Versatile Verso offers reliability over looks

Nov 24 2008 Peter Hayward

THERE is hardly another car maker selling their wares in this country with Toyota's reputation for never-ever-letting-you-down reliability.

But it's a shame that the company's designers have in recent years been unable to find good looking shapes for most of its cars.

This is true of the most recent Avensis, Auris and Yaris and also of the Verso midi-MPV I've been driving.

But if you can live with the shape - or don't give a damn what it looks like - the Verso is most certainly a different and very accomplished family estate that is extremely unlikely to give you a moment's unease for as long as you wish to keep it.

The D-4D 2.2-litre turbo diesel has decent performance with a smooth and willing power delivery and 45 miles per gallon economy.

It's comfortable, refined, reasonably quiet and holds the road very well for a something the size and shape of a garden shed.

Interior

This is one versatile family holdall with a full seven seats but the rear two are only suitable for kids.

There is real family space for five, with loads of storage and the rear two seats fold down easily into the boot floor to give huge stowage space.

FAST FACTS

Toyota Verso T2 2.2 D-4D

Price : £17,130

Mechanical : 136bhp, 2,231cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox

Max speed : 122mph

0-62mph : 9.4 secs

Combined mpg : 45.6

Insurance group : 8

CO2 emissions : 164g/km

BiK rating : 22%

Warranty : 3yrs/ 60,000 miles, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust

Marks : 9/10

Main rival : Mazda 5