Category: Compact MPV 
Price Range: No data available
Good diesel, nicely styled, good interior quality, reliability.
Petrol engines struggle a little, rear pair of seats tiny, all seats short in the base.
Competitive compact MPV with decent blend of looks and practicality. Prices and reliability make it an attractive buy.
Although it's a compact MPV, the Corolla Verso drives much like a car. The ride is compliant on most surfaces, but body roll is well contained nonetheless. The steering, gearbox and pedals are all nicely weighted, with positive feel and response, so it's an easy and relaxing car to drive. It isn't in the slightest bit sporty, but that's okay, because it's not supposed to be. Wind, engine and road noise levels are all low, too. An optional DVD system with headphones for rear-seat occupants should keep kids' noise levels down as well.
There are 1.6 and 1.8 petrol engines, and a 2.0-litre D4-D turbodiesel. We haven't driven the 109bhp 1.6-litre petrol (0-62mph 12.7sec, top speed 109mph), but it's likely to find hauling a laden Verso around something of a struggle unless you rev it. The same can be said, to a certain extent, of the 1.8 (10.8 sec, 121mph). Although it has 127bhp at 6000rpm, and 125lb ft of torque at 4200rpm, it needs to be revved in order to move the near-1400kg Verso with any real vigour. Best of the engines is the D4-D turbodiesel (12.6sec, 112mph). Its two litres develop 114bhp at 3600rpm and, crucially, 206lb ft at just 2000rpm, which makes it the most accelerative in-gear. It's also the most economical, offering 45.6mpg on the combined cycle, compared to the 1.6's 37.7mpg and the 1.8's 36.7mpg. A good five-speed manual gearbox is standard on all models. An automated manual gearbox is available on the 1.8, but we haven't tried it yet.
