You might as well say hello to Toyota’s new Corolla Verso, because you’re likely to be seeing a lot of it in future. The new 5+2 seater mini MPV comes in a range of four models, all powered by the same 95 kW four cylinder 1,8 litre engine. Although Toyota has built a number of similar vehicles for other markets this is the first of its ilk to be offered here, and the company clearly has its sights set squarely on the Renault Scenic market.
The Verso is built in Turkey, of all places, and the Turks have done a fine job. The cars are well put together and feel extremely classy. At the launch we drove two versions on tar and dirt roads and they both remained rattle free throughout.
The dash is pleasingly uncomplicated yet stylish, with Lexus style instrumentation. The seating position feels high up and affords a confidence-inspiring view of the road ahead. On the road the Verso delivers fair performance for a family wagon – it feels a little lethargic off the line but once rolling does the job well enough to keep most drivers happy. Owners who live at sea-level will appreciate the extra power they enjoy over Highveld dwellers.
Toyota claims that their Easy Flat-7 seat system offers up to 32 different seating and cargo configurations. The rear seats fold down in seconds, without any messing about to remove the headrests, which stay in place throughout, and the result is a perfectly flat cargo area. The large tailgate extends down to floor level, making the Verso easy to load and unload. When the car is used as a people-carrier the middle row of seats slide 240mm back and forwards to allow easy access to the back pair, and can be positioned anywhere in between to give occupants more leg room. The two seats at the back are more suited to children than adults, though, which is probably why Toyota refers to the vehicle as a 5+2 seater.
The Verso follows what seems to be a bit of a trend these days and uses a transponder to fire the engine up, rather than a key. Plug the central locking remote control into the slot in the dash and simply push the “start” button alongside it to get the engine running. It’s neat and gimmicky, but doesn’t really make life any easier for the motorist.
The Verso comes with three different levels of specification. The most basic is the Corolla Verso 180, which is nevertheless very highly specced and, in my opinion, the best buy of the lot. Standard features include disc brakes all round with ABS and EBD, power steering, aircon, electric front windows and mirrors, a multi-function display, adjustable steering wheel, an auxiliary power point, a radio/CD player with satellite controls on the steering wheel, headlamp leveling adjustment, dual front and side airbags, and a driver’s side knee airbag.
Next up is the SX version, which adds a brake-assist system to optimise braking in emergencies, full airbag protection with 7 airbags, 16″ alloy wheels, automatic climate control, rain sensing windscreen wipers, a self-dipping rear view mirror, an RDS radio with 6 shuttle CD, cruise control, driver and passenger centre armrests, traction and stability control and front and rear fog lights. The SX also offers the option of the Toyota M-MT (Multi-mode Manual Transmission) that allows you to choose between automatic and manual gear shifts. This is not an auto transmission, but a manual that uses two electronic step motors and a servo-motor driven clutch to swap cogs on its own when a little black box tells it to. With this system there is no direct mechanical link between the shift lever and the transmission – it’s all done by wire. The M-MT system gives you a choice of three modes. E mode is fully automatic, as is the sportier Es mode which simply changes gears at higher revs. M mode is a manual sequential option that allows the driver to shift manually unless the computer thinks he’s being silly and over-revving the engine. Then it simply beeps at you and ignores your input. The gear-change is relatively lethargic so I’d save the additional cost and settle for the conventional manual version if I was buying.
The flagship in the Verso range is the TX that includes the M-MT transmission as standard, as well as parking distance sensors and a “moonroof” that looks just like a sunroof to me.
After driving both the manual and the M-MT versions we have no doubt that the Verso is going to sell in big numbers, both on its own merits and because it bears the Toyota Corolla name.
Pricing begins at R209 400 for the 1.8 Verso, with the 1.8 SX manual retailing at R227 400. The SX with the M-MT gearbox will set you back R 235 000, while the top-of-the-range M-MT TX goes for R249 000. The Verso is covered by a three year / 100 000 km warranty, and there’s also 24 hour roadside assistance for that period. A five year / 90 000 km service plan is included in the price.