Toyota Verso-S - for the city
Market research conducted by Toyota showed that not every customer is a dynamic 25-35-year-old man who usually carries 2 bicycles and a car seat in his car. It turned out that many people are looking for city cars that are not too big for their needs, and at the same time roomy enough in the case of the purchase of the notorious washing machine. So they are looking for an unusual car: small and at the same time very adjustable inside - so as not to carry excess air with them.
More precisely, they are looking for a B-segment minivan, or rather a microvan. Formally, this segment is called B-MPV and, to be honest, it is not the target of a crowd of buyers - today only 3% of buyers in Poland choose it. Thus, the game deals with a relatively small number of cars, about 10 per year. And Toyota decided to compete for them by creating a new, smallest family car in its offer.
The good news is that this segment is not as crowded as, for example, compacts. Throwing away models that have been on the market for too long without significant modification to become a hit (like the Ford Fusion), we are left with a couple that will attract a lot of customers thanks to a very attractive price (see Kia Venga) and a couple of modern cars (see Opel Meriva). Perfect conditions to fight for yourself, right?
So did Toyota. She looked through his offer and found 2 dusty models that could match the B-MPV segment assumptions. One of them, Urban Cruiser, is close to ideal in size. It's on sale, but it's dusty because it's not particularly affordable - it costs a few thousand zlotys too much for what customers are willing to pay for a car of this size. The second model is the now-missing Toyota Yaris Verso, which Toyota representatives describe with a smile on their face as "an unremarkable car."
It would be nice to do something about it. So Toyota took the silhouette from the larger Verso, made it a little smaller, added an S to the name (for Small, Smart, and to avoid two Ss next to each other, Spacious), and here we have the new Toyota.” Verso-S". Don't let the word Yaris cross your mind - Verso-S is not a Yaris extension! This is a brand new car, designed from the ground up in Japan, manufactured there and designed from start to finish as a practical, roomy and adjustable car with a small body, shorter than 2 meters and narrower than 4 meters.
And we did it. Moreover, Toyota has enough experience - let me remind you that the Yaris Verso was the first model of this class in Europe in 1999 and had no competitors for a long time. I must admit that I myself was going to the Polish presentation of the Verso-S with my thoughts on the new incarnation of the Yaris station wagon. Error! During the presentation, a car created from a blank sheet of paper began to appear, which has many advantages over a possible “add-on” to another, already existing model.
It already looked good: the Verso-S fills the gap between the B and C segments, combining the advantages of a small B-segment car with the spaciousness of a C-segment car. The boot size is 430 liters, which is quite a lot, and with the seats folded, the boot already offers 1388 liters. Not bad? And let me remind you that we are talking about the shortest car in the segment - 3 meters 99 centimeters.
Theory is theory, but when I have a small car in front of me that can almost be parked far and wide, it is clear that I do not have very high expectations. Moreover, my colleagues from Toyota are looking for tall people among the journalists present at the presentation who would prove that there is enough space inside, and although it is easy to track me with my 2-meter height, they do not see me one iota. strange coincidence. No, no, I know what's going on :). But when I tried it on, believe me, they didn’t risk anything! The car struck me, because there will be plenty of space for the driver and passenger - unless someone plays center in the NBA. The seats and steering wheel adjusted to my needs, I still had a lot of headroom and the best part was that I could sit in the back. There wasn't too much of it, and I sat definitely "squeezed" in the back, but let's not expect miracles - this is not an elongated S-class, but a car the size of a boot box.
I have two messages for a passenger sitting in the center of the rear seat. It's good that there is no central tunnel at the back, so it will be convenient for him to put his feet. The last one is a little worse. Inside the car, you will find a 1,46 meter wide interior. It’s not enough for three adults, so only the legs of an average passenger will comfortably ride - it will be cramped above the waist.
Inside the car, the attention is attracted by a pleasantly and aesthetically designed and designed instrument panel. Plastic with interesting textures and shapes contrasts beautifully with the finish that imitates aluminum. In addition, it is not only beautiful, but also functional: according to Information for the press, there are as many as 19 compartments and holders for small items and drinks in the cabin.
The manufacturer offers a new model with two engines: petrol 1.33 with a power of 99 hp. and diesel 1.4 D-4D with a power of 90 hp. Both engines are known from Yaris and Auris. We know about their benefits, so it's no surprise that the Verso-S burns only trace amounts of fuel - a gasoline engine consumes an average of 5,5 liters per 100 km, and a diesel engine 4,3 liters per 100 km. It is worth noting that from the cheapest version, a 6-speed gearbox is included as standard. Optionally, at a price of PLN 5000, a continuously variable CVT automatic transmission can be ordered for the petrol engine.
Verso-S will be available in three trim levels: Terra, Luna and Premium. Already in the cheapest version of Terra there is a VSC system, 7 airbags, a radio with CD, MP3, USB and AUX, electric front windows and mirrors, 15-inch wheels and central locking. The Terra version equipped in this way with a 1.33 petrol engine and a manual 6-speed gearbox costs PLN 57, but the manufacturer predicts that the Premium version will be the most popular, as it is not much more expensive and can put many C-segment cars to shame. : Toyota Touch infotainment system, multi-function leather steering wheel with two-way adjustment, air conditioning, fog lights, front and rear armrests, Premium trim materials or additional storage compartments inside the car. Verso S with this equipment and 600 engine costs PLN 1.33.
When it comes to gear, there are 2 things to say. First, there is the aforementioned all-new Toyota Touch multimedia system, which debuted in Toyota only with the Verso-S model. Via the 6-inch touchscreen, the driver can control most of the car's multimedia functions, such as phone or iPod communication, the audio system and, quite unusual in this car segment, rear view. camera! In addition, Toyota Touch provides detailed trip data and fuel consumption statistics using distinctive strips known from Prius for example. From June 2011 the system will also offer satellite navigation. The second interesting gadget is a huge glass roof with an electric roller shutter that reaches almost to the trunk, which, together with tinted rear windows, is offered at the lowest price on the market - with an additional charge of PLN 1900.
Starting with the base version, the Verso-S is equipped with a set of 7 airbags (including a driver's knee airbag, not available in any other B-MPV) and VSC traction control and stability control. ISOFIX child seat anchors are also included as standard.
The next day we were given the opportunity to test the new Verso-S. I chose the petrol version with a manual transmission. There can be no complaints about the engine, its power suits the weight of the car very well. The gearbox also works flawlessly and harmonizes perfectly with the engine. The suspension is quite comfortable and when driving faster, the car greedily falls into pits or bounces on bumps in the road, and the high center of gravity makes itself felt in corners. This is worth keeping in mind, especially on a busier machine, so as not to accidentally check the VSC or pillows. The car, however, has a sporty twist: a steering system that allows you to change the direction of the front wheels with just 2,5 turns of the steering wheel. In practice, this means that most maneuvers can be performed without taking your hands off the wheel, and when you want to do this, the car practically turns around on the spot.
During the presentation, Toyota representatives repeatedly emphasized that they do not expect significant sales of this model in Poland due to the selected competing models, which are much lower in price. Toyota can't be accused of being insecure, so this must be a well thought out statement. Also good news for those who don't like half a station wagon driving the same model and would not hesitate to spend a few thousand more on Toyota and appreciate modern solutions: in Poland in 2011, Toyota intends to sell only 200 Verso-S units. If one of them is yours, you will feel really special.
