MPVs, also known as people carriers, have become overshadowed in recent years as the choice for hold-all family cars has seen status conscious customers move to the more desirable Dual Purpose models,
also known as SUVs and Crossovers.
People seem to like the status or owning a 4×4 lookalike even though they probably will have chosen a model with only have two wheel drive. It seems it is ‘looks’ that count.
Like SUVs/Crossovers, new generation MPVs now come in three sizes; compact such as the Ford B-Max, medium like the sales leading Citroen C4 Picasso and large such as the Ford S-Max.
In the medium sector as well as the C4 Picasso there is the new Ford C-Max and Grand C-Max, the Vauxhall Zafira and Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic models but also not to be overlooked – the Toyota Verso. The Verso might not be at the top of the sales league in the UK but in other countries I see lots of them being used as taxis as most versions have seven seats.
The latest Verso range has prices starting from £18,120 for the base Active specification five seater with a 1.6-litre 132hp petrol engine and manual gearbox. Prices rise to £25,000 for the Trend Plus 1.8-litre, 147hp petrol with a CVT automatic gearbox and seven seats. Most UK customers opt for the new 1.6-litre D-4D, 111hp turbodiesel engine sourced from BMW which has a six speed manual gearbox and seven seats. There are Active, Icon, Trend, Trend Plus and Excel and with the new main selling diesel engine these models range in price from £19,990 to £24,495.
The latest Verso is designed and engineered in Europe and built in Turkey. Since the original models were launched in 2002 over 650,000 have been sold in Europe and more than 52,000 in the UK. The current Verso was introduced in 2013 and in 2014 the engine range was revised with the new 1.6-litre diesel unit with BMW heritage replacing the Toyota 2.0-litre diesel engine.
Now in 2015 the most recent upgrades include the addition of a new Trend Plus grade of specification which included a family-friendly DVD rear seat entertainment system and leather upholstery. The more sophisticated Toyota Touch 2 with Go system – a standard-fit feature of the Trend, Trend Plus and Excel models – ramps up the feature content with a new navigation screen design, use of TomTom HD real-time traffic information to deliver detour prompts to avoid hold-ups, and new connected services to gain better journey information. These include access to Google Street View and Panoramio.
Other latest technical changes include a stronger exterior design with the front end in particular having an enlarged version of the Toyota Auris face which has helped reduce the anonymity of the road image the Verso has suffered from in the past. The overall length has been increased by 20mm to 4,460mm due mainly to the bolder bumpers. There is a revised interior with new instruments, a simpler layout and new trim detailing. A more refined interior ambience in terms of reduced noise intrusion and a more comfortable ride due to suspension changes are also significant changes. Being a multi-seat MPV, Toyota’s Easy Flat three rows of individual seats provides up to 32 different seating permutations.
In a nutshell there you have the most recent changes to the Toyota Verso range, all good on paper but what is it like in use?
I tried the now best selling new 1.6-litre D-4D, 111hp four cylinder turbodiesel engine. Torque output is 270Nm from 1,750rpm. This unit is sourced from BMW Group but Toyota have modified it by using a dual-mass flywheel, revised engine mountings and their own electronics for the ECU (engine brain) and for the first time there is a start and stop function. The engine is mated with Toyota’s own six-speed manual gearbox. This lighter-weight unit, over the outgoing 2.0-litre engine, shows an 8% better fuel economy of 62.8mpg in the Combined Cycle with CO2 emissions lower by 10% at 119g/km. Top speed is 115mph and zero to 62mph takes a stately 12.7-seconds. The VED road tax is £0 for the First Year rate and then £30 thereafter. Company car drivers will pay 21% Benefit-in-Kind tax. Insurance is rated as Group 14E.
In reality my week long test driving covering long and short journeys returned 47.1mpg, good but not close to the official figure. The engine can be noisy under acceleration but was considerably quieter once cruising along and the motorway maximum speed was effortlessly maintained. The all-important mid range response from the engine was smooth without the need for constant gearchanges needed to overtake slower traffic.
Overall it was efficient and easy to drive but not that entertaining or satisfying.
The changes to the suspension have provided a better balance between comfort and dynamic ability. It is not the sharpest in its sector in terms of handling, the new Ford C-Max is the leader in that area, and the steering felt light with little feedback at higher speeds but like the engine’s performance it will be good enough for most people buying a family or work car in the mid-sized MPV sector.
That lack of ‘sparkle’ extends to the interior. Yes it has loads of equipment and the Easy Flat seating system is convenient to use. The rear row of two seats has limited leg space and access to them is restricted by the individual three seats making up the middle row even though they slide and fold. In reality it is a nicer vehicle if used in five seater form than a seven seater. With all the seats in use there are only 155-litres of luggage space. This increases to 399-litres with five seats in use and to a maximum of 1,009-litres with the second and third rows of seats folded down. Whilst some of the Verso’s rivals offer more interior space, the driving position and all round visibility for passengers is good.
The fascia panel and some of the other trim is soft feel plastic but it looks bland and still feels low-rent being more durable than visually appealing. All the controls are well laid out and the instruments are well positioned in the centre of the fascia in a cowled panel canted towards the driver. The new Touch 2 with Go touchscreen multimedia system worked well enough but by today’s standards the 6.1-inch screen is small. My test car also had a £550 panoramic glass sunroof.
When it comes to specification throughout the range there is no real short-fall with even the lowest Active level having air-con, electric front windows, daytime running lights and more. Up a grade and 16-inch alloy wheels and Bluetooth are just two of the items added to the Icon spec level and so it goes on increasing until you get to the top level Excel version I tried. This level has 17-inch alloy wheels, Toyota Touch 2 with Go, keyless entry with start button, auto wipers, automatic Bi-xenon headlights and washers, automatic headlight levelling, rear side door sunshades and leather trim for areas of the doors and seat bolsters.
The Toyota Verso shouldn’t be overlooked by people needing a mid-sized MPV for family or business wagon. It might not be the class-leader but it is easy to drive and safe and sound if uninspiring offering. Being a Toyota it should prove reliable, durable and relatively cheap to run. It is backed up by a five-year/100,000-mile warranty but it falls short on one important factor – desirability.
MILESTONES: Toyota Verso Excel, 7-seat mid-sized MPV, 1.6 D-4D turbodiesel, manual.
Price: £24,495. Engine/transmission: 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder 111hp, 270Nm of torque from 1,750rpm, 6-speed manual. Performance: 115mph, 0-62mph 12.7-seconds, 62.8mpg Combined Cycle (47.1mpg overall on test), CO2 119g/km, VED road tax £0/£30, BIK company car tax 21%. Insurance group: 14E. Warranty: 5-years/100,000-miles. Dimensions/capacities: 5-doors, 7-seats, L 4,460mm, W 1,790mm, H 1,630mm, boot/load space 155 to 1,009-litres. For: Reliable, durable, low running costs, versatile seating and load carrying combinations, comfortable ride, improved kerb-appeal styling, high spec, long warranty. Against: Bland interior due lots of low-rent dull grey plastic trim, not as roomy as some in its sector, lacks the diving dynamics of the Ford C-Max and kerb appeal of the Citroen C4 Picasso, test drive fuel economy fell well below the official figure. By Miles Better News Agency
