Test Toyota Aygo X Cross 1.0 72 CV Play

For the past seven days, we've been testing the Toyota Aygo X Cross . A small city car with crossover styling, packed with safety-focused technology. This is something we've come to expect from the Japanese brand , which equips its models with all kinds of driver assistance features, even in the most basic trims.

To give you an idea, the car we tested is the entry-level model called Play , with a manual gearbox . This gearbox is paired with the only available engine : the 70 petrol, a small 1.0-liter three-cylinder with 72 hp . The other option is to install the CVT automatic transmission for an additional €1.350, which we'll discuss in the relevant section because it's an interesting option.

Combining a city car from the A segment, which is usually made cheaper by cutting back on basic equipment, with such an arsenal of safety technology results in a car full of contrasts . So much so, that in the front seats it's clearly a 2022 model , but if you move to the back , it feels like you're in the 90s . You can even see it from the outside if you look closely.

Exterior design of the Toyota Aygo X Cross

The Toyota Aygo X Cross measures 3,70 meters long , 1,74 meters wide, 1,51 meters high, and has a wheelbase of 2,43 meters. In other words, finding parking with this car will be really easy, because those 30 cm less than many cars in the B segment make a big difference.

These proportions, combined with the Aygo X Cross's design, result in an original and attractive car. Especially because the long wheelbase on such a small car, the high front end, and the somewhat narrow windows give it a look very similar to the concept car they presented in early 2021.

The front end is notable for the absence of an upper grille , unlike other Toyota models. Therefore, all engine ventilation enters through the large lower grille, which in this base model has a matte black plastic frame. The same material has been used for the wheel arches, giving it the crossover look mentioned earlier.

Along the side, a crease runs from the lower part of the body and diagonally towards the rear door handles. This gives it a more dynamic look, even though the engine doesn't quite match it. On the sharply angled rear windows, a small detail reveals the lack of power windows (neither manual nor electric): the small black circle of the compass-type opening mechanism, which only leaves a narrow side slit when opened.

At the rear, the large taillights and the extensive glass area stand out, covering much more than just the rear window and giving the entire black tailgate a glossy appearance. Below, we find the same black plastic trim as the wheel arches, and there's no visible exhaust pipe. It's worth noting, however, that it's a standard gasoline engine , with the corresponding green "C" emissions sticker.

A simple interior of this Toyota Aygo X Cross

Stepping inside the Aygo X Cross, the first thing that catches your eye isn't the steering wheel or the instrument cluster. The central touchscreen , framed by an oval, is the star of the show, setting it apart from other competing models.

The result is a very simple interior . Outside this oval-shaped compartment, only a 12V socket, a USB port, and the conventional air conditioning controls are visible. If we were to film this car, a bell would ring here, accompanied by a green arrow pointing upwards, highlighting its ease of use without taking your eyes off the road.

On the other hand, the instrument cluster would have a red arrow pointing downwards, clearly indicating an area for improvement. In the Aygo X Cross, the instrument panel is extremely basic in size and information . It consists of a single circle at the top indicating the speed, with a small overlay displaying the trip computer data. There is no temperature gauge , and the tachometer uses incredibly inaccurate lights that illuminate at 500 rpm intervals.

Driving aids to spare for an urban

This simplicity disappears when you look at the steering wheel, due to the large number of driver assistance systems we mentioned earlier. To control them, there are more than 10 buttons on each side. However, they are easy to get used to and simple to use. Furthermore, the steering wheel has a pleasant-to-the-touch leatherette finish.

The driving aids that the Aygo X Cross has that are useful in the city are: the always practical rear view camera, the pre-collision system with pedestrian and cyclist detector, the emergency braking warning (which sometimes warns too many times) and hill start assist And if you want to go out on the road, aids such as: traffic sign recognition, high beam control, driver loss of attention alert and lane change assistance will be useful.

The materials used throughout are of poor quality , clearly indicating that this is one of those details that manufacturers often neglect in A-segment cars. Even so, it must be acknowledged that everything is well assembled , with no visible defects to spoil the overall impression. Furthermore, there are some customization options available, such as red trim , if the basic design is too bland for the owner.

The space in the front seats is enough for large people, both in height and width. Although if both occupants are large, the space between them will be scarce, as is usual in urban areas.

Second row of seats of the Aygo X Cross

Moving to the rear seats , we again notice these savings, not only in the hinged window opening mechanism but also in the weight of the door itself. It feels like it weighs barely a couple of kilos when you pull it open, both because of its lack of interior trim and its small size. This latter aspect is a drawback, making access a little awkward compared to cars in the next segment up.

Once inside, legroom is very limited . With the driver's seat adjusted for me (I'm 1,86 meters tall), I don't fit in the back by much. Behind me, only someone barely 1,60 meters tall could fit. We tested it with other people, and the cabin barely provides enough space for someone 1,74 meters tall in the front and 1,74 meters tall in the back. If you want to transport a baby in a car seat, the front passenger seat can only accommodate someone up to about 1,68 meters tall.

As for the trunk , it's understandably not going to be generous in a car that's 3,70 meters long. It holds 231 liters , which is enough for a couple of carry-on suitcases and a few other small items. This is less than a Hyundai i10 (252 l) or a Kia Picanto (255 l), slightly more than a Fiat Panda (225 l), and significantly more than a Fiat 500 (185 l). So, it's about average for its segment.

At the wheel of the Toyota Aygo X Cross

If we start with the Aygo X Cross, the 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine is immediately noticeable due to the small vibrations it generates. Although it is absolutely within reason and it can even be said that it is still a quiet engine within its category.

What you can't expect are impressive performance figures , given its 72 hp and 93 Nm of maximum torque . However, these numbers aren't as important as the fact that it's a naturally aspirated engine, which means it delivers its full power from very late in the rev range. Specifically, in this model, we reach a very high 4.400 rpm , and even then, the power delivery isn't particularly impressive.

For this reason, we recommend this car if its use will be almost entirely urban. If you drive it on two-lane roads, you can forget about safe and reliable overtaking maneuvers if you encounter a slow truck, tractor, or the frequent cyclists found on many Spanish roads.

Consumption

Where good results can be expected , and indeed it achieves them, is in fuel consumption . In the city, it's easy to get close to 5,2 l/100 km, on the highway around 4 l/100 km, but, more surprisingly, on the motorway it manages just 4,8 l/100 km. These are figures to be proud of in the city and on slower roads, given the lack of any electric assistance, but even more so on highways, achieving them despite running above 3.600 rpm to maintain 120 km/h.

These fuel consumption figures are due to the engine's tuning, clearly focused on fuel efficiency, and of course the Toyota Aygo X Cross's weight of 1.015 kg. This, along with the light steering , makes it feel very agile in traffic, even though it's not a car designed for spirited driving on winding roads.

Conclusions

The Toyota Aygo X Cross is a perfect car for those looking for easy parking and plenty of driver assistance features . Although it must be said that some of these features are better suited to cars designed for highway driving. It's agile and easy to drive, a quality further enhanced by the CVT automatic transmission mentioned earlier, which allows you to forget about the clutch on journeys filled with traffic lights and congestion.

On the other hand, there are the typical features of the A-segment , such as the rear windows with a compass-type opening, which can be a bit claustrophobic for some people, the hard plastics everywhere, and electric windows at the front but without a one-click function.

The base version we tested starts at €14.500 , which, despite the aforementioned shortcomings, is justified by the standard safety features. This is especially true considering how much car prices have skyrocketed lately. An automatic transmission adds another €15.850 to the price. The top-of-the-line Chic trim starts at €17.250.

Equipment Toyota Aygo X Cross

Play

• Body color mirror caps
• Front and rear fog lights
• 17-inch wheels
• LED type daytime running lights
• LED taillights
• Isofix anchors
• Electrically adjustable exterior mirrors
• Leather multifunction steering wheel
• Split and folding rear seats
• Reversing camera
• manual climate control
• Front electric windows
• Light sensor
• Lane Departure Assist with Lane Control
• Speed ​​limiter
• Lane Keeping Assistant
• Recognition of traffic signs
• Emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Adaptive cruise control
• automatic high beams
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• MyToyota
• Color TFT multifunction display
• DAB-Digital Radio
• Toyota Touch 2 7-inch multimedia screen

Like (add)

• decorative frames
• Darkened rear windows
• Two-color body
• LED headlights
• 18-inch wheels in black
• Interior customization in body color
• Power heated exterior mirrors
• Black upholstery with body color stitching
• Automatic climate control
• Rain Sensor
• 2-inch Toyota Touch 8 Multimedia System

Chic (adds)

• 18-inch machined wheels
• Trunk interior lighting
• Partial leather upholstery with beige stitching
• Browser with online updates
• remote connectivity services
• wireless charger for smartphones
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Toyota Smart Connect 9-inch multimedia

Toyota Aygo X Cross Prices

Editor's opinion

Gallery Toyota Aygo X Cross