Toyota’s versatile Verso

The Toyota Verso is a smooth and well built MPV

The Toyota Verso is the epitome of versatility. Ostensibly a seven-seat people carrier, the Luna SkyView model I was driving has 32 seating configurations, which practically suits every transport situation.

On the outside, it’s large, and high and looks wide, but it doesn’t feel like a wide car to drive.

Inside, the cabin is huge, with great legroom in the front and middle row of seats. The rearmost seats, which pull up out of the boot, are best reserved for smallies though.

Three adults can comfortably be accommodated in the middle row of seats, which all move backwards and forwards separately.

The area in front of the middle passenger is not raised so legroom is not an issue. The adjacent passengers each get an airplane style pull up table.

Each seat in the middle row is individual and the row is roomy enough for three adults

As a five-seater, the Verso’s boot is massive. Understandably though, space is sacrificed if you’re using it as seven-seat people carrier. All of the seats easily fold at the pull of a lever and lie flat to give a very large cargo space if that is your priority.

The Toyota Verso also provides underfloor storage for the tonneau or boot cover.

There are also loads of storage cubbies in this car, including an air conditioned cooler box in the top of the range diesel model I was driving.

I loved the panoramic sunroof that gave the Luna SkyView test car its name.

The cockpit in the Toyota Verso is unusual in that the instrument panel is in the middle of the dash rather than directly in front of the driver. The six-speed manual gear stick is also raised in this car, which I liked.

Despite the unusual set up, the driver’s domain is practical and well well laid out, with all the essentials clearly visible and at your fingertips.

With its centred instrument panel, the cockpit in the Toyota Verso is unusual and refreshing

The test car had a 6.1” touch screen infotainment radio/CD unit which also housed a reversing camera. The USB/aux ports were hidden from the driver, located on the passenger side of the centre console – definitely not meant to be fiddled with while you’re driving.

The model I was driving also had dual control air conditioning, Bluetooth, electric wing mirrors, electric windows and easy to use cruise control which was operated from a stalk off the steering wheel. Audio and Bluetooth phone controls were also steering wheel mounted.

The Toyota Verso has a real family feel to it and it’s the kind of car that should be filled with a gaggle of kids.

One of its family friendly features is the ‘conversation mirror’ – handy when you’re travelling with children as it basically allows you to have eyes in the back of your head, allowing you to see at a glance what’s going on in the back seats.

I loved the driving position in the Verso – nice and high up with great visibility all round.

Our route in this car took us on city streets of Dublin, along urban and rural motorway and to the ultra hilly terrain of Drogheda, Co Louth.

All of the passenger seats in the Toyota Verso lie flat when folded

It’s a beautiful car to drive, lovely and smooth in the city and on the motorway with very little cabin noise at high speed.

It also has seamless gear changes. In general, it handled well and hilly conditions proved no match for it.

The Toyota Verso is no slouch at the lights and is also surprisingly quick on the motorway, making swift progress from 0-120kph.

The reversing camera also made parking easy.

Overall, I really enjoyed driving the Toyota Verso. I think it’s a really smooth family car with a great mix of style and practicality.

The Toyota Verso is available now, with prices starting from €25,450 for the five-seat Terra model. The top of the range Luna SkyView model I was driving costs from €30,995.

Tech Spec
Engine: D-4D 124bhp (2.0)
Acceleration: 0-100kph in 11.3seconds
Top speed: 185kph
Fuel Economy: 4.9l/100km
CO2 emissions: 129g/km
Annual road tax: €270

Visit the Toyota Ireland website or its Facebook page for further details.

Related articles
First Look – Toyota Verso