.uk/toyota-aygo-x-revealed

www.toyota.co.uk

www.steveneagell.co.uk/toyota/our-locations/st-albans

Index/Home page
 

OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum