Thinking of buying a used Toyota Verso?
The style of the car
The Toyota Verso is a seven-seat MPV that packs a lot of space into a compact body. The tall MPV shape and wide-opening doors make getting in and out easy and there are large windows that give an airy feel and a great view out.
How it drives
Easy-to-use controls and a good view of the road ahead and around you make the Verso simple to drive, while its compact exterior means that it’s easy to park. The smooth engines are responsive even when the Toyota is fully loaded with people and their luggage.
The manual gearbox is good to use, while the automatic transmission makes driving in stop-start traffic a breeze. Comfortable suspension and supportive seats make long journeys relaxing and because it’s capable of towing medium-sized trailers and caravans, the Verso is ideal for family camping trips.
The interior
The Verso is a compact five-door MPV – it’s a fraction longer than a Ford Focus hatchback but shorter than a Ford Focus Estate. It has seven seats, the rear five of which can be folded in various ways to meet different needs. It’s very versatile. The middle-row seats provide lots of room to stretch out and they slide and recline for extra comfort.
The pair of third-row seats folds easily out of the boot floor: they’re perfect for children or adults on shorter journeys. There’s lots of handy storage inside, with two gloveboxes and several lidded compartments that keep things out of view.
With all seven seats in use, the 165-litre boot can hold a pushchair and a couple of shopping bags, but with the rear pair of seats folded away there’s enough room for four medium-sized suitcases. Folding all five rear seats frees up an enormous 1696 litres of space.
Entry-level Active trim features air con and Bluetooth, while Icon adds a reversing camera and touchscreen infotainment. Top-of-the-range Design has sat nav, a panoramic glass roof and part leather trim.
Running costs and reliability
The Verso costs less than many seven-seaters, yet it’s just as practical and well-equipped. Fuel-efficient engines make the Toyota cost-effective, with the diesel capable of an impressive official average of 62.8mpg. Road tax and insurance costs are competitive. Toyota is famed for its reliability and the Verso was voted best MPV in the Auto Express Driver Power Awards. The company’s five-year warranty adds further peace of mind. It’s a safe car too, with safety organisation Euro NCAP awarding it a full five stars.
Toyota Verso vs rivals
The Verso is Toyota’s mid-size MPV. It’s larger than the Toyota Yaris Verso but smaller than the eight-seat, van-based Toyota Proace Verso. The Verso is roughly the same size and offers much the same practicality and versatility as key rivals such as the Citroen Grand C4 Spacetourer and Ford Grand C-Max.
