TOYOTA

CHAPTER & VERSO Toyota’s Verso keeps a comparatively low profile in the compact MPV sector but as a solid, dependable family car, it has few peers. Steve Walker reports.

Manufacturers deploy a whole range of different methods to help them sell new cars. These tactics have been carefully fashioned down the years to seduce the most iron-willed of buyers and have cautious customers eating from the palm of the sales executive’s hand. Some will introduce value-added special edition versions to bring in the showroom traffic, others will cram the model range with design and technological innovation and some will produce a firecracker halo model to raise the profile of the rest of the range with its headline-grabbing performance. Examine the compact MPV sector and you’ll see all of these strategies and more in action but Toyota’s Verso tends to come at the problem with a much straighter bat. The only thing that’s truly exceptional here is the car’s all-round competence.

Toyota present buyers with a choice of two VVT-i petrol engines generating109bhp and 127bhp from their respective 1.6 and 1.8-litre capacities. These modest power-outputs are produced at a lofty 6,000rpm so both engines need to be worked quite hard in order to extract meaningful performance. They’re adequate for short trips around town but if you can afford them, the diesels are a better bet. Both oil-burners are 2.2-litre D4-D units and in each instance, Toyota have been slightly disingenuous in terms of their naming culture. The D-4D 140 actually produces 134bhp and the D-4D 180 engine found exclusively in the range-topping T180 model actually has 175bhp on tap. The two oil-burners are predictably strong on torque, serving up 310Nm and 400Nm respectively from just 2,000rpm.

"Gimmicks aren’t the Toyota Verso’s style…"

On paper performance is fairly impressive with all the powerplants except the 1.6-litre petrol. The 1.8-litre petrol can do the old 0-60mph sprint in 10.8s but remember its high-revving characteristic when you compare it to the D-4D 140 (0-60mph in 9.4s) and the D-4D 180 (0-60mph in 8.8s). On the road, the Verso handles quite sweetly. The high-sided body is well controlled in corners and the steering is quite direct. The suspension is firmer than the average in this sector but many rivals are set-up to obliterate imperfections in the road surface at the expense of composed handling, so whether you prefer the ride in the Verso to that of a Vauxhall Zafira or Renault Scenic will be largely a matter of taste. The Verso’s styling has a lot in common with that of other mainstream Toyota products in that it’s neat and unfussy rather than extrovert in any way. Even the most recent facelift was only introduced to bring the Verso’s front end in line with the similarly low key Auris and Yaris models. The grille no longer has a bar running across it and the apertures in the under-bumper that house the fog lights on plusher models are now more aggressively angled. Certified nitpickers may also spot minor revisions to the front and rear light clusters. Unlike some similarly sized rivals, the Verso can seat seven and all five rear seats fold down into the floor to create a totally flat loading surface. This means that you won’t need to haul heavy seats into and out of the car if ultimate carrying capacity is required. A lot of thought has gone into this system, the seats not only being the lightest in class but also requiring a simple one-touch operation to fold each one flat. As tends to be the case with compact MPVs, adult-sized persons will struggle to get into the rearmost seats. The interior is resoundingly tough and well-built – something of a Toyota trademark. Probably more so than any other compact MPV, you can be sure that the Verso isn’t going to wilt under the pressures of family life. The controls on the dash are clearly laid-out and easy to use at a glance while the materials are of good quality. Storage space could be better. The Verso range is divided between the usual T2, T3 and T-Spirit trim levels but you also have the mildly sporty looking SR derivative and the range-topping T180 to consider. All Verso models now come with an MP3-compatible CD stereo as well as air-conditioning, electric front windows and electric wing mirrors. The T3 adds various features including dual-zone climate control, alloy wheels and stability control while the T-Spirit gets satellite navigation and blue tooth connectivity as part of its armoury. For those of you facing long journeys, the SR derivative comes with the option of the boredom-busting Modular ICE (in-car entertainment) system. This features two, removable, seven-inch television screens in the back of the front headrests for viewing DVDs or connecting to games consoles. All at the extra price of £940. The T 180 gets a sensible range of extras on top of the T-Spirit spec, enough to differentiate it without going too far. 17-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear glass, smoked headlight glass, a perforated leather steering wheel cover and various interior trim detail features are included, so it’s hardly a Max Power wannabe. Toyota have sensibly kept things subtle in a way that doesn’t tarnish the Verso’s general sheen of competence by forcing it into pretending to be something it’s not. You can always buy a Toyota and feel reasonably confident that it isn’t going to cripple you financially with repair bills as soon as the warranty runs out. The used market too has a healthy respect for the Japanese manufacturer’s reliability record and the depreciation blow is softened as a result. In terms of fuel economy, the diesel engines are unusually large for the sector so you won’t get the fuel-supping performance that’s available in some of the alternative compact MPVs – but then they don’t have the Verso’s performance. The official combined economy figures are, in reverse order, 36.7mpg for the 1.8-litre petrol, 37.7mpg for the 1.6-litre petrol, 41.5mpg for the D-4D 180 and 44.8mpg for the D-4D 140. Gimmicks aren’t the Toyota Verso’s style: it’s a take-it-as-you-find-it, get-the-job-done kind of vehicle that’s been developed over the years into a highly competent package. The car is thoroughly user-friendly, from the easy-to-operate seating system to that trademark Toyota reliability and the marked absence of the kind of niggling annoyances that drive you up the wall during day to day use. There are few rivals to touch it. If you had to criticise the Verso, it would be on grounds of its slightly dull image and nondescript styling. The ride is a shade firm but many will happily shoulder that burden in exchange for the enjoyable handling and the petrol engines need to be worked hard. Otherwise, and certainly in the key areas that really matter to customers like practicality, reliability and build quality, it’s definitely the real deal.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Verso range PRICES: £15,005-£21,905– on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 5E-11E CO2 EMISSIONS: 165-184g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.8] 0-60mph 10.8s / Max Speed 122mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.8] (combined) 36.7mpg / (extra urban) 43.4mpg / (urban) 28.5mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS with EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4360/1770/1622mm

AN SR IS BORN The latest SR trim brings even more value and livelier looks to the Toyota Verso but this compact MPV’s light is still under a bit of a bushel. Steve Walker reports

The Verso mini-MPV is precisely the kind of vehicle that Toyota seems to specialise in these days. Impeccably constructed, faultlessly reliable and overwhelmingly fit for purpose. As for a dash of style into the bargain, well you can have that too if you opt for the recently improved sporty SR model.

Smarter 16-inch alloy wheels, a new roof spoiler and parking sensors front and rear with a dashboard indicator – all are now part of the SR offering. You can also expect an in-dash CD changer and rear privacy glass, in total £845-worth of additional features. It’s a useful package of extra equipment designed to add even more value to the sales proposition, yet the pricing hasn’t changed. Toyota are asking £17,545 for a 1.8-litre VVT-i petrol-powered Verso SR and you’ll need to cross the salesman’s palm with £18,620 for the 2.2-litre D-4D 140 diesel engine. That represents a useful £1,155 saving compared to a similarly specified T3 model in the standard range, yet you still get desirable T3 features like dual-zone climate-controlled air conditioning, a leather steering wheel with audio controls, front and rear electric windows and cruise control. Other features include electric heated door mirrors, a trip computer, fog lights and Toyota’s Easy Flat system which sounds like one of those abdominal exercise routines but actually allows the rear seats to be simply folded flat to the floor. Front and rear parking sensors come as standard and in this latest SR, the dashboard also features a proximity indicator giving a clear display of how close the car is to any other vehicle or obstacle. The improvement the SR makes to the look of the Verso isn’t dramatic but it is tangible. If you want more, there’s always the range-topping T180 Verso which looks sportier still but not too much. You’ll need nearly £22,000 for that derivative though and as an affordable but good looking mid-range option, the SR has enough about it to make an impact.

"The improvement the SR makes to the look of the Verso isn’t dramatic but it is tangible"

The choice Verso SR buyers face between petrol and diesel is an interesting one. You either save money up front and get the cheaper petrol or save money over the long term by picking the more economical diesel. The average economy figure for the petrol model is 36.7mpg and the diesel manages 44.8mpg. The price differential is roughly £1,000 so you’ll need to cover a fair bit of mileage in the diesel before you’re in the black but there is an extra dimension to this decision making progress. There isn’t a huge amount of difference in the 0-60mph performance of the two engines. The petrol unit achieves a 10.8s time and the diesel manages 9.4s. You don’t buy a Toyota Verso with half an eye on the drag strip though, so these figures are largely irrelevant. It’s much better to look at the torque output of the two engines where you’ll discover a big difference between the petrol engine’s 170Nm at 4,200rpm and the diesel’s 310Nm at 2,000rpm. Toyota’s VVT-i petrol engines like to be revved hard, giving their best performance high-up in the rev range and keeping on giving right up to the red line. The power is delivered in a smooth and refined manner but in an MPV like the Verso, you don’t really want to be holding each gear for that length of time. The diesel, by contrast, gives its best in the low to middle rev range. It feels far punchier at the lower speeds you’re forced to do around town. You have to move through the gears more quickly and there’s a louder aural accompaniment but the Verso feels more responsive and usable with the oil-burner installed. Regardless of engine choice, this is one of the better driving compact MPV options. Despite the high roof, it resists the temptation to lean around too much in corners and the suspension serves up a comfortable ride that isn’t so soft that it risks turning the family green. For customers facing long journeys with children an extra £940 can get you Toyota’s Modular ICE (in-car entertainment) option installed. This features two, removable, seven-inch screens in the back of the front headrests for viewing DVDs or connecting games consoles or cameras. The Verso’s styling has a lot in common with that of other mainstream Toyota products in that it’s neat and unfussy rather than extrovert in any way. Even the most recent facelift was only introduced to bring the Verso’s front end in line with the similarly low key Auris and Yaris models. The grille no longer has a bar running across it and the apertures in the under-bumper that house the fog lights on plusher models are now more aggressively angled. Certified nitpickers may also spot minor revisions to the front and rear light clusters. Unlike some similarly sized rivals, the Verso can seat seven and all five rear seats fold down into the floor to create a totally flat loading surface. This means that you won’t need to haul heavy seats into and out of the car if ultimate carrying capacity is required. A lot of thought has gone into this system, the seats not only being the lightest in class but also requiring a simple one-touch operation to fold each one flat. As tends to be the case with compact MPVs, adult-sized persons will struggle to get into the rearmost seats. The interior is resoundingly tough and well-built – something of a Toyota trademark. Probably more so than any other compact MPV, you can be sure that the Verso isn’t going to wilt under the pressures of family life. The controls on the dash are clearly laid-out and easy to use at a glance while the materials are of good quality. Storage space could be better. The SR trim level brings a little more visual drama to the innocuous Toyota Verso but not too much. The Verso’s strength is how it does the important things so adeptly and with the minimum of fuss but in SR form, the value for money angle is brought into sharper focus. Compact MPVs don’t get much better than this but the Verso continues to resist the urge to shout about it.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Verso SR PRICES: £17,545-£18,620– on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-8 CO2 EMISSIONS: 167-184g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.8] 0-60mph 10.8s / Max Speed 122mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.8] (combined) 36.7mpg / (extra urban) 43.4mpg / (urban) 28.5mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS with EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4360/1770/1622mm

SWINGING D-CAT High Performance And Compact MPVs Don’t Usually Mix But Toyota Have Come To A Nice Compromise With Their 2.2-Litre D-4D Verso Range. Steve Walker Reports…

Toyota’s Verso is ruthlessly effective in fulfilling the compact-MPV role but it isn’t the most flamboyant of vehicles and in no way would you credit it with any degree of sportiness. There was certainly room for a headline grabbing derivative to enliven the Corolla-based Verso’s public image but in typical Toyota style, rather than introduce a blistering performance version with big wheels, body kit and tooth chattering suspension, they dropped in a pair of powerful but practical 2.2-litre D4-D diesel engines. In the interests of keeping the Verso’s wining formula intact, it might have been just as well.

It was Vauxhall who pioneered the idea of performance derivatives of compact MPV products with their Zafira GSi and, subsequently, VXR models but similar bespoilered shenanigans may have appeared a little brash if applied to the staunchly sensible Verso. The diesel direction that Toyota took is far subtler but that’s not to say that it didn’t inject a useful touch of pizzazz into the line-up. The engine is available in two forms. We have the 136bhp 2.2-litre D-4D 135 and the 177bhp 2.2-litre D-4D 180 D-CAT. That ‘D-CAT’ tag attached to the range-topping unit stands for ‘Diesel - Clean Advanced Technology’ and Toyota are keen to trumpet the fact that this is the most powerful as well as the cleanest diesel engine in the Verso’s class. The D-4D 135 version is reassuringly hi-tec too. It features an all aluminium cylinder block that cuts back on weight and, along with the offset piston design, helps to reduce noise. There’s a large intercooler as well, for improved heat exchange and greater efficiency. The engine is a real all-rounder, producing a hefty 310Nm of torque at 2,000rpm and capable of averaging nearly 45mpg while emitting 167g/km of C02 and a lower level of Nitrogen oxides than the 114bhp 2.0-litre engine it replaced. The range-topping D-4D 180 D-CAT powerplant takes things further. There’s the obvious power increase over the D-4D 135 model but with this car, average fuel economy of 41.5mpg and C02 emissions of 178g/km are achieved through some groundbreaking technological wizardry. The D-4D 180 utilises the piezoelectric common-rail injection system for extremely fast, high pressure fuel injections and, therefore, extremely efficient combustion. The system can actually make up to five fuel injections per cycle, rendering it highly responsive to demands being placed on the engine by the driver. The D-4D 180 also employs ceramic glow plugs which are highly durable and reach their ideal operating temperature quicker for rapid cold starts in low temperatures.

"The T 180 is a sporty as the Corolla Verso should be allowed to get..."

The D-CAT technology is all about cutting emissions but it’s not just the output of C02 that’s reduced. The D-CAT system also dramatically diminishes levels of particulates in the exhaust gasses. A gas recirculation system and Toyota’s Diesel Particulate Reduction System in the four-way catalyst help to filter and burn off higher levels of hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide than in more conventional engines. There’s a big sense of satisfaction that Verso D-4D drivers will be able to glean from the knowledge that their vehicle is pumping significantly less nastiness out into the atmosphere than other diesels of similar size but the real appeal with the 2.2 D-4D engines is a rather more selfish one. The performance on the road of both powerplants is very good for a number of reasons but anyone purchasing a Verso D-4D with visions of tyre shredding acceleration and scalpel-sharp handing is going to be disappointed. The real strength of both engines is refinement. It’s testament to just how quiet the D-4D technology is that wind noise around the A-pillars becomes a little intrusive in the Verso at motorway speeds. Drivers of less advanced oil-burning cars would give their eye teeth to hear the wind buffeting their bodywork as it’s invariably drowned out by the droning rumble of their engine. You genuinely could mistake these diesels for petrol-powered cars were it not for the huge swell of torque that dominates the mid-range. Toyota have made the D-4D 135 available right across the Verso range, so buyers can specify it in T2, T3, and SR trim with prices starting at £16,930, but the D-4D 180’s arrival prompted the inauguration of a special T 180 trim level which is exclusively offered with that engine priced at £21,905. The intention is for the T 180 to act as a halo performance model over the rest of the Verso line-up and why not? 177bhp is a sizable amount for a compact MPV to be packing. The problem is that there’s no initial urgency to the D-4D 180’s performance: 0-62mph takes a modest 8.8s and there’s a reasonable 128mph top speed but it’s nothing too dramatic. The engine’s trump card lies in its huge 400Nm torque output between 2,000 and 2,600rpm, this gives exceptional pulling power in the mid-range that makes mincemeat of overtaking manoeuvres and steep inclines. The driving experience is languid and muscular but doesn’t deliver the feistiness and thrills you’d expect from a truly ‘hot’ compact MPV. The handling is assured enough but never excites and you don’t really feel inclined to press on. All the latest Verso models have taken on a revised grille and bumper to mirror that of the Auris and Yaris hatchbacks while the T180 and T-Spirit models now have satellite navigation as standard. The T 180 gets a sensible range of styling extras, enough to differentiate it without going too far. 17-inch alloy wheels, tinted rear glass, a perforated leather steering wheel cover and various interior trim detail features are included, so it’s hardly a Max Power wannabe. Toyota have sensibly kept things subtle in a way that doesn’t tarnish the Verso’s general sheen of competence by forcing it into pretending to be something it’s not. Both of the 2.2-litre D-4D engines are a good match for the Verso. The car is thoroughly user-friendly, from the easy-to-operate seating system to that trademark Toyota reliability and the marked absence of the kind of niggling annoyances that drive you up the wall during day to day use. It’s well built, neatly designed and just a little bit dull - which is exactly how an MPV should be. If you want a compact MPV to fulfil the compact MPV role, Toyota’s Verso D-4D models are a great choice. Their blend of refinement, economy, cleanliness and torquey performance is ideal for this kind of vehicle. If you want a hot hatchback, do yourself a favour and buy one. The T 180 is as sporty as the Verso should be allowed to get.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Verso 2.2 D-4D range PRICES: £16,930-£21,905 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 8-11 CO2 EMISSIONS: 167-178g/km PERFORMANCE: [180] 0-60mph 8.8s / Max Speed 128mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [135] (combined) 44.8mpg / (extra urban) 53.3mpg / (urban) 35.3mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS with EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/heightmm) 4360/1770/1622

VERSOTILITY We’ve loved our long term Toyota Verso so much that we’re not handing it back. Andy Enright takes a look at why this car has proved such a hit…

I can’t say I’ve experienced this before. Some long term cars are missed, others go back to the manufacturers with no regrets at all but none of the cars we’ve run so far has endeared itself so thoroughly that we’d hand over our own cash for it. Still, that’s exactly what’s happened with the long term Toyota Verso T-Spirit. Although you may at first wonder at the enthusiasm for something that doesn’t exactly set pulses racing, the Toyota proved itself a car that can always be relied upon to do a job, hence the almost constant demand for its keys come a Friday afternoon.

It’s not just our staffers who have found the Verso to be a dependable and capable proposition. I took the opportunity to talk to Eifion Jones, Toyota’s Manager of Vehicle and Accessory Planning, to find out a little more about how the Verso has fared. Some context first. The Verso was introduced back in 2001 ostensibly to establish a beach head for the Corolla Mk 10 in the UK, subsequently following it up with three and five door hatches and four door saloon versions. A very promising car wasn’t given much marketing back up and was left rather high and dry by the cheaper Citroën Xsara Picasso and the Vauxhall Zafira, a model that set the trend for seven seat mini-MPVs. Fast forward to 2004 and Toyota had a clearer vision of where it wanted the Corolla Verso to slot into this maturing market. Now featuring seven seats, this Verso looked sharper, drove better and offered more versatility. Sales picked up, the model received favourable reviews and all looked rosy.

"A car that performs the typical MPV role – without the typical MPV image…"

In 2006, Toyota introduced the powerful T180 diesel engine and dropped the Corolla name from the Verso’s badge, much as Renault had excised the Megane moniker from their Scenic once it became established in its own right. The effect of bringing better dynamics and edgier styling to the market has been to bring down the average age of Verso buyers from the 45-55 year old age bracket exemplified by the first generation car to 35-45s today. As Jones explains "We were looking for a car that performed the MPV role but which didn’t look too much like a typical MPV. For many younger buyers, an MPV is symbolic of giving up and getting old." It’s taken a while for Toyota to find a comfortable niche for the Verso but it’s established now. There are no plans to attempt to compete with cars like the Ford S-MAX 2.5T or the Vauxhall Zafira VXR in terms of racy image, Toyota instead concentrating on versatility, reliability, safety and affordability. Diesel sales make up a good proportion of the Verso product mix, one reason why Toyota is so confident that the T180 engine remains an apt flagship powerplant. This year to date, fully 47 per cent of all Versos sold have been diesel variants, compared to 29 per cent last year. The majority of these have been the 2.2-litre D4-D diesel powerplant – one that compares very favourably with rivals from Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen. The T180 accounts for around 10% of all sales, a decent showing from such a halo product. We opted for the popular T Spirit model and as a used buy, it’s the one we’d look to every time. Still, even the T2 model feels like it’s been constructed using higher quality materials than most rivals can manage. As with all manufacturers, Toyota have worked hard at getting the ‘door slam’ sound exactly right and the combination of carefully sited hinges and clever air sealing makes the Verso sound more impregnable than Fort Knox when you slam the doors shut. The cabin design majors on geometric shapes and three-dimensional elements to render an arch-like effect. It’s quite unlike any other Toyota interior and marks a new design direction that’s surprisingly bold for a model that will be marketed to some of the most conservative new car customers. We particularly liked the blue lights emanating from the dashboard dials and switches. Even so, form has not overrun function to the extent of making the displays difficult to read or the controls tricky to use. Gimmicks are not something that the Toyota design department entertain. Another big plus-point for the Toyota becomes apparent when you actually drive the thing. Although resolutely MPV in its high-roofed shape, it corners remarkably flatly and resists the kind of pronounced body-roll that tends to hinder its competitors. The driving experience in the Verso is not unlike that of the standard Corolla hatch, which although not particularly impressive for a family hatchback, is mighty fine for a mini-MPV. The 1.8-litre petrol engine in our car is strong enough but the D4-D diesel would be the ‘money no object’ choice. The problem with the diesel is that it’s £1,000 more expensive than the 1.8 petrol and even with the fuel economy savings, that still looks a lot of money. The 1.8 looks the sensible choice in the range and with the Verso being such a highly sensible car, it should be the one most people will go for. Some cars are an instant hit, whereas others take time to grow on you. The Toyota Verso is firmly in the latter camp and once it gets its hooks into you, most comparable cars seem second rate. Testimonials don’t come any more credible than placing your own cash down for one.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Corolla Verso 1.8 T-Spirit PRICE: £19,990 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 8 CO2 EMISSIONS: 184g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 10.8s / Max Speed 122mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 36.7mpg / (extra urban) 43.4mpg / (urban) 28.5mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS with EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4360/1770/1622

VERSATILITY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME Can A Family-Sized MPV Really Also Work As A Company Car? Graham Motuel Has Been Running A Toyota Verso as Both Company & Family Transport To Find Out. He Told Steve Ghosley How He’d Been Getting On…

Can a family-practical MPV really also make a great day-to-day business person's commuting tool? Graham Motuel and his five children have been putting our long term Toyota Verso to the test at weekends while Graham himself has been stacking up the miles between clients during the week. Here's how he sees it.

A family MPV would probably not be the first choice for a businessman like Graham who spends many hours a week plying the motorways up and down the UK visiting customers. Yet on closer consideration, the size and flexibility that the Toyota Verso offers could make a compelling case for travelling business types who need to transport significant loads in the course of their working day. Running training courses at various locations forms part of Graham’s regular work and necessitates the transportation of significant amounts of equipment and documentation. Much to his surprise, he found the Verso to be ideally suited for this role. The large rear door aperture provides a low loading area that is so much easier to negotiate than trying to heave boxes and equipment into the boot of a saloon car and with the rear seats being able to fold into the floor in a single operation, the Verso offers the business user a huge amount of carrying capacity should it be needed. A thoughtful design touch that Graham really appreciated was the rear tonneau cover that neatly pulls out of the floor and hides anything stored in the back of the car.

"On the road Graham found the Verso to be a willing and extremely able companion"

The Verso can seat seven and, uniquely in its class, all five rear seats fold down into the floor to create a totally flat loading surface. Graham found this feature of the car suited both his working and family lifestyle exactly. Whether it was business equipment, colleagues or the local trip to the re-cycling depot, the Verso could be adapted in seconds to the right configuration. A lot of thought has gone into this system, the seats not only being the lightest in class but also requiring a simple one-touch operation to fold each one flat. On the road, Graham found the Verso to be a willing and extremely able companion. Although resolutely an MPV in its high-roofed shape, he found that it cornered remarkably flatly and resisted the kind of pronounced body-roll that tends to hinder other models of the same genre. He felt that the 1.8-litre petrol engine in this car was certainly adequate for motorway use although the D4-D diesels would be the ‘money no object’ choice and more economical. The problem with the diesel is that the 2.0-litre D4-D is £1,000 more expensive than the 1.8-litre petrol and even with the fuel economy savings, that still looks a lot of money. Graham found that on long motorway runs, the 1.8-litre petrol model was able to achieve fuel consumption figures of around 35mpg, close to the official published combined figure of 36.7mpg. Graham found the Verso a very easy car to drive and enjoyed the high driving position that affords a clear view of the traffic and conditions around the vehicle. Inside, he felt that the instruments were very well presented and easy to locate. He particularly liked the radio/CD stereo that is fitted to this model, an important feature for drivers who travels long distances on our congested roads. The soft clutch on this model is a particular favourite of Graham’s as he felt that it made long distance driving less tiring. On the debit side however, Graham found that when changing gear, the revs were slow in reducing making smooth gear changes difficult to achieve. He wasn’t sure whether this was a typical feature of the 1.8-litre model or a fault with this particular car. Graham also thinks that a satellite navigation system would be a sensible addition to the specification, especially for the business user. Many business users are very conscious of the impression they portray with the car that they drive for their company. There is a definite unspoken hierarchy in the model list that is available to most company car drivers. It is no wonder then that mini-MPVs like the Toyota Verso don’t often feature very highly on the company car wish lists of these motorists. But maybe they should? Graham Motuel found the Verso to be a very practical and comfortable car to use for his daily business routine. It is easy to drive, a doddle to park and will carry anything including a fully restored Sinclair C5 in its cavernous interior - but then that’s another story.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Verso PRICES: £15,005-£21,905– on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 5E-8E CO2 EMISSIONS: 165-184g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.8] 0-60mph 10.8s / Max Speed 122mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.8] (combined) 36.7mpg / (extra urban) 43.4mpg / (urban) 28.5mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS with EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4360/1770/1622mm

VERSO VERSATILITY Natalie Motuel and her five children have been living with the highly rated Toyota Verso. Steve Ghosley finds out what they think of it…

With five young children, Natalie Motuel was keen to try Toyota’s highly rated Verso as a solution to her family’s day-to-day transporting needs. Cars of this sort claim to be suited ideally to families like the Motuels. In practice however, it doesn’t always work out that way.

For a mini-MPV like the Toyota Verso to be successful, it has to be versatile, practical and above all else child-friendly. Natalie’s family would certainly seem ideal for putting the Verso through its paces. The car they tried was the top-of-the-range Verso 1.8-litre T Spirit with all the bells and whistles, so there was plenty for Natalie and her family to evaluate. The current Verso has been designed specifically with European tastes in mind and is much shaper from all angles than the rather stodgy styling of the previous model. Certainly, first impressions from the Motuels were very favourable. Natalie’s description of ‘pretty’ was probably not what the design team in Southern France had in mind when they originally penned the lines of the current car. Nonetheless, our Verso passed the first and sometimes most important test that any car has to do and that is to look right. The current shape still retains some of the styling cues of the original Corolla Verso but everything seems to have been sharpened up somewhat. The wheel arches are more defined, and the revised front grille and bumper are sharper in appearance. There’s also a definite upper and lower body to the car, helped by those distinctive shoulders that give it a far more progressive look.

"Where this car really scores is the cleverly designed interior..."

On the road, Natalie found the car very easy to drive with good visibility all-round. She likes the high-riding position of the Verso, something she has been use to in the past driving a Ford Galaxy. Her only slight reservation was that she had to be careful reversing the Verso as her diminutive stature made it difficult to easily see out of the back. Maybe the addition of (optional) rear parking sensors would be of assistance here. Where this car really scores though, is the cleverly designed interior. Unlike its predecessor and many similarly sized competitors, this Verso can seat seven and, uniquely in its class, all five rear seats fold down into the floor to create a totally flat loading surface. Natalie found this system very easy to use as the seats are very light and require only a simple one-touch operation to fold each one flat. Natalie readily admits that the family rarely travel with all five children in tow, so the rear three seats are constantly being lowered or raised to accommodate luggage, kids or shopping. With all seats in use, however, the load carrying capacity is severely restricted. Another feature of the inside that Natalie found particularly useful was the tonneau cover that folds back neatly into its own housing. Although she has not had cause to use the facility yet, Natalie can see that folding all of the rear seats flat would be very quick and easy, providing a large load carrying area. The interior feels like its been constructed using much more in terms of quality fitments than we remember in the first generation version of this car. As with all manufacturers, Toyota have worked hard at getting the ‘door slam’ sound exactly right and the combination of carefully sited hinges and clever air sealing makes the Verso sound more impregnable than Fort Knox when you slam the doors shut. The cabin design majors on geometric shapes and three-dimensional elements to render an arch-like effect. It’s quite unlike any other Toyota interior and marks a new design direction that’s surprisingly bold for a model that will be marketed to some of the most conservative new car customers. Natalie likes the blue lights emanating from the dashboard dials and switches. She also feels that the controls have been thoughtfully designed and are very intuitive to use. As we said at the outset, these types of cars have to be child-friendly to succeed and Natalie’s kids have really taken to the Verso. It’s not its great looks or neat road manners that have won them over or the clever foldaway seats and stylish comfortable interior. No, the one thing that the kids are all agreed about is the in-car DVD system that allows them to watch their favourite film or program while mum keeps her eyes on the road. So, what is Natalie’s verdict on the Toyota Verso? Would she buy one for her family? The answer is no. This is not because the car had any obvious faults but purely because of its size relative to the size of her family. With five children and the two adults, the Motuels need a larger MPV that can take all seven of them and have room for bags and other equipment. Nevertheless, she would have no hesitation in recommending the Verso to a smaller family.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Verso PRICES: £15,005-£21,905– on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 5E-8E CO2 EMISSIONS: 165-184g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.8] 0-60mph 10.8s / Max Speed 122mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.8] (combined) 36.7mpg / (extra urban) 43.4mpg / (urban) 28.5mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS with EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4360/1770/1622mm

VERSATILITY - THE NAME OF THE GAME Can a family-practical MPV really also make a great day-to-day business person's commuting tool? Graham Motuel and his five children have been putting our long term Toyota Verso to the test at weekends while Graham himself has been stacking up the miles between clients during the week. Here's how he sees it….

A family MPV would probably not be the first choice for a businessman like Graham Motuel who spends many hours a week plying the motorways up and down the UK visiting customers. Yet on closer consideration, the size and flexibility that the Toyota Verso offers could make a compelling case for travelling business types who need to transport significant loads in the course of their working day.

Running training courses at various locations forms part of Graham’s regular work and necessitates the transportation of significant amounts of equipment and documentation. Much to his surprise he found the Verso to be ideally suited for this role. The large rear door aperture provides a low loading area that is so much easier to negotiate than trying to heave boxes and equipment into the boot of a saloon car and with the rear seats being able to fold into the floor in a single operation, the Verso offers the business user a huge amount of carrying capacity should it be needed. A thoughtful design touch that Graham really appreciated was the rear tonneau cover that neatly pulls out of the floor and hides anything stored in the back of the car. The shape is still reminiscent of the original Verso but everything has been sharpened up through a series of revisions, as if the Verso has spent a month at Automotive Fit Club. The wheel arches are more defined, and the latest revised front grille and bumper are sharper in appearance. There’s also a definite upper and lower body to the car, helped by those distinctive shoulders which give it a far more progressive look.

"This car really can help you move house: I know, I’ve tried it…."

The big changes however, are reserved for the inside. Unlike its predecessor (and many similarly sized rivals), this Verso can seat seven and, uniquely in its class, all five rear seats fold down into the floor to create a totally flat loading surface. This means that you won’t need to haul heavy seats into and out of the car if ultimate carrying capacity is required. A lot of thought has gone into this system, the seats not only being the lightest in class but also requiring a simple one-touch operation to fold each one flat. If you missed the import of that paragraph, then read it again. First, this car can seat seven – the maximum number of bodies most people are ever likely to want to transport. Manufacturers like Ford can bleat on all they like about five seats being enough in a mini-MPV but I can tell you that if you have seven seats, you tend to use them a great deal more than you might expect. Ditto that flat loading bay. This car really can help you move house: I know, I’ve tried it. Thinking of buying one of those large MPVs like a Ford Galaxy or a Citroen C8? This car means that you don’t necessarily have to. The interior feels like its been constructed using much more in terms of quality fitments than I remember in the first generation version of this car. As with all manufacturers, Toyota have worked hard at getting the ‘door slam’ sound exactly right and the combination of carefully sited hinges and clever air sealing makes the Verso sound more impregnable than Fort Knox when you slam the doors shut. The cabin design majors on geometric shapes and three-dimensional elements to render an arch like effect. It’s quite unlike any other Toyota interior and marks a new design direction that’s surprisingly bold for a model that will be marketed to some of the most conservative new car customers. I’d number myself amongst these kinds of people and I’ve certainly taken to the Verso. So much so that the keys have yet to be prised away from my, despite my colleagues’ best endeavours. When they eventually are, I’ll be looking at my finances to see if I can possibly scrape together the requisite £15,005 to purchase my own example. Yes, I think the car is that good. But surely there must be a few gripes? Well, I can’t talk about anything going wrong or falling off because nothing has. I can’t talk about irritating little character flaws because there really aren’t any. OK, I suppose some other mini-MPVs might be better to drive or might boast a better ‘image’, but for goodness sake, you don’t buy a car like this to drive like Michael Schumacher or to pose down at the Golf Club. No, I’m happy with my Car of the Year. The next few months will decide whether I stay that way.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Verso PRICES: £15,005-£21,905 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 5E-8E CO2 EMISSIONS: 165-184g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.8] 0-60mph 10.8s / Max Speed 122mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.8] (combined) 36.7mpg / (extra urban) 43.4mpg / (urban) 28.5mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS with EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4360/1770/1622mm

CHAPTER AND VERSO Over Its Time With Us, Our Toyota Verso Long Term Test Car Has Done An Impressive Job Of Winning Friends And Influencing People. Steve Walker Reports…

There are other mini-MPVs that enjoy a higher profile than Toyota’s Verso. Citroen’s C4 Picasso, Renault’s Scenic and Vauxhall’s Zafira form a triumvirate in this sector which dominates both the sales charts and the public’s perception of what a mini-MPV actually is. The question, should you choose to address it, is whether or not the big sellers deserve their pre-eminent position? After a few months at the wheel of the Toyota Verso, it’s easy to form the opinion that there’s room for one more at the top.

OK, so the Verso might be lacking in the image stakes, particularly when placed up against its Gallic rivals. Citroen and Renault have invested heavily over a long period in ensuring that family car buyers are aware of their products, their strengths and what they stand for. The Picasso and the Scenic are highly recognisable while the Verso, though arguably a more cohesively penned vehicle, is less distinctive. It is, however, an accomplished all-rounder and that’s an important quality to have in this sector. By the time most people’s journey through life has reached the stage that they have a trio of kids, a dog and all the associated paraphernalia in tow, their interest in image has waned somewhat and been replaced by a yearning for practicality. It’s here that the Toyota excels. Our long term test has seen the keys to the Verso 1.8-litre T-Spirit pass through a number of hands and everyone who’s used the car has been impressed by its abilities, if not immediately struck by its desirability. There’s space to seat seven people inside and, uniquely in the class, all five rear seats fold down to form a flat load floor. Actually manoeuvring the seats is a refreshingly simple process unlike in some vehicles where the manufacturers appear to have designed seating systems to double as mental agility tests on The Krypton Factor. The flat load floor turns the vehicle into a highly useful load carrier and you’ll be surprised by just how much you can get inside.

"…common sense is what a good mini-MPV should be all about."

Some manufacturers choose to offer only 5-seats in their mini-MPVs and you can see the logic behind this. It’s not often that our Verso has been driven with all seven seats filled and you’d assume that buyers who did need all that passenger capacity regularly would upgrade to a large MPV like Toyota’s Previa. With the Verso, however, because the rear two seats are so easily manipulated, we’ve found that they’re very useful to have. You can simply fold them down when they’re not filled by yours or someone else’s offspring and use the resulting space for luggage or shopping. The interior of the Verso generally feels like it’s been constructed using higher quality materials than we remember in the first generation version of this car. As with all manufacturers, Toyota have worked hard at getting the ‘door slam’ sound exactly right and the combination of carefully sited hinges and clever air sealing makes the Verso sound more impregnable than Fort Knox when you slam the doors shut. The cabin design majors on geometric shapes and three-dimensional elements to render an arch-like effect. It’s quite unlike any other Toyota interior and marks a new design direction that’s surprisingly bold for a model that will be marketed to some of the most conservative new car customers. We particularly liked the blue lights emanating from the dashboard dials and switches. Even so, form has not overrun function to the extent of making the displays difficult to read or the controls tricky to use. Gimmicks are not something that the Toyota design department entertain. Another big plus-point for the Toyota becomes apparent when you actually drive the thing. Although resolutely MPV in its high-roofed shape, it corners remarkably flatly and resists the kind of pronounced body-roll that tends to hinder its competitors. The driving experience in the Verso is not unlike that of the standard Corolla hatch on which this car’s based, which although not particularly impressive for a family hatchback, is mighty fine for a mini-MPV. The 1.8-litre petrol engine in our car is strong enough but the D4-D diesel would be the ‘money no object’ choice. The problem with the diesel is that it’s £1,000 more expensive than the 1.8 petrol and even with the fuel economy savings, that still looks a lot of money. The 1.8 looks the sensible choice in the range and with the Verso being such a highly sensible car, it should be one most people will go for. In the final reckoning it’s hard not to admire the Verso. It’s not the most exciting car but as a tool to facilitate a simpler family life, it’s difficult to beat. The handling is far better than you’ve any right to expect from a mini-MPV: don’t expect anything approaching sportiness but drive it back to back with the competition and you’ll understand what we mean. The interior is that nice balance between aesthetics and functionality with the things you need in the places you expect them to be. Meanwhile, the seating system is one of the simplest and most adaptable in the class and the build quality is strong throughout. Other models may tug more forcefully on the family buyer’s heart strings but the Verso appeals on a more cerebral level and common sense is what a good mini-MPV should be all about.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Verso 1.8 T-Spirit – Long Term Test Report 2 PRICES: £19,990 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 8 CO2 EMISSIONS: 184g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 10.8s / Max Speed 122mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 36.7mpg / (extra urban) 43.4mpg / (urban) 28.5mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS with EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4360/1770/1622mm