This small (3.3m) modern four-door hatchback is a very real four-seat cruiser. The fabulous three-cylinder 998cc engine comes with state-of-the-art Variable Valve Timing. This wonder of the modern world optimises the timing of the air intake, depending on whether you are ticking over, cruising along gently or accelerating to a full gallop.
Going backwards in this compact and delightful vehicle is the proverbial doddle
This sort of technological wonder helps to account for the rather good fuel consumption. In ‘combined’ driving, expect to get in the region of 4.3 litres per 100km covered.
Combine that with a maximum speed of over 150km/h and a 0-100km time of only 14.2 seconds and even on paper, the Aygo makes enormous sense for thousands of motorists who need reliable, small-car transport for up to four people on a daily commute, school run or simply for the pleasure of driving a thoroughly likeable, great-looking, nicely-appointed and very safe car.
We were out and about in the Fire model, up towards the top of the range, but whatever the model, the McPherson strut front suspension allied to a Torsion beam rear end provides a comfortable ultra-safe ride in any local conditions, quite honestly helped by the fact that Aygo has 14”, six-spoke alloy wheels.
A leather steering wheel and gearshift knob are standard on the Fire which, of course, has a very interesting crash-resistant body structure, crumple zones and a safe passenger cell.
Our car had anti-lock brakes and electronic brake distribution. It also sports very good seat belts and driver and passenger airbags, front and side. The two rear headrests are not too intrusive and going backwards in this compact and delightful vehicle is the proverbial doddle.
To help keep the pilot (especially) comfortable, you will find the electric power steering is as sharp as an HB pencil, the steering can then be height-adjusted to suit the driver’s needs.
The rear seats can split 50:50 and there are two ISOFIX CRS anchor points. You will find electric front windows and the rear window comes equipped with a wiper and demister.
The air-conditioning channelled cold air to all those parts that like a cool drive in exemplary fashion, but the downside became apparent as we plugged up a steep hill, with the speed dropping off like the skin of an over-ripe banana. This was simply remedied by turning the air-conditioning off until the summit had been reached.
For your in-car entertainment, the Fire model has a four-speaker CD/radio with aux-in.
The exterior looks great; the lines are ideal, especially for the young in age and heart. The bumpers are colour-coded with colour-keyed corner protectors. The door handles and door mirrors are colour-keyed.
At the rear, there is the ever-so-popular ‘privacy glass’. You also get LED daytime running lights and, of course, remote central locking.
The interior décor of the Fire is ‘cool’. The burnt orange air vent surrounds, red numerals on the rev counter, so easy to read and the burnt orange rev counter cowl, speedometer cowl and metal trim all enhance the interior looks no end. The interesting number of interior storage bins adds to the general interest when held up in traffic that seems hell bent on going nowhere.
On the road, the acceleration was absolutely adequate, remembering that the beauty of owning an Aygo is that it uses little fuel, accelerates briskly but with no real purpose and once cruising speed has been reached, in the region of 80km/h, everything is buzzing along and costing even less money to actually run.
The steering was not only all that I hoped for, but the turning circle is so small at 4.7 metres that the car can be backed into very small spaces with the greatest of ease.
There are vehicles that seem to hit all the buttons and then a moment occurs when the brakes are really needed to work well, smoothly, hard and fast. Aygo has ventilated discs up front and drums at the back.
The front-to-rear balance is superb and the progressive and utterly controlled ability to stop is as good as it gets.
It very soon became apparent why the Aygo and its European siblings have such a worldwide dedicated following, not only among the young, but with many business types who don’t want the IQ Toyota and won’t buy the Aston Martin Cygnet, which is, of course, an IQ suitably and expensively modified by Aston Martin. So go one up in size and happily churn around busy urban areas in the Aygo.
Verdict
Comfort
Excellent legroom, but the rear seats are a trifle too firm for this driver.
Performance
Absolutely suitable for an urban cruiser and all of us in Malta and Gozo.
Cool
The Fire is as cool a dude as it’s possible to get, without attracting unwanted attention.
Quality
Like most Toyota cars, an unbridled five stars.
At a glance
Top speed
155km/h
0-100km
14.2 seconds.
Economy
Combined, 4.3 litres per 100km covered.
C02
99gm/km.
Engine
Three cylinders. 998cc 12 valves double overhead camshafts. Electronic fuel injection with a compression ratio of 11.0:1.
Power
68bhp at 6,000rpm.
Maximum torque
93Nm at 4,000rpm.
Dimensions
Length: 3,430mm.
Width: 1,615mm.
Height: 1,465mm.
Boot capacity
138 litres.