Toyota’s Aygo has been a strong seller since it was first introduced back in 2005. A joint development effort between Toyota and the Peugeot group, the car’s most famous moment was probably the 2005 football match that put Jeremy Clarkson’s old new Top Gear on the map. 

Now motoring on through a second generation (slightly bigger, better quality – the usual), it’s just about time for an Aygo facelift. 

First impressions? 

We were never really fans of the X-marks-the-spot face mask front end of the Aygo, it looked like it was trying too hard. The facelifted car is a revelation in comparison – the styling changes are subtle and make for a much more mature and well-resolved package without losing style points. 

The changes are mostly restricted to the front of the car, there are a few blink-and-you’ll-miss-them tweaks around the rest of the car, but overall first impressions are good. Otherwise it’s business as usual, with a familiar 1-litre three-cylinder engine underneath the tiny bonnet (albeit tweaked for improved economy and a 5g/km CO2 reduction) and a solid interior. 

There are eight colours available on the car, including two new options – Blue Burst and Magenta Fizz. You’ll want to check them out in the metal before committing, Toyota wasn’t messing around. 

There are six trim levels available, starting from £9,695 for the three-door x, rising to around £14,050 for the five-door x-cite with auto transmission. The second-up-the-list x-play is where the action really...