Car Statistics: Toyota - Verso Series 09 (3 stars)

Styling (3 stars)

Some effort has been made to lift the exterior of the Verso with swooping design lines, but the compact MPV segment is packed with sober looking family runarounds and the Toyota is no exception.

Handling (3 stars)

Steers with competence but will understeer predictably and safely if you enter a corner too quickly. Body roll is always noticeable but not unbearable.

Comfort (4 stars)

The Verso's very civilized, with both road and tyre noise kept relatively low and a pleasant ride on offer. A large panoramic sunroof is a nice touch if you can afford the option.

Quality (4 stars)

Toyota has a legendary reputation for dependability. The quality of cabin materials is good, but the swathes of plastics look dull.

Performance (3 stars)

There's some zip from the 1.8 petrol but the 2.0-litre diesel alternative is sluggish. The automatic gearbox has a rather optimistic automatic throttle blip feature to help smooth out downshifts during hard driving.

Roominess (3 stars)

Pretty practical, but many MPV rivals are more spacious. With the jump seats up, luggage space is severely restricted. Clever cubby holes go some way to making up for it.

Costs (5 stars)

The Verso's one of the most economical MPVs around due to its efficient and frugal range of engines. It's unlikely to go wrong, but comes with a three-year, 60,000 mile warranty.

Value (4 stars)

Not cheap, but not hugely expensive either. And Toyota residuals tend to be strong.

Stereo (3 stars)

Both are available, but in a car like this we'd have thought Toyota would offer more in the way of in-car entertainment solutions for passengers.