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Toyota Verso-S vs rivals

Supermini-MPVs are the talk of the town, offering practicality in a small package. Is new Toyota Verso-S the best of the breed?

Toyota Verso-S vs Rivals front

Photos: Otis Clay March 2011

The traditional saying that small is beautiful has never been more appropriate – especially in the crowded supermini-MPV market. With fuel prices threatening to spiral out of control, smaller cars come with the promise of lower running costs – and these high-street heroes can multi-task with the best of them.

Their tall bodies provide the interior space of a compact family car, yet these vehicles are barely bigger on the outside than conventional superminis. Inside, flexible seats deliver the kind of versatility buyers of regular hatchbacks can only dream of. Toyota is the latest manufacturer to join the small car fray, with the Verso-S.

The Japanese brand is on the comeback trail after a year to forget in 2010, so does the new model have what it takes? There’s only one engine available – a 1.33-litre petrol unit – and two trim specifications, and we put the flagship T Spirit to the test here.

Its rivals all boast larger 1.4-litre engines, but can top-of-the-range versions of the Hyundai ix20, Nissan Note and Kia Venga match the Verso-S in the battle for honours? The bad news for Toyota bosses is that all three competitors have enjoyed top ranking in this sector before, so there isn’t a weak link...

For an alternative review of the latest Toyota Verso-S visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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1 Comment

Strange Article

Reading through the various parts of this article, I had to keep checking the "Facts and Figures" page for confirmation of what was written. Small is indeed beautiful; unfortunately - with the exception of the Nissan - none of these vehicles is anything near "small".
The opening paragraph would have made one think all these vehicles had a massive horsepower advantage over the Nissan; the Toyota does but otherwise the difference is only 2bhp!
As far as I can tell, the Hyundai wins because it is the biggest vehicle but has better packaging than the Kia. The styling is praised, but I bet in real-life situations, the more boxy Toyota and Nissan with their deeper glass areas will be better to manouvre and park in crowded shopping centre car parks. As for the panoramic glass roofs - so praised for making the interiors feel light and airy - once a few leaves and bird droppings have fallen on them, they will be seen as a nuisance rather than a benefit.
I think the reviewer needs to think more about who buys these type of vehicles and what they are used for before writing the article. Small they are not, sports vehicles they are not.

By Niadra on 25 March, 2011, 5:33pm

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Full Car Reviews

Hyundai ix20 rear

1st Hyundai ix20 1.4

Our favourite car in this class still makes a great deal of sense and puts in a strong performance in this test
Nissan Note rear

2nd Nissan Note n-tec 1.4

Old stager in the mini-MPV sector still puts up a strong fight thanks to fun handling and flexible interior
Kia Venga 3 rear

3rd Kia Venga 3 1.4

Our New Car Award winner aims to live up to its top billing - but can it beat Korean sibling the ix20?
Toyota Verso-S rear

4th Toyota Verso-S 1.33 T Spirit

Toyota's newcomer is eyeing the supermini-MPV crown but does it have what it takes to beat its more established rivals?
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Facts and Figures

Verdict

With three former class favourites to cope with, the Toyota Verso-S faced an uphill battle in this test – and it didn’t come out on top. Our main criticism concerns its £15,745 price. It is undercut by all its rivals here by more than £1,300 – a significant sum. Also, the inflexible interior, bland design and lacklustre dynamics leave the new Verso-S struggling to appeal beyond existing fans of the brand.
So the Toyota is at the bottom of the pecking order – and the Kia Venga is next to fall. Its impressive warranty and spacious interior are big pluses, but its rivals are more fuel efficient, cheaper to buy and provide greater comfort. The Nissan Note finishes in second. It’s smaller on the inside than the Kia and Hyundai, but its sliding rear seats help make the most of the available space, and it comes extremely well equipped. Top of the pile is the Hyundai. Its hugely competitive price and five-year Triple Care package hold obvious appeal, and its practical cabin is among the best here. Yet what marks the ix20 out in this company is the grown-up feel provided by its classy interior design and smart exterior.

 
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