Toyota Verso (2009 – 2013) Review

March 2009

World premiere of new Toyota Verso at Geneva motor show March 2009. 4,440mm long x 1,790 wide x 1,620mm high.

New Verso offers more space, comfort and practicality, and benefits from the latest occupant and pedestrian safety features. Ride quality, acoustic comfort and dynamic abilities match those of conventional passenger cars.

Interior features improved Toyota Easy Flat-7 system for quick and convenient folding of the five individual rear seats. Special attention has been paid to increasing comfort for rear passengers with improved second and third row accommodation.

Introducing Toyota Optimal Drive throughout the Verso range has brought increases in engine power of up to 20 per cent, while fuel economy and CO2 emissions show improvements of up to 12 per cent, compared to the current model.

In the UK, new Verso was launched in April 2009 with new 1.6 and 1.8 Valvematic petrol engines which will have a class-leading combination of power and CO2 emissions. These will be offered with a new six-speed manual transmission as standard, with the option of Toyota’s new Multidrive S continuously variable transmission on the 1.8 unit. A revised version of the 2.0-litre D-4D diesel will also be available, with a 2.2 D-CAT 150 engine with new six-speed automatic transmission due to join the line-up later in the year.

New Verso has a class-leading drag coefficient of Cd 0.295, a longer wheelbase, wider front and rear tracks and extensively revised suspension geometry, all of which combines in better driving dynamics, handling, body control, stability and ride comfort.

Active, passive and pedestrian impact safety features are all upgraded and the new highly rigid body shell incorporates a larger percentage of high tensile steel. The standard equipment list will include curtain shield airbags that extend protection to the third row passengers, and intelligent steering assist Vehicle Stability Control (VSC+).

New Verso is designed to achieve a maximum, five-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test programme, thanks to upgraded active, passive and pedestrian impact safety features and a highly rigid, impact absorbing body shell that makes greater use of high tensile steel. Notably all Verso models will be equipped with curtain shield airbag protection for passengers in the third row of seats and with intelligent steering assist Vehicle Stability Control (VSC+).

The speedometer and tachometer are set into individual cylinder housings, angled towards the driver and slightly offset so as not to interfere with the driver’s view of the road ahead. The gear lever is mounted close to the steering wheel on a centre console that provides a strong vertical definition of the driver’s zone.

A large panoramic glass sunroof with integrated electric blind is also available, increasing the open and airy cabin atmosphere. It extends from the head of the windscreen to beyond the B-pillars, measuring 1,160mm long and 1,180mm wide. It is the largest one-piece roof of its kind in new Verso’s class. The blind can be opened to any point along the length of the sunroof.

Toyota Easy Flat-7 allows the five rear seats to be individually folded to carry extra passengers or increase load space as the occasion demands; in all 32 different seating permutations are possible. In new Verso Easy Flat-7 has an improved mechanism that returns the second row seatbacks to their original position after being folded to give access to the third row. The headrests on the second and third row seats have a new low-profile L-shape to make the seat folding operation easier and improve rearward visibility from the driver’s seat. The third row seats can now be stowed or erected in one easy action, using just one hand with a pull-strap that can be reached from the tailgate. The third row seatbacks also gain a recline adjustment.

The boot floor is completely flat when the second and third row seats are folded and is longer by 185mm at 1,830mm, making it easier to load long items. The cargo space is also wider by 240mm at 1,585mm, increasing storage capacity from 63 to 178 litres when all rear seats are in the upright position, compared to the current model. The result is a seven-seat MPV that can carry all passengers in comfort, with ample space for luggage, too.

Three engines will be available in new Verso at launch in the UK: two petrol engines, 1.6 and 1.8-litre Valvematic units, which give a best-in-segment combination of power and CO2 emissions; and a revised 2.0-litre D-4D 130 diesel. A 2.2-litre D-4D 150 D-CAT diesel will join the range later in 2009 with a new six-speed automatic transmission.

The 1.8-litre Valvematic engine offers the choice of the new six-speed manual gearbox or Multidrive S, Toyota’s latest continuously variable transmission technology. It marks significant improvements in power, torque, emissions and fuel economy over Verso’s previous 1.8 VVT-i unit: power is up by 18bhp (18 DIN hp) to 145bhp (147 DIN hp), torque increases by 10Nm to 180Nm at 4,600rpm; CO2 emissions are down 19g/km to 165 g/km (manual), and combined cycle fuel consumption improves from 36.7 to 40.4mpg (provisional CO2 and mpg figures).

With the Multidrive S transmission, CO2 emissions are expected to be 164g/km and combined fuel consumption 40.4mpg, figures which represent the system’s advantages over conventional automatic transmissions.

Verso also gains a revised 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine that develops a maximum 125bhp (126 DIN hp) and 310Nm from 1,800 to 2,400rpm, with 140g/km CO2 emissions, a best-in-class figure for the core 110-140bhp power range in the seven-seat MPV C-segment.

The 2.2-litre diesel engine featured in the current Verso range is carried forward for the new model and will be available to UK customers later in 2009. Output is increased to 148bhp (150 DIN hp), and maximum torque up to 340Nm, available from 2,000 to 2,800rpm. Equipped with Toyota D-CAT clean diesel technology, it produces 178g/km of CO2 and returns 41.5mpg in combined cycle driving (provisional figures). This engine will be matched to a new six-speed automatic transmission.

The new 1.6-litre Valvematic, also coming later in 2009, is matched to a new six-speed manual transmission. Compared to the 1.6 VVT-i engine featured in the previous generation Verso, power has been increased by 22bhp (22 DIN hp) to 131bhp (132 DIN hp), and maximum torque by 10Nm to 160Nm at 4,400rpm. Provisional figures show CO2 emissions down by 17g/km to 161g/km and combined cycle fuel consumption improved from 37.7 to 41.5mpg.

All models will be equipped with seven airbags, including side airbags for third row passengers; active front headrests; steering assist Vehicle Stability Control (VSC+) and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), LED rear lights, puddle lights, an overhead console, underfloor storage, boot organiser and an additional rear view mirror so the driver can keep an eye on younger rear seat passengers.

Other features and options that will be available according to grade include Bluetooth, manual or climate control air conditioning, a cooled glovebox, cruise control, 16 or 17-inch alloy wheels, rain and dusk sensors for the wipers and headlights, full map satellite navigation with a 10Gb hard disk drive and rear parking monitor and panoramic sunroof.

August 2009

New 2.2 D-CAT 150 engine added to Verso powertrain line-up, matched to new six-speed automatic transmission (as offered in Avensis). 178g/km CO2 emissions and official 41.5mpg combined cycle fuel economy. Maximum power 148bhp, maximum torque 340Nm, 0-62mph in 10.1 seconds. Available in TR and T Spirit versions. 17-inch alloy wheels standard on all 2.2 D-CAT 150 models. On sale 12-8-2009, prices £20,835 for the TR, £22,265 for the T Spirit.

Reader feedback: "Bought a brand new Verso 1.6 TR for £10, 500 plus my avensis verso from a main dealer. I guess December was a good month to hit them hard! The new Verso is a delight to drive with light responsive controls. The 1.6 engine is giving about 38mpg combined or 44 on a motorway run (78mph). This engine is surprisingly rapid when revved. I miss the torque of my previous Avensis Verso D4D though. It has been really good in the ice and snow, partly due to the complicated electronic systems and good driver technique! Build quality appears to be solid although not as plush as the old Avensis Verso.

Built in Bluetooth is a real bonus. The stereo quality is a little disappointing. Rear side windows stay misted up in cold/damp weather, even with aircon on. The windscreen wipers smear annoyingly on the return sweep and the drivers seat is loose. Will get the dealer to attend to these asap. Boot space is not a patch on the Avensis Verso, but with fold flat seats and the eldest of our 4 kids rarely in the car then its easy to increase the luggage area. Leg room in the first two rows in on a par with the Avensis Verso."

July 2014

2009-2013 Toyota Verso most reliable new medium car in 2014 Which? Car Survey with reliability rating of 98.5%.