Toyota Verso is a Japanese compact van produced under the Toyota brand. The car received a 5- or 7-seater version. It was first presented in 2009 during the Geneva Motor Show. It replaced the Toyota Corolla Verso. In total, the Japanese managed to release 1 generation. However, already in September 2012, a company from Japan showed the updated Toyota Verso. The world premiere was held during the Paris Motor Show.
Many people know that the exterior of the 1st generation Toyota Verso was created in continental Europe, but everything was strictly controlled by Japanese specialists. But they decided to entrust the restyling of Toyota Verso to the Europeans. Therefore, to some extent, we can say that Belgian workers. In addition, the design bureau of a company located in Nice took part. As a result, the new product began to look better on the outside, received a slightly revised interior and acquired a total of 470 new parts. Each of you can buy auto products according to your taste in the online Auto Parts store. But traditionally we will start with a review of the appearance. The entire Toyota model range.
Exterior
The updated Toyota Verso 2013 has changed quite seriously. The car has become more modern and even has a slight slant towards sportiness. She got a false radiator grille that was stylishly narrowed towards the center, and the headlights received LED filling. However, as a separate option, your model can be equipped with xenon. The front part also has a powerful bumper fairing with a large trapezoid of an additional water intake system. There were also chrome crossbars and round fog lights.
At the lower edge of the bumper of the new Toyota Verso body there is a kind of “lip” that seems to be trying to taste the taste of asphalt - the designers placed it so close to the surface of the road surface. The side of the hatchback has a roof sloping towards the rear, massive door openings with a high window sill line and a characteristic lining that starts from the side of the front bumper.
The latter, in a wave-like style, passes through the profile of the front wheel arch, the lower edge of the doors and powerfully rises upward, forming a swelling of the rear wing. The new Toyota Verso looks very beautiful and harmonious. The clearance height depends on the configuration and is quite average 145 or 155 mm. Thanks to restyling, the car received a corporate “face” and grew by 20 millimeters in length.
But despite this, in reality Verso remains the most compact car of those offered with 7 seats. In second place in terms of compactness is the German representative of the Opel Zafira Family. The external mirrors have also changed with turn signal indicators, which look like soldiers are standing on “legs”. The Toyota Verso is based on light-alloy 16- or 17-inch rollers with an updated design.
Although the restyled Toyota Verso model cannot be called the next generation of this car, due to the update it received 470 new parts.
If you look at the rear of the “Japanese”, you can see a large bumper, which is a stylish continuation of the swollen rear wings. You can see the profile of the wheel arches, the neat shades of the side lamps, whose corners extend onto the side. The compact tailgate of the Toyota Verso has not gone away. The designers decided to decorate it with a stylish spoiler.
The stern is distinguished by a stylish “diffuser”, and the brake light repeaters are now made in a different color scheme. The body of the updated Japanese model is painted in one of 11 different colors. The new paintwork option is pearl white and 2 shades of blue.
Appearance Verso R10
To ensure that high sales of the Toyota Corolla Verso in 2005-2006 did not decrease, the minivan was restyled in 2007. The appearance of the car received slight changes, the car became 10 mm longer due to a new type of bumper, thanks to which the car's design became more sporty.
The front optics and turn signals have undergone changes; they have become of a different shape. From the back it is also easy to recognize the 2007 Corolla Verso: a chrome strip has appeared above the license plate, and the taillights have changed their shape.
Interior
It is important to immediately note that the interior of the Toyota Verso 2013 can have either 5 or 7 seats - it all depends on the wishes of the potential owner. As for finishing materials, the “Japanese” can boast of pleasant plastic, fabric and genuine leather. It is important that now the inside of the Japanese model has become much quieter. This is due to the soundproofing mats placed between the passenger compartment and the engine compartment.
The interior of the Toyota Verso has matte decorative silver inserts, which are very appropriate and look good against the background of dark elements. If we talk about the build quality, then there are no questions for the Japanese. The first row boasts comfortable Toyota Verso seats with a heating function. It is very comfortable to sit on them, but you should not expect pronounced lateral support.
The company's specialists equipped the driver's seat with a 3-spoke steering wheel, an original dashboard with Optitron devices in the center. The Toyota Verso steering wheel itself looks a little boring, although in more expensive trim levels the 2013 Toyota Verso is trimmed with high-quality Nappa leather. They are located in 2 wells. In addition, there was a 2.5-inch trip computer display. Of course, placing the dashboard in the center looks quite unusual, so this option is not suitable for all car enthusiasts.
There are, as before, a lot of places for storing various things inside the Toyota Verso car. The upper part of the glove compartment, divided into 2 parts, has a cooling function, which will be useful on long journeys. There were also folding tables in the backs of the first row. They are comfortable and have cup holders. The center console features stylish metal-look inserts. It boasts a 6.1-inch LCD multimedia display. The latter supports CD, MP3, AUX and USB with Bluetooth.
Moreover, it has cruise control and also supports navigation system and rear camera. Under it there was a place for the air conditioning unit. As for the tide in the lower part of the Toyota Verso console, here the Japanese installed a transmission shift “knob”. It’s nice that the designers placed all the controls very competently and correctly.
Therefore, even a person who gets here for the first time will need very little time to get used to it. Not without keyless entry and starting the engine using the Smart Entry and Push Start button. Between the front seats there is a very comfortable central armrest, trimmed in fine leather.
Separately, we can mention the installation of a Skyview glass panoramic roof in the restyled Toyota Verso, designed for 2,340 - 1,280 millimeters.
In the back row there was room for three separate seats, which can be moved on slides along the cabin by 195 millimeters. This makes the 7-seater Toyota Verso very practical. Moreover, three people seated can enjoy plenty of legroom and headroom. If we talk about the 3rd row of seats, then it is most likely more suitable for children, as adults will feel uncomfortable.
With a seven-seater configuration, the trunk volume of the Toyota Verso is a rather modest 155 liters. But by removing the gallery, this figure increases to 440 liters of usable space. In addition to this, the 2nd and 3rd rows can be transformed into a flat floor, which allows you to load long items (1,575 millimeters in length and 1,430 millimeters in width). And the volume of the luggage compartment in this case will already be 1,696 liters of usable space.
Comparison of Toyota Corolla Verso with competitors
The main competitors of the Toyota Corolla Verso are the Mazda 5 and Opel Zafira. Despite the fact that the Toyota is a little shorter than the Opel, only children can sit comfortably in the third row of the Verso. The middle row in all models is movable and equipped with folding tables. Toyota's dashboard is centrally located, which can cause inconvenience. In terms of quality of materials, Verso is inferior to Opel, but beats Mazda. The Toyota trunk is the only one with special fastenings for the trunk curtain.
The Verso's suspension is the most comfortable and quiet, perfectly hiding small bumps and softening large potholes. The Toyota accelerates faster and lighter than the Mazda, although their engines are almost identical.
Specifications
Power unit
As for the Toyota Verso engines, which were installed on the Japanese hatchback, their engineers were able to successfully modify them. They have become more economical and environmentally friendly. A total of 5 engines are available, 2 of which operate on gasoline, and the remaining 3 on diesel fuel.
Let's start with gasoline engines. For initial versions, the company offers an in-line 4-cylinder power unit. It is equipped with distributed injection technology and a 16-valve gas distribution mechanism. This allows Toyota Verso to generate 132 horsepower (160 Nm).
The motors are now equipped with Valvematic technology. It is a successful continuation of the Dual VVT-i variable valve timing technology.
Next up is a more powerful 1.8-liter 4-cylinder powerplant. There is also a 16-valve timing belt and distributed injection technology. Thanks to this, it is possible to produce 147 horsepower (180 Nm). It consumes an average of 6.8 liters for every 100 kilometers. Acceleration to the speed mark of 100 km/h Toyota Verso takes from 10.4 to 11.1 seconds
Now let's move on to the diesel options. This list starts with a 2.0-liter diesel engine with 150 horsepower (310 Nm). It is equipped with a turbocharger and a 16-valve gas distribution mechanism. The fuel consumption of Toyota Verso in this case is about 4.1 liters of diesel fuel in combined mode for every 100 kilometers. The hatchback takes 11.3 seconds to reach the first “hundred”, and the maximum speed limit does not exceed 185 kilometers per hour.
If this is not enough, one could pay attention to an “engine” with the same displacement, but which already generates 177 “horses” (400 Nm). It also had a turbocharger installed. It took 8.7 seconds to accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h, and the “maximum speed” did not exceed 210 kilometers per hour. Toyota Verso fuel consumption varied on average about 5.8 liters of diesel fuel for every 100 kilometers in the combined cycle . As you can see, the technical specifications of the Toyota Verso are quite extensive, so many car enthusiasts will be able to choose the best option for themselves.
Transmission
In this regard, the Japanese also have a certain choice. The initial diesel and petrol engine of the Toyota Verso is synchronized with a 6-speed manual gearbox. But for more powerful power plants they offer a Multidrive variator. Moreover, it is felt that the experts focused both options precisely on fuel economy. All torque is transmitted exclusively to the front wheels.
Chassis
The new Toyota Verso has an upgraded suspension with more comfortable characteristics. The front part has McPherson struts and a stabilizer bar, and the rear has a torsion bar beam. The control is controlled by an electric power steering, which the company's engineers have tuned for better control and information content.
In addition, the designers increased the rigidity of the body by introducing additional welding points. Stopping the Toyota Verso hatchback is ensured by disc brakes on all wheels (ventilated front).
Safety
To assess the safety level of Toyota Verso, you need to look at the results of crash tests conducted by the European independent organization Euro NCAP. The car deservedly received 5 stars out of 5 maximum (2010). The Japanese hatchback additionally boasts:
- front and side airbags;
- curtain airbags;
- anti-lock braking system;
- anti-slip technology;
- stabilization systems;
- a function that distributes braking forces;
- front and rear parking sensors;
- light and rain sensors;
- "cruise"
- rear camera with dynamic markings;
- assistant when starting on a slope, and so on.
The lineup
The first generation of minivans produced by the Toyota concern appeared in Japan in 1997 and was called Toyota Spacio. The plant was tasked with making an affordable urban minivan. The characteristics of the Toyota Spacio have been fully adapted for families: the second row of seats has been transformed, and the level of safety has been increased. It was hoped that the car would be used mainly by women, so there was a display on the dashboard instead of dials.
In 2001, the Toyota Corolla Verso was released, designed for the European market. If the Spacio is exclusively a right-hand drive car, then the Corolla Verso is left-hand drive. The 1st generation model E110 was produced with 1.6 and 1.8 liter engines. The 1.6-liter engine had a manual transmission, and cars with a 1.8-liter engine were equipped with an automatic transmission.
Toyota Corolla Verso showed good sales dynamics in 2002, so the next generation of the car was released in 2004, it was even more aimed at European consumers. They produced cars with gasoline (1.6 and 1.8 liters) or diesel (2 and 2.2 liters) engines.
In the second generation E121, you can choose from a five-speed manual or robotic gearbox. This version of the Corolla Verso was produced until 2006, until the 2nd generation of the car was restyled, as a result of which the Toyota Corolla Verso R10 appeared in 2007.
And in 2009, based on the 2007 Corolla Verso, they developed a compact minivan model called the first generation Toyota Verso R20.
Price and options
For Russian buyers, the Japanese offered the Toyota Verso 2013 with two power plants operating on gasoline. It’s strange, because some would happily take diesel engines for themselves. In total, the company offered several configurations:
- Comfort;
- Comfort plus;
- Elegance;
- Prestige.
The price of Toyota Verso for the basic version started from 820,000 rubles. She had:
- stabilization technology;
- front and side airbags;
- electric drive and heated exterior mirrors;
- air conditioning;
- music system for 4 speakers;
- front electric windows;
- the function of heating the front row of seats and others.
For the most expensive version of the Toyota Verso, you previously had to pay from 1,090,000 rubles. This machine was additionally equipped with:
- roof rails;
- keyless entry;
- xenon headlights;
- air conditioning system;
- 17-inch light alloy rollers and so on.
Today you can buy this Japanese model in Russia on the secondary market. The price of Toyota Verso starts from 735,000 rubles as of September 2021. The final price tag depends on the year of manufacture, level of equipment and the general condition of the car as a whole.
Video
The Toyota company has released for European countries a rather specific car in the back of the Toyota Corolla Verso minivan with high-level technical characteristics, excellent maneuverability and a passenger platform. All this allowed the car to become one of the most popular in this market segment among many car enthusiasts. The growth in sales, which allowed Toyota to further modernize the new product, was facilitated by the various configurations of the model and its pleasant appearance, which is clearly visible in the photos presented on the Internet.
Owner reviews
The Toyota Verso cannot exactly be called very popular in Russia, but it has managed to collect some feedback from its owners. Thus, drivers note a pleasant appearance, good spaciousness and the presence of a 3rd row of seats, which is quite rare in such models. The Japanese model is quite reliable and boasts a fairly compact size (for such capabilities), which is very useful in city conditions.
Do not forget about the presence of powerful engines that have an acceptable fuel “appetite”. It is especially important to note the equipment and high safety. However, reviews from Toyota Verso owners show that the car is not without its shortcomings. For example, when using 3 rows of seats, the volume of the luggage compartment is critically reduced.
The interior itself as a whole looks very archaic, especially as of 2021. Drivers also have questions about the operation of the variator, the not-so-high ground clearance and sound insulation of the wheel arches. But overall, this is a good family car that stands out from its competitors in terms of price/quality.
Advantages and disadvantages
Pros of the car
- beautiful and modern exterior;
- high-quality assembly and finishing materials;
- capacity;
- equipment;
- low fuel consumption;
- controllability;
- price;
- safety;
- 3 rows of seats;
- sufficient engine power.
Cons of the car
- there is no automatic transmission as an alternative;
- demanding on the quality of gasoline;
- ride height;
- there is no heating of the steering wheel and windshield;
- not the most convenient placement of AUX and USB inputs;
- archaic interior design;
- sound insulation of wheel arches.
Let's sum it up
Toyota Verso 2013 has become much better than its predecessor. This is clearly visible in the appearance, interior decoration, improved equipment and slightly modernized technical parts. Of course, the car does not have the most modern interior, and also has a rather controversial dashboard layout. However, if you need a compact, mobile, nimble and safe car, the Toyota Verso minivan is at your service.
On its side is high-quality assembly and finishing materials, efficiency and quite powerful engines, as well as a good price, which allows the car to stay afloat. Moreover, this also applies to the used car market. Do not forget that it is possible to install a 3rd row of seats, which adds trump cards to the “Japanese”. Therefore, it is not for nothing that the management in Japan, as we said at the very beginning, “gave a free hand” to the company’s European specialists. The Toyota Verso hatchback has become more modern, sporty in places and more competitive.
We advise you to read the article: History of Toyota: from looms to cars.
Verso salon restyling
The Toyota Corolla Verso 2007, like previous versions, has 7 passenger seats. The second row of passenger seats can be easily removed, freeing up space in the trunk. Thanks to the Flat-7 interior transformation system, more than 20 seating options are possible. Unlike previous versions, the seat upholstery is more practical. The R10 version now has separate climate control.
Thanks to the high seating position, this model is comfortable to sit behind the wheel of, and the driver gets a wide view. The dashboard is different from previous builds of the car. Previously, the speedometer was located in the center, and in its circumference there was an on-board computer screen. In the R10 model, the on-board computer screen is located in the center, and the speedometer and tachometer are equal in size.
