RoadTest: Toyota Aygo Here's a quick test: do you know what a Rubiks cube is? Were you ever left wondering who shot JR? Do you remember when Michael Jackson was black?
If the answer to any of the above is yes, then the Aygo isn't for you, according to Toyota. For this car at least, the Japanese brand is only interested in the under-30s. Marketing will centre on nightclubs and university campuses. No bingo nights for Aygo.
Trouble is, while it's targeted at those close to their teens, those closer to their twilight years will find it just as appealing. Pronounced "I-go", this sub-Yaris model is the first foray into Europe's city car by the world's second largest car maker. That in itself is enough to ensure what has been a rather languid sector in terms of sales in Ireland should be in for a significant boost.
Officially, the Aygo is built in conjunction with French group PSA - makers of the Citroën and Peugeot brands. From the French will come the Citroën C1 and Peugeot 107.
However, with Toyota responsible for production at the Czech plant and 92 per cent of parts shared between the three models, all cars will be able to boast Japanese build quality.
In terms of design, the new look is quite fresh, taking its cue from the new Yaris that's due here at the end of the year. Parked alongside one another, the two are easily mistaken from the front, though the rear is significantly different, resembling the Smart forfour. Overall, while it's a step in the right direction from a car firm not reputed for chic styling, it does not match its Peugeot equivalent for eye-catching appeal.
It's not just at the rear that Aygo has Smart looks, for the interior styling would not look out of place at the German brand, with a back-lit opaque section of the central console and the large speedometer dial protruding from the top of the steering column.
While the plastics are good and sturdy, in line with the impressive build quality, the large amount of metal bodywork on show inside takes from the finish.
Also, the decision to give such prominence to the fan control knob at the expense of volume for the radio is a mistake. If Toyota's sales pitch works out and young buyers swarm to Aygo, they will be interested in turning up the volume more often than the heating.
These aside, the look is well polished and relatively youthful. It's quite a big small car, and well able to take on the likes of the current city car leader, the Fiat Panda. Yet park it beside a regular hatchback and you quickly notice its diminutive stature. As is the norm with these little cars, the small wheels are placed at the very far corners, with little overhangs.
For town driving that means nimble handling and ultra-easy parking. In particular the rear visibility is nothing short of excellent. The ride, however, is rather hard; it's the price paid for the proximity of the wheels to the central cabin in such a small car, particularly in the back where the proximity of rear wheels and back seat rumps makes it rather bumpy. In the rear, there's just enough room for adults under six-feet, though legroom is tight. Inside the cabin engine noise is also a feature, unsurprisingly for such a small car. Under the short snout is a gutsy little three-cylinder engine that is lively enough for city driving and can even cope with motorway speeds. It puts out 67bhp, which is more than enough for urban motoring and the light body frame helps. The five-speed gearbox makes the most of the power output even if there's quite an amount of clutch pedal travel before it engages.
The only disappointment is that it doesn't offer the sort of refinement one comes to expect from Toyota. The company that can build the silky smooth Lexus GS could surely have done better in curbing the noise levels of this little powerhouse. Perhaps they should have opted for four-cylinders. At least we are not getting the diesel version in Ireland, a 1.4-litre unit from PSA that is far too noisy and unrefined, even for everyday town driving.
Overall, when matched with the sharp steering, the Aygo is a pretty tidy package for around town and remarkably easy to drive, with plenty of visibility from all angles.
The competition has every right to fear Toyota's entry to the small car segment. Its pricing is really competitive and the five-door version starts at €11,840, just €25 more than the equivalent Fiat Panda.
At present the Opel Agila (€10,195) and new Chevrolet Matiz in its 800cc guise (€10,995) are the lowest-priced cars in the Irish market. Neither is likely to score many points with the image-conscious youth, though the Matiz is worthy of a look by first-timers and budget motorists.
Yet even against such prices, the Aygo remains good value. It offers features such as dual front airbags and ABS as standard, along with side airbags on all but the entry-level model.
Then there's Toyota's reputation for reliability, further enhanced by a three-year warranty, the only one of the new trio to offer such a package. Match that with the marque's reputation for strong resale values and you can see how the Aygo will win the heads, if not the hearts, of city buyers.
It's unlikely to cause a revolution in buying habits on the Irish market, but it's a welcome addition to the city car segments. And as such, even if you are old enough to remember when Kerry teams used to manage two-in-a-row All-Ireland victories, it's worthwhile ignoring the marketing spin and taking a serious look at what Toyota has to offer.
