Toyota Auris vs Toyota Verso

It’s fair to say I’ve not exactly been overwhelmed by our Toyota Auris since it joined the long-term fleet in February 2007. The replacement for the Corolla was lauded as a big step forward for Toyota, but to me it looks and feels distinctly like its predecessor, and has failed to make much of an impression.

So what about switching to a compact MPV? The maker’s Verso sits on a unique platform, and as I ran one for 12 months, I’m well placed to try it. But it’s not only my opinion that counts – my wife Dawn and our two sons George and Harry have also had their say. These are meant to be family cars, so who better to test them?

I like the extra size of the Verso, as does my older son George. And getting all our bags aboard without spending ages packing is a blessing when it comes to family holidays and trips away. Usefully, I can also fit a bike in the back of the Verso. This is completely out of the question with the Auris, so I am forced to use a tailgate-mounted bicycle rack instead.

None of us is keen on the styling of either Toyota – they’re as bland as each other. However, the Verso does manage to look more car-like than many other MPVs. And even though it’s the older model, the seven-seater has a better interior, with a neat and clean dashboard layout.

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It’s no surprise that the Verso is the more practical option. Although I didn’t use the seven seats especially often, it’s great to have the option, while the folding mechanisms couldn’t be more simple to use – each of the three seats in the middle row slides and folds flat individually. The only trouble is that, as with most people carriers, space is at a premium for those passengers in the third row – the seats are cramped and claustrophobic.

When sitting behind the wheel, though, I prefer the Auris. It’s nippy and composed, and while the 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine isn’t as powerful – delivering 121bhp to the Verso’s 135bhp – it returns superior fuel economy, at 47.7mpg. In comparison, the MPV manages 36.8mpg, although the impeccable refinement of its Lexus-sourced 2.2-litre oil-burner provides some compensation for this.

Nevertheless, both Dawn and my younger son Harry favour the hatchback. When she drives, she likes to be close to the road, and feels the Verso is big and clumsy, and takes up too much space on the tarmac. Dawn doesn’t relish parking it, either. In her opinion, the Auris is the much better option for nipping around town or dropping our two sons off for any of their various activities.

She also argues that the hatch swallows the weekly family shop easily – although when its 354-litre load space is full of carrier bags, there’s no room for a pushchair. The boot struggles when Dawn is carrying stock for her fashion store, too. Once again, the Verso has the edge in this area. Even with its third row of seats in place, the MPV offers a capacity of 397 litres. Fold all the rear chairs, and you’re rewarded with an enormous 1,563-litre luggage bay.

Would I trade up?
YES. I want family transport, so I’d forego the Auris’s greater driver appeal and pay £2,610 extra for the super-flexible Verso.