Toyota Corolla Verso (2004 - 2009 )  

Enjoyable, well-equipped, versatile seven-seater. Especially good as a D-4D diesel. Five rear seats fold into the floor. Supremely safe.

It's a compact MPV, so not much luggage space with all seven seats in use. VVT-i engines can develop a thirst for oil after 40k miles.

Introduction

There's no doubt that mid-size MPVs have been getting better to drive. With the first generation, roll understeer on a bend could leave you with the frightening decision whether to let the thing stray onto the other side of the road or run the risk of rolling it. The Picasso was an improvement. Then the new Scenic and the C-MAX completely re-wrote the rulebook, handling easily as well if not better than their hatchback counterparts. Now we have the all-new Toyota Corolla Verso 7-seater.

Today's Toyotas all handle a lot better than the badge implied five years ago. The Corolla is as good as a Focus, lacking only Focus steering feel. And now Toyota has decided to put that right too. I noticed a lot more meat in the steering of our Soluna Vios than I'd ever felt in a Toyota before. And it's the same story for the new Corolla Verso. So it not only handles well, it makes you feel part of the car. ‘Delightful to drive' is only slightly over the top. It's very good indeed.

 

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Last updated 10 January 2012
More at the Toyota website  

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    Also Consider

    • Mazda 5 2005
      Sliding side doors, can carry seven people in comfort, well styled, rearmost seats fold flat into the floor, five-star crash test rating.
    • Volkswagen Touran 2003
      Solid, small 7-seater with a comfortable ride. 2.0 TDI model is greatly improved by DSG autobox and gets 3 stars.
    • Ford C-MAX 2003
      Best entry and egress of any car anywhere. Excellent front seat comfort.
    • Toyota Corolla and Corolla Verso 2002
      Comfortable, well equipped and dependable. Huge range of body styles and refined, economical engines. Rated highly by owners.

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