Is a big Toyota Aygo X nicer than a bare Toyota Yaris?

The story is now known: more and more manufacturers are withdrawing from the so-called A-segment. This class of the smallest appears to be really popular only in specific European countries, including the Netherlands, and with the increasingly strict emission requirements, according to many car manufacturers, it is simply no longer feasible to make such a car affordable and profitable. Among the dropouts we find Peugeot and Citroën, which instead of the Toyota Aygo-based 108 and C1, ‘then’ push more affordable versions of the Peugeot 208 and Citroën C3 forward. That raises the question of whether Toyota could have done better.

On the left the fairly simple Toyota Yaris, on the right the dressed Toyota Aygo X.

The Yaris, Toyota’s 208 rival, is by no means a giant for a model in that segment. With its short rear overhang and small rear doors, it even looks a little bit like an A-segmenter, although it is of course slightly less small. Nevertheless, Toyota chose to develop a new Aygo entirely on its own and purely for the European market. This Aygo X shares its platform with the Yaris, although it is a bit shorter. The engine remained the old one, a 72 hp ‘strong’ three-cylinder. You will also find that power source in the Yaris, although it is not a popular choice. Logical, because unlike the Aygo X, the Yaris is also available as an extra economical hybrid.

This Yaris is €655 more expensive than ‘our’ Aygo X

Those who really watch the money will come home with a Yaris 1.0, with a starting price of €22,195. That is not really cheap, but in these expensive times Toyota suddenly asks for a minimum of €18,595 for an Aygo. The endurance test Aygo X is one in Envy trim and costs €23,795. The Yaris 1.0 is only available with the two most affordable trim levels. We drove the more luxurious of the two, the Active. It mainly distinguishes itself with an infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and costs €24,450. Indeed, it is only €655 more expensive than ‘our’ Aygo X.

Standard 18-inch on the Aygo X

The prices in this specific case are nice and close to each other, but that is noticeable in the equipment. The Aygo X rolls on beautiful light metal and is equipped with JBL audio with a subwoofer, LED headlights and taillights, climate control and beautiful upholstery with contrasting stitching. Next to the thick, two-tone Aygo, the Yaris looks a bit poor. The paintwork in ‘Ash Gray Metallic’ does not help, but also the halogen headlights, simple rear lights and steel wheels with hubcaps make it clear that this is certainly not the top model. Yet the Yaris is a playfully lined model, which comes out nicely in a bright color and perhaps more dressed up shape. When the two Japanese are standing next to each other, it is immediately clear why Toyota thought the addition ‘X’ – pronounced ‘Cross’ – justified for the Aygo. It gets large wheel arches with plastic edges as standard and rolls in all cases on 18-inch (!) wheels. That is quite a difference with the Yaris, which rests quite low on its 15-inch wheels. We hardly see corresponding parts, because even the exterior mirrors are different.

Aygo X 24 centimeters shorter

Although the Yaris itself looks more compact than stretched, it is clearly longer next to the Aygo. It saves no less than 24 centimeters, whereby the visual effect is further enhanced because the Aygo is a few centimeters higher than its ‘big’ brother. The extra length provides more luggage space in the Yaris. With 286 liters it is also not a space giant, but in terms of percentage it makes a big difference with the 231 liters of the Aygo hold. Moreover, for the first time it is clearly visible here what the difference between an A and a B segment is: the finish. With the Aygo, the tailgate is in fact one glass plate, with no upholstery or handle on the inside. The rear seat consists of two equal parts and is not upholstered at the rear.

Within the segment, the Toyota Yaris is certainly not spacious, but it is much better to endure in the back.

This is the case with the Yaris and it is a three-seater sofa that can be folded down in two unequal parts. We certainly don’t know the Yaris as a space miracle, but it is much better to endure here in the back than in the Aygo. There, the back seat is so tight that it quickly becomes problematic with child seats. The rear doors of the Aygo also have an awkward, pointed shape and have hinged windows. In the back of the Yaris we find window winders in this simple version, which we can actually label as the nicer, more luxurious solution.

Yaris more car inside

The difference in finish and development budget is reflected at the front in visible and invisible matters. In the first category, for example, we find the ‘bare’ sheet metal on the doors of the Aygo, but also the more extensive use of hard plastic. Less visible is the adjustability of the steering wheel. That is only adjustable in height with the Aygo. Moreover, when unlocking, the steering wheel immediately ‘falls’ down here, while the height and depth adjustable copy of the Yaris is well sprung. Everything in the Yaris is neatly upholstered, often with a cozy fabric. The design is more mature, but also playful and the seating position is lower and more pleasant. It is also striking that the Aygo simply has the same, high-quality-looking steering wheel, including all associated control buttons. The Aygo also takes the multimedia gain in this version, thanks to a larger touchscreen and a newer, faster version of Toyota’s infotainment environment.

Toyota Aygo X dashboard, not bad for an A-segmenter. Below the Yaris workplace.

72 horsepower is on the tight side

With 72 hp, the Aygo is certainly not over-motorized, but that is the compromise Toyota had to make to keep the model affordable. Logically, the same engine does not come into its own better in the slightly heavier and larger Yaris, but emotionally there are no huge differences. Well, we got the Aygo from 0 to 100 faster (in 14.0 instead of 14.9 seconds from the factory, with Yaris in 15.5 instead of 14.8s), but the way you get away is all-important in this case. In practice, both Toyotas are simply not fast by today’s standards, but at the same time they are easy to live with.

You hear the engine less in Yaris

It is immediately noticeable on board the Yaris that the characteristic rumble of the three-cylinder in this car is better damped. Sounds from outside the car also penetrate less emphatically into the interior. This is perhaps the most important difference between a Yaris and an Aygo X. Especially on the highway, you just feel less secure in the latter, less protected, and that makes the Yaris a more pleasant car for higher speeds and longer distances. In corners, the Yaris also makes a little more impression. The higher, shorter Aygo is more likely to understeer on its narrower tires, although the somewhat worn front tires of our no longer brand new endurance tester undoubtedly play a role in this. The slightly lighter Aygo also feels a bit more playful and the higher, shorter carriage provides a bit more overview emotionally.

Both good safety equipment

There is a big compliment to both cars in the field of driving assistance systems. Adaptive cruise control and active lane assist are standard on both models regardless of the version, which we find downright special.

For the frequent driver the Yaris

Then the key question: is a simple Yaris a better buy than a fat Aygo? For those who drive a lot, the answer is definitely yes. The Yaris is simply ‘more car’ due to its quieter and nicer interior and still feels clearly more mature. We would just as well leave the 1.0, because for only €400 more you step into a much more spacious motorized Yaris 1.5 that is more than worth the investment in daily use. In the perhaps more common scenario where the small hatchback is mainly used for shorter journeys, the Aygo is a good choice. Its disadvantages then play a smaller role and for the same money you buy or lease a much nicer, richer equipped Aygo X, which also looks considerably smoother. For example, both models clearly have their own role, just as Toyota had in mind. Worth the effort? Yes.