Review of the new Toyota Verso - Brand & Image

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 Citroen 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.

TOP 3 VERSO DEALS

The results below show the top VERSO deals on buyacar

Toyota Verso 2.0 D-4D TR Pan Rf 5dr diesel estate
Price £15,980 Read Verso Reviews	Save £5,365
Toyota Verso 2.2 D-CAT TR 5dr Auto diesel estate
Price £19,980 Read Verso Reviews	Save
Toyota Verso 1.6 V-matic TR Pan Rf 5dr [5 Seats] estate
Price £14,980 Read Verso Reviews	Save £4,075
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