Toyota Aygo X Cross: a city car dressed as a crossover to conquer the city

Built on the platform of the new Yaris, which is also used in the Yaris Cross, and designed and manufactured in Europe with the demands of European customers in mind, the new Toyota Aygo X Cross brings fresh air to the city car segment. It does so following the SUV or crossover trend, with a unique proposition that will reach the market in the first months of 2022.

Toyota, however, is playing it safe: before deciding to launch the Aygo Cross, they tested the public’s reaction with the Aygo X Prologue prototype, which was very well received. What will not change is a feature the Aygo has kept since its debut in 2005: it remains the entry-level model in the Toyota range, aimed especially at young buyers who appreciate bold and distinctive design.

Two-tone bodywork and raised suspension

The two-tone bodywork is one of the hallmarks of the Aygo X Cross, as it does not limit itself to a contrasting roof but also plays with the front and rear to create a very distinctive look. The protective cladding on the large wheel arches, the protective front plate, a ground clearance higher than usual for a city car, wheels of up to 18 inches and headlights that “wrap around” the bonnet are some of the most prominent design features.

During the first months of sales only, a limited edition will be offered, featuring jungle green paintwork with matt orange accents, 18-inch matt black wheels and orange trim on various bodywork and interior elements.

Compared with the previous Aygo, the Toyota Aygo X Cross is 23.5 cm longer, reaching 3.7 metres. The wheelbase gains 9 cm, and the width increases by 12.5 cm to 1.74 metres. In height, it is 5 cm taller, reaching 1.51 metres. This increase in dimensions provides more interior space and adds more than 60 litres of boot capacity, now rated at 231 litres.

Its compact dimensions and a turning circle of just 4.7 metres ensure agility in urban driving, aided by the sensation of sitting higher: the seat position has been raised by up to 55 mm.

A very tech-savvy city car

Its city car character does not prevent the Aygo X Cross from being packed with technology. It boasts a very lightweight body, which helps the revised 1.0-litre three-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine show what it is capable of in a small car. It produces 72 CV at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 205 Nm at 6,600 rpm, and can be paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox or a new CVT continuously variable transmission. In both cases, the 0-100 km/h acceleration is around 15.5 seconds, while consumption starts at 4.7 l/100 km for the manual and 4.9 l/100 km for the automatic.

The suspension is MacPherson at the front and a simple torsion beam at the rear, with front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. Standard tyres are 175/65 on 17-inch wheels, or 175/60 for versions with 18-inch wheels. Toyota says it has paid special attention to the cabin’s acoustic insulation to improve comfort.

Inside, the dashboard is designed around the 9-inch multimedia screen. The system offers cloud-based navigation and will also receive wireless updates later on. Integration with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay can be wired or wireless, and the MyT app allows Aygo X Cross owners to stay connected to their car via smartphone thanks to Toyota Smart Connect services.

The Toyota Safety Sense system is also included, with a camera and radar supporting the various driver safety and assistance systems, including pedestrian detection by day and by night, cyclist detection (daytime only), emergency braking and adaptive intelligent cruise control, among others.

Toyota Aygo X Cross image gallery