Toyota Aygo (05 on) - Review

With an airy cabin and room for four adults, the Aygo also has a surprisingly supple ride for a small car and occupants are well protected from bumps on rough surfaces. The front seats are quite narrow and flat but are surprisingly comfortable, even on longer journeys. It's possible to fit four adults on board but it can feel a little cramped and performance suffers significantly as a result. The 1.0-litre petrol engine also has a gruff note at high revs, which can become intrusive.

Despite its compact dimensions, the Aygo has good passenger space, however it's big weak point is the tiny boot. With just 139 litres of space and a high boot lip it is only really ideal for a few shopping bags and even small suitcases may struggle to fit. However Toyota does have the answer to this in the shape of an optional made-to-measure luggage kit, comprising a trolley bag on wheels, a rucksack and a glovebox bag with CD pocket - all developed with Samsonite. Other compartments around the cabin including trays, cupholders and the like, add another 25 litres of storage while Aygo+ and Sport models have a 50/50 split rear bench which helps reach a compromise between extra luggage space and carrying passengers.

Although the Aygo offers a limited range of seat and steering adjustment, the main instruments are attached to the steering column and visible through the wheel. Switches and instruments seem a step up in quality from some cars in the sector, and the prominent centre console with backlit heating and ventilation controls is attractive and stylish. The overall design is neat with good quality materials - but it's best described as basic. Sport models come with a rev counter pod attached to the speedometer.