TOYOTA AYGO X

City car returns from SUV boot camp ready for the ultimate series of speed bumps

- LAWRENCE CHEUNG

The Aygo X might look new and yet strangely familiar, but what you’re seeing here isn’t simply a facelift of Toyota’s city car with a bolted-on SUV-style bodykit. No, this is an all-new car that combines a shortened Yaris supermini platform with a rugged-looking body and raised suspension to tackle the hustle and bustle of inner-city motoring.

Oh, and the name is pronounced Aygo Cross, by the way, not Aygo Ex (or Aygo Kiss).

Even with entirely electrified motoring on the horizon, there’s still a place for small affordable city cars right now – but have we really reached the point where even these have succumbed to the SUV trend?

At least this third-generation Aygo has no pretence of providing any off-road ability. Toyota claims the 11mm-raised ride height over its predecessor is there to bring the Aygo X’s occupants closer in line with cyclists and pedestrians, making them easier to spot and less of a surprise when you encounter them.

On roads where space and reaction times are at a premium, this could make a difference to your stress levels. Especially if you’re lost.

There’s still life in the internal combustion engine, too, especially in this most affordable segment. The Aygo X uses a 71bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol without any form of assistance, whether it’s from forced induction or a mild-hybrid system. It’s plain and simple motoring that should be cheap to fuel and run.