Off with its top! Toyota Aygo X-Cite - roofless budget fun

By Ané Theron

 

Who’s Zippy, Zooty, and Zesty? Perhaps the 3 other dwarfs that Snow White prefers not to talk about? Most definitely not. I’m referring to the new Toyota Aygo X-Cite which is all three of the above, especially now that you can drive it with the sun beaming down on your crown.

Remain in one piece

Small cars are not terrifically safe in general, but ever since Renault endowed the humble and cost-effective Sandero with ESP (electronic stability program), my question has always been this: If a ‘cheapie’ such as the Sandero can have this feature, why can’t all small cars?

To enhance its appeal, Toyota has made the Aygo X-Cite safer than the rest of the Aygos in the line-up, which aren’t exactly poorly specced to begin with. Both of these hardtop-derivatives (the Aygo and Aygo X-Play Black) have ABS, EBD, brake assist, and four airbags.

With the new Aygo X-Cite, Toyota comes to the tech and safety party fully loaded, and only leaves at sunrise. The Aygo X-Cite gets front/side/curtain airbags (totaling 6), the above mentioned stability control, hill-start assist, and satellite controls on the steering wheel. Trendy daytime running lights (standard on the X-Cite) not only look cute, but serve a very important purpose of making the little car much more visible.

The Aygo X-Cite’s six airbags trump that of its main German rival, the Volkswagen Up!, which only has four. The Up! is also without hill-start assist, but has stability and traction control. But the Up’s roof can’t slide right to the back, now can it?

Cabin quality

The rest of the cabin comprises upmarket-looking hard plastics, and overall the interior is cheerful and well-bolted together. Durable-looking two-tone ‘sport’ seats enhance the Aygo’s youthfulness. Items like the rotating air-vents are definitely built to withstand some abuse. The touchscreen is standard across the board.

Tech and spec

Pairing my phone to the (very straightforward) infotainment touchscreen system happened instantly. Because of the car’s compact size, ergonomics are good, and the touchscreen itself is in easy reach if you choose not to use the buttons on the leather-covered steering wheel. I experimented by using Siri on my iPhone for functions like Bluetooth music streaming and maps, and it worked well, proving that the lack of Android Auto or Apple Carplay is not a deal-breaker. The system’s sound is not Bang & Olufsen quality, but driving along at highway speeds of 90-120 km/h, the wind and road noise was not that intrusive.

Interior dimensions

When it comes to space, the Aygo X-Cite is not hugely roomy – the compact 168-litre boot fits 5-6 standard bags of groceries, but only if you stack them on top of each other. Yet, I used the regular Aygo to go on a 5-day self-catering road trip with my partner last year, and we put some of our belongings on the floor behind the front seats. In other words – an urban couple should be satisfied with the amount of space the X-Cite offers, and weekends away are very doable. As for the school-runabout? It’s fine as long as the kids don’t have bags-full of sports equipment or don’t play the tuba or harp. Here’s where the VW Up! wins with 251 litres.

That topless feeling

Driving the Aygo X-Cite with the little retractable roof open, is a sure way to get that summer holiday feeling. One little criticism is the pale headliner, which may show grubby marks as time goes by. I would have opted for black – but manufacturers argue that it makes the car feel smaller – just like painting a room in a dark colour does.

Opening the electric roof is easy – just pull the little switch near the rearview mirror, and it slides neatly to the rear. Much like a regular automated sunroof, you can choose if you want just a little rectangle of sun, or if you want the rear seat bathed in rays as well.

Behind the wheel

Steadfast and stable – such is the little Aygo. Much enjoyment is to be had. Whether you’re light-footedly weaving through traffic or driving hurriedly along the N1, it’s hard to hear the little 1.0-litre engine’s sporty growl and not feel amused by it. And you never get that flimsy feeling when you’re driving at 120 km per hour, which some small cars are sometimes prone to. Even a stony stretch of dirt road didn’t phase the Aygo X-Cite – its suspension is perfect for the everyday punishment on our poorly maintained road surfaces.15-inch alloy wheels come standard on the X-Cite.

Pocket-friendly fuel consumption

Fuel economy was at an average of 5.4 litres per 100 km, which went up to 5.5 as I hit some prime-time traffic between 8 and 10 am. Based on that average, I’d probably get around 640 km on a single tank of fuel. (Want to work out your car’s fuel consumption? Click here and I’ll show you how.)

A used car instead of the new Aygo X-Cite?

Can’t afford a new car, but desperate for the rooflessness of a small city slicker? I would opt for a used Citroën C1 VTi 51kW Airscape Feel which offers the same 52kW/95Nm engine, gearbox, platform, glass boot-lid, roofless fun and safety spec.

Pricing

A 3-year/100 000km warranty is standard, with an optional service plan. The Aygo X-Cite is priced at R189 500, while the Aygo X-Play Black and Aygo are priced at R161 500 and R159 100, respectively.