Toyota Aygo X

And that wasn't easy! When the 2022 model was introduced, hybrid drive was not envisaged. The engine bay was tailor-made for a small petrol engine and therefore did not offer space for a petrol engine plus an electric motor. And there was no room for a battery either. To reduce costs, a hybrid powertrain could not be custom made, but the Aygo X could be modified to accommodate the engine from the larger Yaris.

To achieve that, the front has been completely redesigned. The front wheel overhang has been increased by 7 cm and, since Toyota was busy anyway, the front has been redrawn. As a result, the Aygo X Hybrid looks much tougher than the standard Aygo X, which incidentally will be discontinued with the arrival of this hybrid. Moreover, the Aygo X is now available in new colours, including the "cinnamon" shown here.

Space

The length of the Aygo X has increased to make room for a larger engine. The passenger compartment has not increased in size. Still, the Aygo X has a playfully designed cabin that can accommodate two large adults. Four large adults won't fit together in an Aygo X. Anyway, the front seats are on the small side, so they have been found tiring even on short trips. The "trick" is not to sit actively and upright, but rather slightly more sagging. The fit is made for that and then comfort is better. The boot has a capacity of 231 litres. That is small in absolute terms (with two trolleys, the boot is full), but average for a small car.

Because the Aygo X now uses technology from the Yaris, the equipment has become much richer. For instance, the test car is equipped with a dual-zone climate control system, a comprehensive infotainment system, a display behind the steering wheel and keyless entry. This makes the equipment almost as rich as that of larger cars, which gives the Aygo X an extremely mature character. However: it is also the Aygo X Hybrid's biggest drawback! Because of its advanced powertrain and modern equipment, the price is hardly lower than that of larger cars. The advice is therefore to go for a low or medium trim level. The optional sunroof is not recommended: even when closed, it creates a lot of extra driving noise. Moreover, it is comfortable up to only 60 km/h; after that it creates so much turbulence in the interior that it will be closed anyway.

Hybrid

Fitting a hybrid powertrain into an existing car is not easy. Not only do two engines require more space than one, but hybrid drive also requires a battery, which in turn requires cooling and an inverter. In addition, a hybrid engine with the battery is heavy (+140 kg) and strong. The latter in turn demands more from the brakes (larger brake discs) and wheels (stronger rims with more bolts). The fine-tuning of the chassis has therefore been adapted to the higher weight and greater engine power.

Toyota's hybrid drive requires an automatic gearbox, so it is now standard. Thanks to the stepless automatic transmission (also known as "continuously variable transmission") and the assistance of the electric motor, the Aygo X moves easily. The hybrid is therefore not only smoother than the standard Aygo X, but also much more decisive. The response to the accelerator is not only more direct, but much shorter intermediate sprints follow. This is true not only in town, but also on the motorway. The three-cylinder's rumble is always clearly audible, but not distracting. At other times, on the contrary, it is clearly noticeable that the Aygo X is driving entirely electric, because the powertrain is silent.

On a route with city traffic and inner roads, test consumption came to 4.3 litres per 100 km. The route chosen was the most favourable for a hybrid, with more motorway mileage the consumption would increase because there the battery is recharged less often and thus the electric motor can assist less.

Driving characteristics

The adjustments to the chassis have been successful, as the extra weight of the complex powertrain is not perceived as a disadvantage, but rather an advantage. The Hybrid is quieter and more stable than the conventional Aygo X. Tyre size has been chosen so that grip is fine but rolling resistance is low for low consumption and light steering.

Following other Toyota models, the Aygo X is now also available as a "GR Sport". If so, the suspension is further modified with additional stabilisers, larger rims and a stiffer suspension. However, the difference between the two versions is much smaller than in Toyota's other models. Only with a highly dynamic driving style do the benefits of GR Sport really come into their own. In the end, the standard Aygo X already handles so well that the GR Sport hardly adds any value.

Conclusion

Does Toyota give new life to the A-segment by adding hybrid drive to its smallest model? That depends on the version chosen. Retrofitting hybrid drive in an existing model was not easy. To achieve this, technology was borrowed from larger models. And since Toyota was busy anyway, it also adopted equipment from larger models. And in doing so, the brand missed the mark: with all that extra luxury, the Aygo X Hybrid is barely cheaper than a larger car (or an electric car!).

The advice is therefore to opt for a simple version. Then the price/performance ratio is the best. Besides, the powertrain is always the same and it is virtuous. The hybrid engine provides better performance, more agility, more quietness and lower consumption.