But Toyota's compact MPV offering only got a mid-life refresh a while ago. Stylistically, though, it's pretty major, with substantial changes to the front end particularly. In the genre, it's a really good-looker, and anyone following it will also have to concede a dashing rear end. All in all, nothing frumpy about the current Verso.
They have made minor trim changes to the interior, but it was already well designed there and the leave well enough alone principle was applied. Still, there's a bit more chrome, a better radio display, some improvements in the seats design. Under the skin changes include more dashboard soundproofing.
The biggest interest is the Skyview roof that's now standard in the Luna grade. In normal Irish weather it allows driving without gloom. In what has become our seriously good Irish summer of 2013, it had to be screened off.
While the renewal of the Verso also brought a 5-seat version into Ireland, the review car was the 7-seat. The rearmost pair are as usual in the segment mainly for occasional use and best for smaller people, but they fold very neatly and easily out of the way to give a very generous luggage space with five up. With all three seating rows in place, the luggage volume measures 155 litres. With the third row seats folded, it rises to 440 litres. It's worth noting that the second roaw are three individual seats, allowing for a wide range of up/down choices.
The Verso even in its most basic 5-seat Terra version is very well specified in both comfort and safety terms. An alarm, front fogs, heated door mirrors and remote audio are just a few to mention. No aircon, though. Going through Aura grade adds the two extra seats and air-conditioning, and roof rails. You have to come to the top Luna spec to get Bluetooth, full climate, cruise control, the Toyota Touch screen with rear view camera. And then they drop the roof rails ... and the temporary spare wheel!
Bad enough having a skinny spare in a big family car, but leaving said family to fend with an inflator kit at the most expensive end of the range is downright wrong. The company says this allows more storage space for three 6-packs of drinks, which I think shows the designer responsible for that particular idea is not at all in touch with real life.
Anyhow, let's look at the good side, travelling without blowouts. Ever since its first generation, the Verso has been an accomplished drive. Even a very good drive against much in its contemporaneous competition. Now there's a lot more in the segment to contend with, but in my view the Toyota is holding its own well against, for instance, the Opel Zafira Tourer and the Renault Grand Scenic.
The driving position is really nice, with a good top down view of what's happening in front. The centrally-set instruments are close enough to the driver's side as to not require losing sight of the road. The gearshift is classic excellent Toyota.
The 2.0 diesel which we are very familiar with has been further refined, offering more pulling power from lower revs and improved fuel consumption claimed up to some 58mpg equivalent. For a car of its size, that's really good.
We travel more quietly too, thanks to better soundproofing and aerodynamic tweaks. Though the smaller side mirrors annoy somewhat — I'd trade a little noise for bigger ones.
Ride and handling are better than before, in subtle but effective ways, and nobody is likely to complain having to take this one the length of the country and back at a run. The software on the eletric power steering has been fettled to offer more feedback.
Bottom line, Toyota is doing all that's necessary to stay in position, even up its place, in this very competitive segment. That they put so much effort into just a mid-life upgrade shows they're watching the competition very closely.
With the arrival of the 5-seat, prices for Verso now start at €25,460. The review car rolls out at €30,995.
