In Brief
The Toyota Aygo X 116 hp Collection and the Yaris Hybrid 116 hp Design stand out for their positioning: the former leans toward agility and gear, the latter toward comfort and versatility. Despite sharing a similar underpinnings, the Yaris proves more practical for daily use, especially for in-cabin life and budget. The Aygo X appeals with its liveliness and restrained flair, but suffers from a cramped rear cabin and a steep price. Ultimately, the Yaris is the recommended choice for versatile use, while the Aygo X targets city dwellers seeking a more playful driving experience.
Remember Segment A? That class of tiny cars under 3.80 m, serving both as city runabouts and entry points into their manufacturers’ lineups, sometimes for less than €10,000. Flourishing in the 2000s and 2010s, it has since withered away, squeezed by regulatory costs and rising production expenses.
Yet a few brands endure, starting with Toyota, which has kept the Aygo alive—once a cousin to the Peugeot 108 and Citroën C1. Rejuvenated in 2022 and updated again in 2024, its persistence comes at a price: the PSA alliance is history, and Toyota had to rely on its own resources, since the economics at this tier don’t allow for a dedicated platform.
That’s why the Aygo X, born in 2022, borrows the platform of Toyota’s city car star, the Yaris, which continues to anchor the brand’s French market days. The gap between the two models narrowed recently, as the Aygo X finally gained the “small” hybrid powertrain of its bigger sister without sacrificing its 116 hp.
A little power-for-pennies logic at work: developing a dedicated version would have been too expensive. The price, however, is the sticking point: with its electrified powertrain, the Aygo X climbs to nearly the Yaris in price. It also grew by 7.8 cm, shrinking its length gap to just 16 cm compared to the Yaris.
So we found it legitimate to pit them side by side to determine their differences, even if Toyota is quick to call the smaller car a “city crossover” while the Yaris simply embodies the traditional hatch silhouette. The styling divergence is real: with its two-tone “frank-cut” body, big eyes, and assertive angles, the smaller car is unmistakably distinctive.
Toyota Aygo X 116 hp Collection vs Yaris Hybrid 116 hp Design: On the Road?
The Aygo X beams with vitality. Armed with a relatively large engine, it immediately feels sprightly at the first turn of the wheel, almost like a mini-GTI. The short wheelbase boosts steering responsiveness, and the suspension proves firm—enhanced by the 13 cm shorter wheelbase.
Grip on wet surfaces appears solid, despite the narrow 175 mm tires (195 mm on the Yaris), a point we’ll revisit. Even with the same underlying platform and only 59 kg less weight, it isn’t simply a carbon copy of the Yaris. The stopwatch confirms it: 0–100 km/h in 0.7 seconds quicker than the Yaris and 1.1 seconds faster from 90 to 130 km/h, a meaningful difference felt behind the wheel.
This liveliness paradoxically invites more cautious throttle usage: the engine tends to wind up quickly, so you don’t want to over-rev it, especially on the highway. Don’t expect long, hush-filled highway cruises; wind and tire noise are very noticeable, a reminder that this remains an A-segment car.
If you take the readings with a grain of salt—the meter can’t convey the character of the noises—the Yaris isn’t exactly a masterclass in quiet, but it remains a touch more civilized and offers superior suspension comfort that benefits its versatility.
The price you pay for a slightly less playful driving experience: it remains city-friendly thanks to its several electric-only phases and smooth transmission, but on the highway the internal combustion engine comes on more often. Ultimately, the Aygo X is very city-focused, arguably more so than its French rivals, leaving little room for its little sister to shine in urban settings. Still, the Aygo X does boast one of the tightest turning circles on the market, under 10 meters. An advantage, yes, but not decisive.
Toyota Aygo X 116 hp Collection vs Yaris Hybrid 116 hp Design: Interior Life?
What are the Aygo’s rear doors for, anyway? It’s a fair question. If passengers don’t bash their elbows on the sharp edges when opening, they’ll be disappointed by the very narrow rear doors and the limited rear-seat space. For an adult taller than about 5’11” (1.80 m), getting settled is basically a gymnastic feat. And the rear windows can’t be rolled down completely.
This is where the Aygo X pays the price for using the Yaris’ platform, which was designed for larger formats. In the memory of this tester, we hadn’t seen such a compromise since the Opel Adam, which used the Corsa’s platform. Whatever the case, this is the main sacrifice the Aygo X has to swallow.
The Yaris, by contrast, is more generous in the rear: its seat cushion is longer by 1 cm, legroom is 2 cm more, and especially the roofline isn’t as steep, allowing slightly more comfortable accommodation for taller adults… and it’s a true five-seater.
Keep in mind that both siblings still sit at the back of their respective segments, to the point that a Hyundai i10 dares to overtake them. In the trunk department, the Yaris leads with 45 liters more capacity and, importantly, a loading lip 14 cm lower.
In short, for daily use, there’s no contest: the Yaris remains a compact, city-friendly option. The Aygo X interior isn’t devoid of charm, and it presents a cabin that’s not exactly plush: door trim reveals bare metal and some hard plastics still show, but the sister hasn’t been a benchmark in this regard either, and the Design finish can feel a touch less bright.
The Aygo X Collection leans toward the refined, with colored inserts on the steering wheel and integrated, more enveloping seats. Those seats, however, are notably less comfortable than the Yaris’, being narrower and offering less lateral support. It also features design-focused touches: the driver can disable the speeding alert by tapping a panel at the top of the central screen, something not possible in the older model. The phone storage and onboard charger cater to bigger smartphones, whereas the Yaris feels a bit retro in that regard, as if stuck in Nokia-era ergonomics.
Toyota Aygo X 116 hp Collection vs Yaris Hybrid 116 hp Design: Budget?
For the Aygo X, the 116 hp engine is now the only engine on offer, and it represents the entry-level option for the Yaris, not available above Design trim. We chose the Aygo X that best matches the Yaris in price—the Collection. Unsurprisingly, it’s better equipped than its larger sibling, including keyless entry, dual-zone climate, 18-inch wheels (16 inches on the Yaris), and navigation.
It can still be priced the same as its bigger sister, or even €50 more. The real question is whether the Yaris’ superior versatility justifies the higher sticker price. In both cases, Toyota’s options list remains notably succinct. The Aygo X justifies its more playful character with a JBL audio system for an extra €500.
Note that, as is typical with Toyota, both city cars come with immediate site rebates: €2,000 for the Aygo X and €3,000 for the Yaris, which makes the Yaris about €1,050 cheaper after rebates. The Aygo X, however, has a surprising edge: it posts a notably lower fuel consumption, one of the rare cases in our data set to drop below 5 L/100 km (approximately 47 mpg) on average. The difference is almost certainly due to the narrower tires. So, when weighing price against features, the larger Yaris still tends to win, unless you’re a single-driver urbanite who craves the Aygo X’s charm and nimbleness.
Toyota Aygo X 116 hp Collection: Its Pros
- Performance
- Efficiency
- Equipment
Toyota Aygo X 116 hp Collection: Its Cons
- Rear seat space
- High price
- Wind/road noise at highway speeds
Toyota Yaris Hybrid 116 hp Design: Its Pros
- Suspension comfort
- Relative versatility
- Urban ease
Toyota Yaris Hybrid 116 hp Design: Its Cons
- Price/equipment balance
- Average rear space
- Wind/road noise at highway speeds
Toyota Aygo X 116 hp Collection vs Yaris Hybrid 116 hp Design: Verdicts?
- On the road: Toyota Aygo X
- In-cabin life: Toyota Yaris
- Budget: Toyota Yaris
Auto-Journal’s Pick: Toyota Yaris
More demonstrative and cheerful, the Aygo X manages to stand out even though its technical heart lies close to the Yaris. Yet the Yaris remains the more practical choice for everyday use and does not falter in city driving thanks to its already compact footprint. In the end, prudence wins out…
Toyota Aygo X 116 hp Collection vs Yaris Hybrid 116 hp Design: In Measurements
Find our test between the Toyota Aygo X 116 hp Collection and Toyota Yaris Hybrid 116 hp Design in l’Auto-Journal n°1206, dated April 2, 2026.
Comparison Table
| Specifications | Toyota Aygo X 116 hp Collection | Toyota Yaris Hybrid 116 hp Design |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 116 hp | 116 hp |
| Length | 16 cm shorter than Yaris; +7.8 cm (2024 update) | 16 cm longer than Aygo X |
| Wheelbase | Shorter by 13 cm vs Yaris | 13 cm longer than Aygo X |
| Tires | 175 mm | 195 mm |
| Weight | 59 kg lighter than Yaris | 59 kg heavier than Aygo X |
| 0–100 km/h | 0.7 s faster than Yaris | 0.7 s slower than Aygo X |
| 90–130 km/h | 1.1 s faster than Yaris | 1.1 s slower than Aygo X |
| Manufacturer rebate | €2,000 | €3,000 |
| Price difference after rebate | €1,050 more than Yaris | €1,050 cheaper than Aygo X |
| Average consumption | Under 5 L/100 km (0.4 L/100 km less than Yaris) | 0.4 L/100 km more than Aygo X |
| Seating | Four | Five |
| Boot space | 45 L less than Yaris | 45 L more than Aygo X |
| Loading height | loading lip 14 cm higher than Yaris | loading lip 14 cm lower than Aygo X |
The Essentials to Remember
- The Toyota Aygo X and the Yaris Hybrid share the same technical base, but they differ in positioning and use.
- The Aygo X shines with its liveliness, light weight, and sub-5 L/100 km fuel economy.
- The Yaris offers better comfort, higher usability, and a favorable price-to-feature ratio thanks to a larger rebate from the manufacturer.
- The Aygo X suffers from a very limited rear cabin and a price close to, or even above, the Yaris depending on rebates.
- The Yaris remains the pragmatic choice for daily, versatile use, while the Aygo X targets city dwellers seeking originality and dynamism.
FAQ
What are the main driving differences between the Aygo X and the Yaris Hybrid?
The Aygo X is livelier with quick steering and a firmer suspension, while the Yaris Hybrid prioritizes comfort and versatility.
Which of the two Toyotas is best suited to city life?
The Yaris remains very practical in city settings thanks to its overall footprint, though the Aygo X stands out with an exceptionally tight turning circle.
Which Toyota consumes the least in mixed use?
The Aygo X stands out with sub-5 L/100 km consumption, about 0.4 L/100 km less than the Yaris.
Which model offers the best price-to-features value?
The Yaris provides a more favorable price-to-performance balance, especially with its versatility and a higher rebate of €3,000.
What are the major pros and cons of the Aygo X?
Pros are its performance, efficiency, and equipment; cons include a cramped rear cabin, a high price, and noise at highway speeds.
What are the major pros and cons of the Yaris Hybrid?
It wins with suspension comfort, versatility, and city-handling; drawbacks include a middling price/equipment balance and average rear space.
