Toyota Corolla Verso

What's my favourite number? That's easy... it's seven. Not only was it emblazoned on my hero Kevin Keegan's shirt, but it was also the number of Mars Bars I could eat in one go as a kid! But I never thought I'd get excited about a seven-seater car.

However, I have to admit I think our Toyota Corolla Verso is fantastic. It arrived in February and has done 5,101 miles since then. Yet as my commute takes in most of south London's traffic hotspots, it's the time I've spent in the car, rather than the distance covered, that's proved most impressive.

It copes well with the daily slog, although the 1.8-litre petrol engine isn't that responsive and could do with a bit more power. I was a big fan of the hybrid Prius we used to have on our fleet, and I'd love to see Toyota stick that eco-friendly technology into the Verso - it would make so much sense for young urban families.

The real joy of the Corolla is its practicality. Being able to convert a five-seat car to seven and vice-versa in a matter of seconds is incredibly useful. Its middle row slides forward and backward, and the seats also tip forward to allow unrestricted access to the two retractable chairs. These are even easier to use. You lift up the backrest, pull out the base and that's it.

However, the two rearmost seats do come with certain limitations. Firstly, the lack of legroom means they are only suitable for children and secondly, they are not designed to accommodate baby chairs. I have two children, so the Verso spends 90 per cent of the time as a five-seater, but I like the option of switching to seven being available.

We recently attended a wedding in central London, and to minimise the transport requirements, offered a lift to friends. As a result, the Verso ended up carrying four adults, two babies and a five-year-old in total - we even managed to fit in a couple of pushchairs! That said, the load area behind the last line of seats is cramped, so one of the buggies went on the floor under people's feet. Space was tight and I doubt my passengers would have wanted to be in the car for more than an hour.

However, we reached our destination without fuss, and the in-car DVD system took everyone's minds off the squeeze. It's just one of a number of 21st century toys packed into the Corolla, and is proving its worth. The twin headrest-mounted screens are an obvious hit on long journeys, and my five-year-old son George loves watching films while being ferried about. The only downside is that with just two sets of earphones provided, squabbles have broken out when more than three children have been on board. Unfortunately, despite repeated reading of the owners' manual, it doesn't look as if there's any way of channelling the sound through the stereo.

Other technology seems less useful. A camera mounted on the front bumper lets you see in both directions through the sat-nav display as you nose forward out of a blind junction. It's very clever, but in practice would you ever trust a TV picture with your family's safety? It's difficult to get a sense of perspective from the screen.

The parking camera also provides a crystal clear image of bollards, lamposts and other hazards, plus cool-looking diagrams to guide you into the tightest of spaces. It never fails to impress, but I prefer the simple beep system that's fitted to our long-term Nissan Micra - it's easier to use and less flashy. Still, I can't see myself going back to a small car now. Seven is my lucky number.

Second Opinion

I have to admit that whenever I get to drive the Corolla Verso I come away extremely impressed. This has nothing to do with the lacklustre engine performance and sparkle-free driving experience, but everything to do with the car's layout, design and practicality. Having two small children of my own, I find the high roofline and big boot in five-seat mode are a boon. I'm also a big fan of the hi-tech gadgets on the car.
Oliver Marriage, road test editor