Lively, cute, agile and capable of letting out a growl when provoked.

Fear not, for this isn’t an advert for the sale of a Yorkshire Terrier, rather a roadtest review of the latest version of the Toyota Aygo.

The small but beautifully-formed city car has been my faithful companion for the last week and, I have to say, I’ve grown rather fond of it.

The Aygo is powered by the award-winning Optimal Drive 1.0-litre VVT-i petrol engine, which may be modest in size but, like the Yorkie, can let out a high-spirited growl that gives it a real sense of life and fun. When driving around inner-city areas of Bradford, the engine proved more than responsive enough, with the performance being sufficient to pull away from junctions and traffic lights with minimal effort. What’s more, the nimbleness of the Aygo’s handling gives the car a great ability to weave through narrow streets.

There’s also a decent amount of steering feel on offer and that accuracy boosts the driver’s confidence when rounding corners.

When you get out onto the more open country roads, the car isn’t likely to run away too quickly when you try to let it off the lead. It’s capable of stretching its legs to a certain extent, but you have to give the accelerator a hearty push and drive towards the top of the rev range to get up to 60mph in a time that doesn’t seem tedious. Lower down the rev range, the engine seems to take a while to get the bit between its teeth. Of course, the real advantage of a 1.0-litre engine is its tremendous economy, with the vehicle returning official fuel economy figures of nearly 70mpg on the combined cycle and nearly 80mpg in extra-urban conditions. Meanwhile, the slick manual gearshift changes take place with minimal fuss.

And, for those who are keen to keep an eye on fuel consumption, there’s a shift light in your line of vision to tell you when you ought to be thinking about changing gear.

In terms of looks, it’s a funky and distinctive little machine. The large ‘X’ shape which dominates the front end distinguishes the Aygo from its rivals and, while not everyone will like that feature, I found it rather appealing.

This is the new, range-topping Aygo X-clusiv model, which is simply a new trim level, so the car underneath is the same as other current Aygos. The X-clusiv comes with a roll-back canvas roof along with a wide range of standard kit. On the one occasion I was brave enough to test the sunroof in wintry West Yorkshire, I found it to be a rather splendid feature as it bathes the interior in natural light, making journeys that bit more enjoyable. The interior has a plush feel to it, helping to justify the exclusive tag. Indeed, the leather seats and steering wheel are a nice touch which lend the car an air of refinement. In terms of space, the sight of a 6ft 3in chap such as yours truly pouring himself into a city car and then scramble out is never likely to be a graceful one. However, once inside, there’s a surprising amount of space and seat adjustment available to the driver.

Indeed, I had no problem whatsoever finding a comfortable driving position, with plenty of legroom and a huge amount of head room. That said, once the front seats are right back, you wouldn’t want to be sat in the back.

The way the dials are set out is extremely neat, with a circular speedometer visible through the gap at the top of the steering wheel. Equally convenient and well laid-out is the infotainment system, which is within easy reach, functional and user-friendly.

In the final analysis, you have to weigh up whether or not the extra kit on the X-clusiv version of the Aygo justifies a price tag in the region of £14,000.

Ultimately, peppy performance, adorable agility and a distinctive appearance were the personality traits that made me think I would be happy to have the Toyota Terrier, sorry Aygo, as a best friend.

The Lowdown

Toyota Aygo X-clusiv 

PRICE: £13,645
ENGINE: 3 cylinder, 998cc, petrol
POWER: 68bhp at 6000rpm
GEARBOX: 5-speed manual
PERFORMANCE: 0-62mph in 14.2sec and top speed 99mph; 
FUEL ECONOMY 68.9mpg (combined)
CO2 EMISSIONS: 95g/km

Will's Ratings

PERFORMANCE: ***
ECONOMY: *****
RIDE/HANDLING: ****
SPACE: ***
EQUIPMENT: ****
SECURITY: ****
VALUE: ****
OVERALL: ****