Used Toyota Aygo X cars for sale

Used Toyota Aygo X pros and cons

Is a second hand Toyota Aygo X a good car?

Let’s say you fancy a big, tough-looking 4x4, but your budget — and the width of the street where you live — only stretches to something small and economical. Well, Toyota has the answer in the shape of the Aygo X, a small hatchback that’s pretending to be a Land Rover.

It’s not the only small car to try that on — alternatives include the Fiat Panda 4x4 (which is genuinely off-road capable) and the Suzuki Ignis — but the Toyota is a bit more of a faux-by-four than those. It’s tough and useful, and those big plastic mouldings will protect the bodywork from urban dings and dents, but it’s front-wheel drive only, so don’t try getting too deep into the mud.

The cabin is pretty cheap-looking and cheap-feeling, but then the Aygo X has never been an expensive car. At least it’s livened up by some coloured and textured panels, and the slightly raised driving position gives you a good view out. 

The touchscreen gets Toyota’s much-improved infotainment software (try an old C-HR to see how frustrating the previous version could be…) which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connections, so it’s well set up for commuting. 

The back seats are less impressive and frankly it’s a bit of a grown-up no-go zone, as knees will be stuffed into the backs of the front seats and heads will be brushing the roof. It’s fine for kids though. 

Boot space is decent at 231 litres — much better than the tiny boot of the older, non-X Aygo model — but it’s worth remembering that the Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto have slightly roomier boots. Fold down the Aygo X’s back seats and you get just shy of 900 litres of cargo space, so it’s a useful little thing. 

The only engine choice is a 72hp 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol and even though this is a Toyota, the Aygo X isn’t a hybrid. Well, at least it keeps the costs down, and even without battery assistance this is a very economical engine. Well, it is unless you take it out on the motorway, as long journeys at high speeds kind of ruin the fuel consumption figure.

That said, the Aygo X doesn’t feel overwhelmed on the motorway, even if it is thirsty, and the little engine is game for higher speeds. It’s not even too noisy in the cabin. 

Better to stick to city streets of course, or even twisty country roads, where the Aygo X proves to be really quite good fun thanks to low weight and sharp steering. It just needs a little more engine power to be truly entertaining. 

It’s also definitely a good idea to stick with the standard manual gearbox, as even though the optional CVT automatic sounds like a good idea for city driving, in reality it just makes the engine too noisy too much of the time. 

Even with a manual, the Aygo X’s tiny size means slipping into gaps in the traffic is not just easy, it’s actually good fun, and parking is a doddle. 
As far as affordable, rugged-looking, and ruggedly-reliable urban transport goes, the Toyota Aygo X is a really good choice. It’s a city car that’s just a little bit country. 

What to look for when buying a used Toyota Aygo X

It’s a Toyota, so the Aygo X should be very reliable, but make sure you check the bodywork for any urban driving scars, and have a good test drive to check for squeaky suspension or a worn-out clutch. The Aygo X has had four recalls so far, for suspension, battery, airbag, and braking issues. 

The Aygo X didn’t appear in the most recent Driver Power survey of the best 50 cars to own, but several of its stablemates finished very well indeed, including top-five finishes for the RAV4 and Yaris. Toyota came 8th out of 32 brands in the Driver Power survey, with only 18.1% of owners reporting issues with their cars. 

For extra peace of mind, Toyota’s standard three-year warranty can be extended out to ten years, as long as you keep the Aygo X serviced with a main Toyota dealer. 

Toyota Aygo X FAQs