Toyota Aygo review: a cartoon-inspired city car

That looks interesting – what is it?

It may be hard to believe, but this is the all-new Toyota Aygo. It is the first of the three city cars built alongside the Peugeot 108 and Citroën C1, and may well be the first production car to take open inspiration from a Japanese cartoon.

A Japanese cartoon?

Indeed. David Terai, the new city car’s chief engineer and a member of the Aygo team since 2008, told Top Gear that Astroboy was one of his favourite cartoons as a child. "As a child, he was a hero of mine," he says. His aim was essentially to create an automotive Astroboy: something uncomplicated and instantly recognisable. A CAR VERSION OF ASTROBOY. Quite simply, that is brilliant. The world could certainly use more cars inspired by cartoons.

Toyota Aygo design and chassis

So, tell me about the new Astroboy – sorry, Aygo.

As is immediately apparent, the upper body is completely new, led by the striking new ‘X’ front-end treatment. It has been created to express Toyota’s ‘J-playful’ philosophy, with the ‘J’ referring to Japan. This design direction is intended to make the Aygo unmistakably Japanese and help it stand apart in Europe’s ever more competitive market, while also being more adventurous than Toyota’s recent conservative styling. It even has a double-bubble roof, for goodness’ sake. As well as improving headroom, it makes the Aygo look particularly good.

Beneath the new bodywork, the car is 25mm longer and 5mm lower, with a 4.8m turning circle. More weld spots have also been added around the bodyshell to improve rigidity. Toyota, which handled the engineering and dynamics for all three cars, has retained the previous model’s front suspension, but revised the spring and damper settings while making the stabiliser more rigid. At the rear, there is a torsion-beam arrangement that is 3.3kg lighter than before, again with retuned springs and dampers.

The electric power steering now responds 14 per cent faster than previously. Buyers can choose a five-speed manual gearbox or an automated five-speed manual, which has slightly shorter ratios and steering-wheel paddles.

Toyota Aygo engine, economy and personalisation

Anything more?

Yes: the engine remains the familiar 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit, although it has been tuned to have a little more character. It includes stop/start, exhaust-gas recirculation and a low-friction timing chain to cut friction. Output is 68bhp and 70lb ft of torque, fractionally more than before, while CO2 emissions are 95g/km for the manual and 97g/km for the automated manual. It can return nearly 69mpg. This is also the sole engine option.

And what about all the customisation?

Various cabin trim components can be changed, including the air vents, gear-lever surround and centre console. You can also select the colour of the ‘X’ on the front bumper and of the rear bumper. Although it is not strictly a customisable feature, the 17.8cm touchscreen, which can synchronise with Android and Apple smartphones, is excellent and reacts quickly.

How the Toyota Aygo drives

Right, so how does it drive?

The most obvious difference when moving from an old Aygo into this one is the improvement in ride quality and the remarkable composure at speed. High-speed refinement was a persistent weakness of the previous generation, but the new car is much quieter on the road. At 70mph, NVH levels are far lower, meaning conversations inside no longer require megaphones and hearing aids. It is more comfortable than its predecessor as well.

When the road gets more demanding, it is still entertaining to fling about. Turn-in is sharp thanks to the quick steering, even if it lacks the lively feel and continuous feedback desired in a car of this type. Even so, the chassis behaves predictably, with the narrow front tyres beginning to run wide once the limit is quickly reached. On quick, flowing corners, you find yourself working the wheel as the tyres squeal furiously, and it is great fun. There is a fair amount of body roll, though, so a flatter attitude would be welcome.

The manual transmission has a sturdy action, but its ratios are slightly too long. Oddly, the automated manual feels more sporting, although its upshifts are slow and deliberate. Downshifts, by contrast, are excellent and swift, complete with a small blip. You will need to extend each gear because this is not the quickest city car around: 0-62mph takes 14.2 seconds. The engine still has plenty of character, though, so you will not mind working it hard.

Should I buy one, then?

That depends entirely on the price – and, er, the new Renault Twingo. Dynamically, the Aygo is identical to the 108 and C1, but we have not yet driven the impossibly cute rear-engined Renault, which we suspect could be good. UK Aygo pricing had not been confirmed at the time, although it could cost around £9k when it arrives in June 2014. We would recommend it for its styling, personality and respectable, comfortable driving experience. Your move, Renault.