It’s a bit unusual for a manufacturer to market a car on the strength of its sound system – but that’s the case with the quirky Toyota Aygo JBL Edition.

The ‘JBL’ bit of the car’s name represents the audio experts who developed the premium sound system that gives this special version of the Aygo city car its USP.

Toyota describes it as ‘the small car that’s big on sound’ – and there’s no mistaking the fact it packs a mighty punch, if audio excellence happens to be your thing, thanks to the most powerful and sophisticated system yet featured in the Aygo model.

With 100W per channel in the system’s amplifier, there’s a total 600W of sound power on tap – plenty to generate a rock venue vibe or concert hall ambience, depending on your taste in music.

The new set-up comprises two 25mm high-frequency tweeters on top of the instrument panel, two 150mm full-range speakers set low down in the front doors and a meaty 160mm subwoofer for bass sounds housed in the spare wheel well in the boot.

That means the spare tyre has been ditched in favour of a tyre repair kit - such is the emphasis on sound!

With smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, owners can use the system to enjoy their personal music library with ease while on the move.

Thanks to a lingering liking for 1990s boyband 5ive, this afforded me the ideal chance to indulge in some ‘ironic cruising’ to the beat of the group’s funk genre, before a family member put paid to my fun by questioning what the racket was!

The car’s paintwork is also a little loud, with a bright Mandarin Pop orange roof, front pillars and side sills contrasting nicely with the Electro Grey paint finish on the rest of the bodywork.

The vibrant theme carries through to the cabin, with orange detailing around the front air vents, door trims and gear shift.

The colour is also picked up in the front seat bolsters and carpet mat edging.

Behind the wheel, it’s fun and frugal to drive.

A characterful 998cc three-cylinder engine gives off a raspy roar, while the five-speed manual gearbox is slick and allows you to keep the revs up and maintain momentum.

A 0-62mph time of nearly 14 seconds won’t set the pulse racing, but the Aygo still manages to feel quite zippy in real world driving conditions.

Indeed, it’s a car that holds the road well when cornering, with accurate steering a an absence of body roll giving the driver confidence.

The official figures suggest that 53.3mpg to 56.6mpg is possible on the combined cycle and – even when you drive the Aygo with a bit more urgency – the fuel consumption figures remain favourable.

The entire Toyota Aygo range was refreshed for the 2020 model year, with additional safety tech as standard plus and it is now only available as a five-door hatchback.

Space-wise, there no problem finding a comfortable driving position, with plenty of head and leg room available up front for both driver and passenger.

Back seat passengers are rather more restricted and you wouldn’t want to be sat behind a six-foot driver on a lengthy journey.

Above and beyond the normal model, the JBL Edition comes with black twin-spoke 15-inch alloy wheels, which are an attractive feature and add to the car’s sporty appearance.

There are plenty of other standard features, including Toyota Safety Sense with a Pre-Collision System and Lane Departure Alert, automatic air conditioning, reversing camera, rear privacy glass and front fog lights.

With its quirky styling, great sounds system and distinctive appearance, the special version of the Aygo is bound to appeal to those who have an eye for something slightly unusual.

At just over £14,000 and with a decent amount of standard kit, it also represents reasonable value for money by today's standards.

Toyota Aygo JBL Edition

PRICE: £14,150

ENGINE: 1.0-litre, three-cylinder

TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual

ECONOMY: 53.3 to 56.6mpg combined on WLTP

TOP SPEED: 99mph

0-62MPH: 13.8 seconds

EMISSIONS: 114g/km

INSURANCE GROUP: 6A

VED COST: £175 in first year

KERB WEIGHT: 840-900kg

the Aygo is available in three core grades, in addition to the new JBL Edition detailed above.

MY20 Aygo interior

Equipment is split into three levels: x-play, x-trend, and x-clusiv. The entry-level x-play gets air conditioning, height-adjustable driver’s seat, LED rear lights and the x-touch multimedia system with reversing camera, DAB and Bluetooth, while the x-trend adds 15-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, automatic air conditioning, automatic headlights, and rear privacy glass, while the large Funroof can be specified as an option.

Top-level x-clusiv gets everything already mentioned, plus twin-spoke alloy wheels, part-leather seat upholstery, and smart entry and start while a bi-tone paint finish is also standard.

Toyota Aygo safety equipment

All Toyota Aygos are now fitted with Toyota Safety Sense, meaning Pre-Collision System with automatic emergency braking and Lane Departure Alert – to warn the driver if the car begins to deviate from its traffic lane – are standard across the whole line-up.

The Aygo’s highly efficient three-cylinder powertrain remains untouched with customers able to choose the 71bhp engine with a choice of a five-speed manual or x-shift automated manual transmission.

Nimble when cornering

Characterfull engine - throaty engine

Quirky looks

Decent gearbox

Good space up front

Two handy cup holders

Phone charger

Good sound system

Toyota has launched a special edition of the Aygo city car, called the JBL Edition. It features an improved stereo system as well as a range of cosmetic tweaks and is on sale now priced from £14,150.

Revisions over the standard Toyota Aygo include 15-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, rear privacy glass and a new grey-and-orange paint scheme, which matches the brand colours of JBL – the company which supplied the car’s stereo system.

• Toyota reveals limited edition Aygo x-claim for summer

Inside, buyers get the same colour scheme as the bodywork, with grey upholstery that’s offset by a range of contrasting orange trim-pieces. There’s also a four-speaker JBL stereo system and a 160mm subwoofer, which occupies the same normally reserved for the car’s spare wheel. Buyers get a puncture repair kit to compensate for the loss of the space saver.

It’s powered by a 71bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, which sends drive to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox as standard – although an automatic transmission is available for an extra £700. The manual-equipped engine delivers claimed WLTP fuel economy figures of between 53.3 and 56.6mpg.

Toyota Aygo: 2020 model year updates

Toyota has also restructured the Aygo range for 2020, dropping the three-door model from the car’s line-up, as well as revising its trim-levels and safety equipment.

Buyers now have their choice of three specifications – x-play, x-trend and x-clusiv. The base model comes as standard with air conditioning, a height-adjustable driver seat, a reversing camera and a seven-inch infotainment system with DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity. All variants also now feature a pre-collision system with automatic emergency braking.

The mid-range Aygo x-trend adds 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, front fog lamps, automatic air conditioning, privacy glass and some decals for the car’s side skirts, door mirror caps and bumpers. Toyota’s “Funroof” is also available as an optional extra, which swaps the Aygo’s hardtop for an electrically operated canvas roof.

Toyota’s range-topping x-clusiv model features a unique set of twin-spoke alloy wheels, part-leather seat upholstery, as well as keyless entry and go. Buyers also get a two-tone paint finish with body-coloured interior trim pieces as standard.