Toyota Aygo (2005–2026) Review for Young Drivers: Insurance, Running Costs and the Best Generation to Buy
The wrap
The Toyota Aygo is one of the cheapest cars in the UK to insure as a 17 year old. The Mk1 and pre-facelift Mk2 sit in Insurance Group 1 on the basic 1.0 VVT-i. The engine sips petrol at 55-60 mpg (real world). The Toyota Relax warranty rolls over for up to 10 years and 100,000 miles when the car is serviced at a Toyota dealer. Add the 2026 Warrantywise score of 83.8 out of 100 and there is a strong case for the Aygo as the lowest-stress first car on the used market.
The trade-off is age and refinement. The 1.0 three-cylinder is loud at motorway speeds. Boot space on the Mk1 and Mk2 is tiny at 168 litres. The early MMT and x-shift automated gearboxes are unreliable. The current Aygo X solves most of those problems but pushes the price closer to £12,000.
Quick facts
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Generations covered | Mk1 (2005–2014), Mk2 (2014–2022), Aygo X (2022–present) |
| Insurance Groups | 1–7 depending on trim and gearbox |
| Used Price Range | £1,500–£15,000+ |
| Euro NCAP | 4 stars (Aygo X, 2022); 4 stars 2014 then 3 stars 2017 (Mk2); 4 stars (Mk1, 2005) |
| Best Engine | 1.0 VVT-i 71PS (post-2018 Mk2 with TSS), Insurance Group 1–3 |
| Annual Road Tax | £0 on pre-April 2017 sub-100g/km cars; £195 flat rate post-April 2017 |
| Est. Annual Running Cost | £1,800–£3,200 for a 17 to 21 year old with a telematics policy |
| Common Issues | Pre-2009 clutch wear (Mk1), boot water leaks (Mk1), MMT/x-shift gearbox faults, short Mk2 clutch pedal travel, infotainment condensation |
Insurance groups sourced from ABI/Thatcham Research. Running costs estimated for a 17 to 21 year old with a black box policy.
Who is this car for?
The Aygo is a great choice for new drivers who want the absolute lowest insurance group available, a small car that is cheap to fix and a manufacturer warranty that keeps rolling year after year. It is a city car first and a motorway cruiser a distant second.
Perfect for:
- First time drivers aged 17 to 19 who need Group 1 or 2 insurance and a £0 road tax bill on a pre-2017 car
- Town and short commute use where the 1.0 three-cylinder is in its element
- Parents who want the Toyota Relax warranty rolling on for up to 10 years and 100,000 miles when serviced annually at a main dealer
- Anyone wanting modern active safety on a small footprint, via the Aygo X with Toyota Safety Sense fitted to every trim
Not ideal for:
- Daily motorway commuters: the 71bhp 1.0 engine is loud and slow above 60 mph
- Anyone needing a usable boot or rear seats: the Mk1 and Mk2 cabin is cramped behind the front seats
- Buyers who want an automatic city car at low cost: the older MMT and x-shift gearboxes are best avoided
"The Aygo X makes a fine first car. Even the most affordable Pure-spec models come with autonomous emergency braking and smartphone connectivity. The mini-SUV styling looks great."
For low emission zone considerations with older Aygo models, read our guide to UK low emission zones for young drivers.
The three generations: Mk1 vs Mk2 vs Aygo X
There are three Aygo generations on the UK used market that work as a first car. The Mk1 and Mk2 are nearly identical underneath and were built alongside the Peugeot 107/108 and Citroën C1 at the TPCA plant in Kolín. The Aygo X is a clean-sheet rethink on the bigger Toyota GA-B platform.
| Mk1 (2005–2014) | Mk2 (2014–2022) | Aygo X (2022–present) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | TPCA shared chassis | TPCA shared chassis | Toyota GA-B (shortened) |
| Typical used price | £1,500–£4,500 | £4,000–£9,500 | £11,000–£15,000+ |
| Best engine | 1.0 VVT-i (post-2009) | 1.0 VVT-i (post-2018 facelift) | 1.0 VVT-i 72PS |
| Insurance Group | 1–3 | 1–4 | 5–7 |
| Boot space | 139 litres | 168 litres | 269 litres |
| Euro NCAP | 4 stars (2005) | 4 stars (2014); 3 stars (2017) | 4 stars (2022) |
| AEB as standard | No | Mid-trim+ from 2018 facelift | Yes, every trim |
| Apple CarPlay | No | Post-2018 facelift x-play upwards | Standard on every trim |
| Body styles | 3-door, 5-door | 3-door, 5-door | 5-door, optional canvas roof |
Each generation is a step up on safety, refinement and price. The Aygo X is the pick when budget allows. The post-2018 facelift Mk2 is the strongest used buy for most teens. The Mk1 makes sense as an emergency-budget runaround.
Driving and performance
Mk1 (2005–2014)
The Mk1 weighs 835 to 890 kg, which is what makes it feel quick around town despite the modest 68bhp from the Toyota 1KR-FE 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine. Steering is light, the turning circle is tiny (that's good) and the visibility is excellent for new drivers learning to judge distances and park in town. The 2012 update dropped CO2 to 99 g/km and made every car sold from then on eligible for £0 Vehicle Excise Duty under the pre-2017 rules.
Skip the rare 1.4 HDi diesel borrowed from Peugeot. Numbers in the UK market are tiny, parts are awkward and the diesel is liable for ULEZ charges in London and other Clean Air Zones.
Mk2 (2014–2022)
The Mk2 kept the Mk1 chassis and engine but tightened up the styling and the cabin. Toyota fitted dual fuel injectors, a higher compression ratio and revised balance shafts during the 2018 facelift, smoothing out the three-cylinder thrum and adding low-end torque.
Engine choice is simple because there is only one. What changes between trims is wheel size and gearbox:
- 1.0 VVT-i 5-speed manual: Best buy. Cheap to insure, cheap to fix, easy to drive
- x-shift automated manual: Snatchy at low speed, hesitant at junctions, expensive when it fails. See the Known issues section
- Post-2018 facelift cars: Quieter cabin, better low-end pull, optional Toyota Safety Sense package with autonomous emergency braking
- Avoid the x-shift on a learner car. The clutch actuator is a known weak point and replacement is around £1,500 to £2,200 at a specialist.
Aygo X (2022–present)
The Aygo X sits on the GA-B platform shared with the Yaris. It is 295 mm longer than the Mk2, 110 mm taller and around 70 kg heavier. The result is a car that feels far more grown-up at motorway speeds, with better body control, less wind noise and a more comfortable ride. The 1.0 VVT-i is the same basic engine as the Mk1 and Mk2, retuned to 72PS. There is no hybrid option.
Engine choice for new drivers:
- 1.0 VVT-i manual (Pure trim): Group 5, the lowest insurance on any new Aygo X
- 1.0 VVT-i CVT automatic: Group 6 on Pure, smoother than the old x-shift but adds a noticeable price premium
"The 3 cylinder engine pulled nicely... Fuel consumption was amazing, a mixture of town, A roads, motorway gave an indicated 60mpg without really trying!"
"The biggest difference between the Aygo and Citroen C1 is the body styling... to our eyes the Aygo is the most entertaining to look at. This will definitely appeal to the more masculine youth market and makes it a rather interesting choice as a first car."
Motorway use is the one area the Aygo struggles. The 1.0 needs revs to overtake and at 70mph the cabin is loud. For teens commuting an hour each way on motorways every day, the Toyota Yaris is the better Toyota choice.
Technology and interior
Mk1 (2005–2014)
Basic radio head unit. No Bluetooth as standard. Doors have exposed painted metal panels to save weight and money. The boot is a single piece of toughened glass that lifts up and the rear windows on five-door cars only pop out on a hinge rather than wind down.
The cabin feels dated in 2026 but everything works. A decent aftermarket Bluetooth head unit costs around £100 fitted, or a Bluetooth AUX adapter for under £10 if the original radio has an AUX input.
Mk2 (2014–2022)
Pre-2018 Mk2 cars use a basic radio on the entry x trim and a 7-inch x-touch screen on x-play upwards. The 2018 facelift brought Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on x-play and above, plus a reversing camera as standard from x-press trim. Mid and top trims add automatic dusk-sensing headlights and bi-tone paint.
Boot space sits at 168 litres, smaller than the 251 litres on the Volkswagen Up. Rear headroom is tight for taller adults and rear legroom disappears when the front seats are slid back.
Aygo X (2022–present)
This is the generation where the Aygo feels like a modern small car. Pure ships with a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, adaptive cruise control and 17-inch alloys. Edge bumps the screen to 8 inches and adds 18-inch machined alloys and front fog lights. Design and Exclusive add a 9-inch HD screen with wireless smartphone integration, wireless charging and front and rear parking sensors.
The 269 litre boot is usable for a weekly shop or a couple of big duffel bags when travelling. Several Aygo X trims also offer the Air Edition, with a power-folding canvas roof that retracts in 10 seconds.
Cabin space up front is generous enough for a six-foot driver. The rear seats are still cramped. Treat any Aygo as a four-seater for short trips and a two-seater for anything longer, with the back seats folded flat for luggage.
"The Aygo X has moved away from being a stripped-out budget car into a small crossover with proper kit and proper safety. The trade is the price tag."
Safety
Mk1 (2005–2014)
4-star Euro NCAP rating from the 2005 test. The Minimal Intrusion Cabin System (MICS) reinforced safety cage was the headline feature, alongside twin front airbags, ISOFIX anchors and a seatbelt warning. By 2026 standards this is basic. There is no autonomous emergency braking, no lane assist and Electronic Stability Control was often left off the lower trims.
Mk2 (2014–2022)
Initial 4-star rating from the 2014 Euro NCAP test. Euro NCAP retested the Mk2 in 2017 under tougher rules and downgraded it to 3 stars in standard specification because there was no AEB and no lane assist as standard.
Toyota responded with the 2018 facelift, introducing the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) package. TSS adds a Pre-Collision System with autonomous emergency braking and Lane Departure Alert. It started life as a £375 option on lower trims and became standard on x-trend and x-clusiv.
Aygo X (2022–present)
4-star Euro NCAP rating from the 2022 test. The detailed scores are 73% Adult Occupant, 72% Child Occupant, 83% Vulnerable Road Users and 68% Safety Assist.
Toyota Safety Sense is fitted as standard on every Aygo X, including the entry-level Pure manual. The package includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Emergency Steering Assist, Road Sign Assist and Automatic High Beam. For parents, this is the strongest single argument for the Aygo X over an older Mk1 or Mk2.
Recalls to check
Three Aygo recalls must be verified on any used example via the GOV.UK recall checker or a Toyota dealer:
- Rear axle welds (2005–2013 Mk1): Insufficient welding could cause the rear axle to break away from the body. Two recall campaigns (R/2010/010 and R/2014/020) replaced affected axles. Confirm completion before viewing
- Takata airbag inflators: Affects various model years. Defective propellant can rupture and spray metal fragments on deployment. Toyota replaces the inflators free of charge
- Rear seat belt stitching (June 2020 build cars): Cars built between 3 and 15 June 2020 had incorrect stitching applied to the rear inner seat belts. Dealers inspect and replace if the batch matches
If a seller cannot prove these recalls have been completed by a franchised Toyota dealer, walk away.
Running costs and ownership
Insurance
The single biggest reason parents put a teen into an Aygo. Most Mk1 and Mk2 cars on the basic 1.0 VVT-i with steel wheels sit in Insurance Group 1 or 2. That is as low as the UK system goes. Pair a Group 1 Aygo with a telematics policy and the first-year premium is one of the cheapest combinations a 17 year old can find on the market.
| Generation | Engine / trim | Insurance Group |
|---|---|---|
| Mk1 | 1.0 VVT-i Active | 1–2 |
| Mk2 | 1.0 VVT-i x / x-play | 1–2 |
| Mk2 | 1.0 VVT-i x-trend / x-clusiv | 3–4 |
| Aygo X | Pure manual | 5 |
| Aygo X | Pure auto / Edge | 6 |
| Aygo X | Exclusive / Design / Limited Edition | 7 |
For a full breakdown of how insurance groups translate into real quotes, read our car insurance groups explained guide.
Fuel economy
| Engine | Real-world combined mpg |
|---|---|
| 1.0 VVT-i (Mk1) | 52–58 mpg |
| 1.0 VVT-i (Mk2 pre-2018) | 55–60 mpg |
| 1.0 VVT-i (Mk2 post-2018) | 58–65 mpg |
| 1.0 VVT-i (Aygo X) | 50–56 mpg |
The non-turbo three-cylinder is one of the few engines where the official figures land close to reality. Owners on Honest John forums consistently report 55 to 60 mpg from a mix of town, A-road and motorway driving.
Road tax
This is where used Aygo buyers can save real money. Pre-April 2017 cars are taxed on CO2 emissions. Late Mk1 cars from 2012 onwards and most pre-2017 Mk2 cars emit 99 g/km or 95 g/km, dropping them into Band A. Annual VED on a Band A Aygo is £0.
Post-April 2017 cars pay the flat £195 standard VED rate from year two onwards (2025/26 financial year). Same engine, same emissions, £195 a year of difference. On a four-year ownership window that is £780 in the back pocket of a buyer who picks the older registration.
Servicing
Independent garages all over the UK know the Aygo well because the same chassis sat under the Peugeot 107/108 and Citroën C1 for 17 years. Parts are shared and cheap.
| Service | Independent garage | Toyota main dealer |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (oil and filter) | £90–£140 | £195 |
| Full service | £180–£280 | £330 |
| Front brake pads (fitted) | £65–£100 | £140–£180 |
| Battery replacement | £85–£130 | £150–£210 |
| Clutch replacement (Mk2 manual) | £400–£580 | £800+ |
The Toyota Relax warranty is the running-cost trump card. Service the car annually at any UK Toyota main dealer and the manufacturer extends warranty cover for 12 months at a time, up to a maximum of 10 years or 100,000 miles. For a teen at university paying for major repairs out of a part-time wage, that safety net is worth the modest service premium.
Annual running cost (17 to 21 year old)
| Cost item | Mk1 (pre-2017) | Mk2 post-2018 x-play TSS | Aygo X Pure manual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance (with telematics) | £1,000–£1,500 | £1,200–£1,700 | £1,600–£2,200 |
| Fuel (8,000 miles) | £850 | £780 | £900 |
| Road tax | £0 | £195 | £195 |
| Servicing | £150–£250 | £195–£330 | £195–£330 |
| Total | £2,000–£2,600 | £2,370–£3,005 | £2,890–£3,625 |
The pre-2017 Mk1 is the cheapest year-one car a 17 year old can buy in the UK, on running costs alone. The trade is no AEB, smaller interior, basic infotainment and the clutch and water-leak issues covered below.
What to watch: known issues
Pre-2009 Mk1 clutch failure
The most common Mk1 fault. Cars built between 2005 and early 2009 used an undersized 180 mm clutch friction plate that overheated under city stop-start traffic. Failures inside 30,000 miles are widely documented. Toyota fitted a 190 mm clutch from January 2009 onwards and the problem largely went away. Test for a high biting point, slip under hard acceleration and judder when pulling away in first.
Mk1 cabin water ingress
Rainwater bypasses the high-level brake light seal and trickles down the inside of the glass tailgate, pooling in the spare wheel well. The plastic cabin extractor vents behind the rear bumper are a second entry point. Lift the boot carpet at the viewing, press the sound deadening with the back of a hand and look for rust on the floorpan or a musty smell. Resealing is straightforward but ignore it for a year and the rust takes hold.
Mk1 water pump weep
The 1.0 water pump tends to develop a slow weep between three and six years of age. Open the bonnet and inspect the left side of the engine block. Pink crystalline deposits around the pulleys are the giveaway and indicate Toyota long-life coolant escaping. Budget £200 to £300 at an independent specialist if the seller has not already replaced the pump.
MMT and x-shift gearbox failures (Mk1 and Mk2 automatics)
The Multi-Mode Transmission on the Mk1 and the x-shift on the Mk2 are automated manual gearboxes, not torque-converter automatics. Both suffer from snatchy low-speed shifts, hesitation at junctions and rapid actuator wear. Specialist quotes for actuator replacement run from £1,500 to £2,200. On a car worth £3,000, that is a writeoff. The 5-speed manual is the only sensible used Aygo gearbox before the Aygo X.
Mk2 short clutch pedal travel
The pedal mechanism in the Mk2 has unusually short travel, which makes finding the biting point hard for inexperienced drivers. Teens compensate by over-revving and stalling. Forum reports document clutches burned out within months. Independent specialists replace a Mk2 clutch for around £400 to £580. Toyota main dealers ask for £800 or more.
Mk2 infotainment condensation
The 7-inch x-touch screen on the Mk2 is prone to internal condensation in winter. A new head unit out of warranty can hit £2,300 at a Toyota dealer. Inspect the screen at the viewing on a cold morning if possible with the heater off. Walk away from a unit showing visible misting.
MOT watch points
The Aygo fails its MOT at a rate of 40.5 faults per 100 tests on the 2022 model year, against a national average of 71.1 for cars of similar age (DVSA via Know-Your-Car). When it does fail, the issues are almost all consumables: blown front position lamps and stop lamps (11% of failures), perished anti-roll bar bushes and split ball joint covers (9%), and rough rear wheel bearings (over 2,800 recorded incidents). All are an hour or two at any independent garage.
Viewing checklist
- Cold-start the engine yourself. Listen for tappet noise that does not clear within 10 seconds
- Check the Government MOT history online before you view. Repeated advisories on the same item are deferred work the buyer inherits
- Check the GOV.UK recall site for the specific VIN. Rear axle welds, Takata airbag and June 2020 seatbelt stitching
- Lift the boot carpet and press the sound deadening for damp on any Mk1
- Open the bonnet and check the left side of the engine block for pink coolant crystals on Mk1 cars
- Test the clutch on every Mk2. Slip on hill-starts or a high biting point means a worn clutch the buyer pays for
- Walk away from any MMT or x-shift car unless the seller has full evidence of recent actuator work
The best variant to buy
The safe bet: newly qualified 17 to 19 year old
2018–2022 Mk2 facelift in 1.0 VVT-i x-play or x-trend with Toyota Safety Sense fitted.
- Insurance: Group 1–3 depending on trim
- Tech: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard, reversing camera
- Safety: Toyota Safety Sense with AEB and Lane Departure Alert
- Boot: 168 litres
- Budget: £6,500–£8,500 with a stamped Toyota service history. Confirm the Relax warranty is still rolling
For a 19 to 21 year old wanting modern safety
2022–2024 Aygo X Pure manual.
- Insurance: Group 5
- Advantage: Toyota Safety Sense as standard, 17-inch alloys, adaptive cruise, 269 litre boot
- Budget: £11,000–£13,500
Budget pick (£3,000–£5,000)
Pre-2018 Mk2 in 1.0 VVT-i x-play, manual gearbox.
- Insurance: Group 1–2
- Tech: Bluetooth, x-touch screen on x-play upwards
- No autonomous emergency braking. Avoid the x-shift gearbox
Tight budget (under £3,000)
2012–2014 Mk1 facelift in 1.0 VVT-i, manual gearbox, post-2009 build.
- Insurance: Group 1–2
- Road tax: £0 a year on the 99 g/km cars
- Inspect the boot for water ingress and the engine for water pump weep. Confirm the rear axle weld recall has been completed
For style-led teens at 21+
Aygo X Edge or Exclusive in any trim with the Air Edition canvas roof.
- Insurance: Group 6–7. A second-year car for most drivers
- Bigger alloys, wireless charging, JBL audio on Limited Edition trims
- Budget: £13,500–£16,000
Avoid
- Any pre-2009 Mk1 with the original 180 mm clutch and no record of replacement
- Any MMT (Mk1) or x-shift (Mk2) automated manual
- Mk1 cars with visible boot water damage or rust on the floorpan
- Mk2 cars with a misted x-touch infotainment screen
- Any 2005 to 2013 Mk1 without proof the rear axle weld recall has been completed
See our best first cars under £3,000 guide if budget is the hard constraint.
The verdict
The Toyota Aygo is the most insurance-friendly first car a UK 17 year old can buy in 2026. Group 1 entry across two generations of Mk1 and Mk2 is unmatched in the supermini class. The Toyota Relax warranty rolls over for up to 10 years and 100,000 miles. The 2026 Warrantywise Reliability Index puts the Aygo third out of every car on UK roads.
The post-2018 facelift Mk2 with Toyota Safety Sense in x-play or x-trend is the clearest single recommendation for a new driver. Insurance Group 1 to 3, Apple CarPlay standard, AEB fitted and a manual gearbox that is cheap to fix when it eventually wears. The pre-2017 Mk1 facelift is the emergency-budget answer, with £0 road tax and a Group 1 insurance band.
It is not perfect. The 1.0 three-cylinder is loud at motorway speeds. The Mk1 boot leaks. The x-shift gearbox is best avoided. The Aygo X is significantly more expensive to buy than its rivals. None are deal-breakers when the buyer knows the checklist.
Pros
- Insurance Group 1 to 2 on basic Mk1 and Mk2, the lowest in the city-car class
- Toyota Relax warranty rolling cover up to 10 years or 100,000 miles when serviced annually
- Third most reliable car in the UK, Warrantywise Reliability Index 2026
- 55 to 60 mpg real-world fuel economy on the 1.0 VVT-i
- Pre-April 2017 cars qualify for £0 annual road tax
- Aygo X comes with Toyota Safety Sense as standard on every trim, including Pure
Cons
- Loud at motorway speeds: the 71bhp three-cylinder works hard above 60 mph
- Pre-2017 Mk1 NCAP rating from 2005 standards, no AEB
- Pre-2018 Mk2 downgraded to 3 stars by Euro NCAP without TSS fitted
- Pre-2009 Mk1 clutch wear: walk away unless replaced
- MMT and x-shift gearboxes: actuator failures are uneconomic to fix
- Rear seats and 168 litre Mk2 boot are too small for hauling university kit
Final word
The one to buy: 2018–2022 Mk2 facelift in x-play 1.0 VVT-i manual with Toyota Safety Sense, stamped Toyota service history, all recalls confirmed. Consider a Citroën C1 or Peugeot 107 / 108 which are mechanically identical and are often found cheaper than the Toyota.
Worth reading before you decide: our Hyundai i10 review covers the Aygo's strongest practical rival, with a bigger boot and seating for five. If the Aygo's mechanical underpinnings appeal, the Fiat 500 sits in the same A-segment with a different style angle. The Volkswagen Up is the more refined VW Group alternative.