Toyota Verso SR
The Verso is precisely the kind of vehicle that Toyota seems to specialise in these days. Impeccably constructed, faultlessly reliable and overwhelmingly fit for purpose, its also just a tiny bit dull. This kind of shinning competence extends through the Japanese marques mainstream model range from Yaris and Auris to Avensis and RAV4 but where is the pizzazz and the individuality? OK, so were talking about a compact MPV here. Its hardly supposed to render you insensible with lust at a glance but surely a dash of flair would direct attention to the Versos considerable strong suits more effectively.
The SR special edition aims to provide exactly that and if the roof spoiler wont do it, the price just might.
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The SR is based upon the Versos mid-range T3 trim level so it already has dual-zone climate control, cruise control, electric heated door mirrors, a trip computer, fog lights and Toyotas 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. To this healthy-looking collection of features, the SR introduces styling enhancements starting with a roof-spoiler and including darkened rear privacy glass as well as 16" alloy wheels. Rear parking sensors make an appearance too to help with tricky manoeuvres. The improvement the SR makes to the look of the Verso isnt dramatic but it is tangible and the best bit is that the SR actually comes in at £300 less than the equivalent T3. Toyotas marketing department has totted up the value of all those extras and they reckon that SR buyers make a saving of £950 in total which is far from unpleasant.
If the SR still doesnt do it for you, theres always the range-topping T180 Verso which looks sportier still but not too much. Youll need over £21,000 for that derivative though and as an affordable but good looking mid-range option, the SR has enough about it to make an impact.
"SR buyers make a saving of £950 in total"
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 youll need to cover a fair bit of mileage in the diesel before youre in the black but there is an extra dimension to this decision making progress. There isnt 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 dont buy a Toyota Verso with half an eye on the drag strip though, so these figures are largely irrelevant. Its much better to look at the torque output of the two engines where youll discover a big difference between the petrol engines 170Nm at 4,200rpm and the diesels 310Nm at 2,000rpm.
Toyotas 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 dont 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 youre forced to do around town.
You have to move through the gears more quickly and theres 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 isnt so soft that it risks turning the family green. The Versos styling has a lot in common with that of other mainstream Toyota products in that its neat and unfussy rather than extrovert in any way.
Even the most recent facelift was only introduced to bring the Versos 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 wont 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 isnt 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 Versos 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 dont 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: £16,995-£18,095 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
