Toyota Ireland has just launched its new small MPV here with an entry price of €16,995.
The Verso-S is the successor to the Yaris Verso, which hasn't been sold in Europe since 2005. In total there are nearly 1000 old Yaris Versos on Irish roads, including over 500 that qualify for the current Government Car Scrappage Scheme.
The B-Segment MPV market currently accounts for nearly two per cent of overall Irish car sales, with the Hyundai iX20 being the market leader for the year to date.
The new Verso-S is easily distinguishable from the bigger Corolla-derived Verso. It is the smaller brother and is based on an all-new platform developed for a new Yaris hatchback due here in 2012.
The Verso-S is powered by the familiar 1.33 litre petrol engine (also in the Auris and Corolla ), which is in the B CO2 tax bracket here in manual gearbox form. A CVT automatic variant puts it in Band A but carries a premium of €1,200.
When it comes to size, the new Verso-S is the smallest of the market’s mini-MPVs. But clever design and packaging mean that the space on offer inside is close to what you will find in a compact family hatchback. So the Verso-S is spacious while still being compact. And while the generous and flexible loadspace makes it very practical, it is smart looking too.
The rear seats are divided 60:40 and have a simple one-touch flat-fold mechanism. Toyota makes life even easier by providing additional control levers to fold the seats down on each side of the boot space – a feature not found on any of its mini-MPV rivals.
Also watch out for the ‘Toyota Touch’. It is the first multi-media system in a B-Segment MPV. And Toyota Ireland say that it will be rolled-out across the range as in new models are rolled out. It is not available as an aftersales option.
Finally, the Verso-S has a great driving position and powers along very well. One downside was that in very stormy conditions, the higher Verso-S with the lighter modern body wasn't so enjoyable. Other than that, it proved a stylish and functional mini-MPV that gets the job done.
