Toyota Verso - the same cookie, but in a different package?
Some candy companies pride themselves on using the same recipe for years. Only the packaging changes with the designers, whose inspiration fluctuates with the phases of the moon. However, does not the same recipe become insipid over time? Good question. Especially since Toyota works in a similar way and introduced the new Verso a few days ago.
What is Verso? Compact minivan. The third generation of this minivan has just undergone an extensive facelift, but at this point a little thought comes to mind - is this the third generation already?! So what did everyone else look like? Namely, the previous design, to put it mildly, was not very expressive, so I remember it as a party after the end of the film. However, the producer decided to change it and ordered to go to the south of France for more information. I went out of curiosity.
NEW STYLE - HIT OR KIT?
First impression? True, the company has already shown the new RAV4 and Auris, but the question remains on the lips - is this really Toyota? The most striking feature of the post-facelift Verso is the all-new front end design. The emblem is placed in the center and divides the grille into two parts, which transform into expanding lanterns. Pure Toyota? Not necessarily, because there are similarities with the 2003-2009 Renault Scenic, the Nissan Tiida, the first generation Nissan Murano, or the current Renault Clio. In addition, just a few months ago, Toyota cars looked completely different. The new design is meant to seduce anyone who wasn't enamored with the previous incarnation of this Japanese brand. And I must admit one thing - the change of image was a success. Verso from a boring car has just become the subject of controversy. Worse, if the original plan was a little different.
The side and rear of the body - cosmetics. You can see slimmer mirrors, updated lamps, chrome accessories and a diffuser. There are also new design alloy wheels known from the larger Avensis. The current style of Toyota cars, of course, also has its flashy name - insightful look. The key here is the clean line. Does the end result impress with its charm? Everyone must answer it for himself, I will only add that he must captivate. For one reason.
Sitting on the plane, I doubted that I would make it - I had a vision of a car that froze while flying with me inside. I also began to wonder if such a sacrifice made sense for the new Verso. But it happened. It turned out that Toyota opened its own design center in Nice. It was here that the Verso facelift was developed - stylists could pour their inspiration on paper and, in moments of doubt, step out into the garden and be born again. Very useful - it was enough to build a building behind a stone wall in a beautiful place to reduce the burnout of half of the staff. Moreover, an enterprise in Belgium was responsible for the technological side of the model. This means that the new Verso is a Japanese car made by Europe for Europe - that's why we should love this family Toyota. Despite being made in Turkey. And what's under the new body?
Toyota, as a traditional confectionery company, is the same recipe under new paper. After all, it is not too fresh, although it is constantly being improved. It is better to forget about the multi-link suspension, the engines have not undergone major changes, and the electronics are as simple as boiling water. Of course, as an option, you can count on many useful additions - from a twilight sensor to a rear-view camera and a smart key. Is simplicity a disadvantage? Not really. To date, Verso is the least accident vehicle in the minivan segment according to TUV. On top of that, it also retains the smallest loss in value in its class - as you can see, no frills sometimes pays off. How does it all happen?
TOYOTA VERSO ON THE ROAD
Under the hood, one of two gasoline engines can operate - 1.6 liters or 1.8 liters. Moreover, the second one was willingly bought so far, so I immediately ran for the keys. The first observation is that the bike is almost silent at low speeds. Both inside and outside. It smoothly reaches 147 hp, and the maximum torque of 180 Nm is delivered at 4000 rpm. I must admit that this is an extremely reasonable unit in this car. It has a simple design, even at low revs it remains flexible and accelerates greedily, and at high revs it spreads its wings and allows you to move dynamically. Unfortunately, the engine gets quite noisy. It can be combined with a 6-speed manual or the Multidrive S automatic that I was sentenced to. There are no other options with a 1.8 liter engine for testing. However, I was happy - there is always less work on the left leg. I changed my mind as soon as I left the institution. The gearbox is slow, stepless, has a specific characteristic of work and can be compared with a person loaded with Aviamarine - he is depressed, does not know what is happening around and does not even want to know. The transmission was similar - it worked sluggishly and limited engine power. Diesels can also be found under the hood. The smallest has 2.0 liters and 124 km. It has undergone several changes - ranging from an oil pump, through a two-chamber oil sump and ending with a more efficient turbocharger. The larger diesel is already 2.2 D-CAT 150KM - unfortunately it is connected only to the Multidrive S machine. On the top is 2.2 D-CAT 177KM - well-known and beloved, although more expensive to operate. Interesting - all engines have timing chains. For dessert, I left some thoughts about the interior - I had a lot of time for this because I had to go to an unusual place where I decided to check out the Verso - Monte Carlo, famous for F1 racing.
Before getting into the car, I looked in the trunk. It has a standard output of 440L/484L depending on the variant selected. In Verso you can pay for up to 2 additional seats - all passengers will have only 155 liters left for luggage. Fortunately, all the backrests of the 1009th and 32nd rows can be folded very easily and you get a completely flat floor. At the same time, the trunk increases to liters, and the manufacturer guarantees that the seats can be configured in various ways. I was afraid to check it out, lest night should overtake me, but I know one thing - no one foresaw a folding backrest for the front passenger seat. What a pity.
The Verso has a wheelbase of 278cm, which in many cases is longer than the competition. And that results in more space. Of course, the third row is cramped. There is even a drawing in the Toyota brochure showing the top view of the car and the arrangement of its 7 passengers. In the last row, the children, not the mother-in-law, which should give food for thought. In other chairs, there are no complaints about the amount of space - both for the legs and for the head. Tables for passengers in the middle row are also a nice addition.
JAPANESE PRACTICE
I traveled from Nice to Monaco and was finally able to see the interior. The dashboard is very ascetic, but still readable. The materials and seats have been improved, and the backlighting of the clock has been changed to white. By the way - the latter are placed in the center of the cabin, but still convenient to use. Why is the coolant temperature not included in the kit? The manufacturer probably doesn't know this, but his accountants do. In the cabin, unpleasant door handles and plastic in places are a little repulsive, but, you see, silver inserts enliven the interior and look very nice. It is also a bad idea to have much fewer storage compartments than, for example, a Renault Scenic - an MPV car should have more of them than cars in the city center at 8.00 in the morning. However, the manufacturer did not forget about two in the floor and a double compartment in front of the passenger. The front seat cushion drawer is unfortunately too small and impractical. There is also a USB socket for a USB flash drive with music in an unfortunate place - on the gearbox housing, next to the passenger's foot. Until it begs to hook the device with his knee, break the fork and make the driver cry. Parking sensors do not work automatically - they can be on all the time, but a cyclist standing too close to a car at an intersection can drive you crazy. They are disengaged by a handbrake or a button located in an unintuitive place. A useful addition is the optional Toyota Touch & Go Plus navigation - it is clear, easy to use and has a lot of features. By itself, he orients the driver well, although he does not know all the names of the streets. He sometimes exaggerates, especially when he refers to 180-degree turns as a "smooth right turn". However, it clearly shows many of the car's settings on the color touchscreen. How about security? Frontal, side and side airbags as well as a knee airbag with active head restraints are standard on every version. You can also get ABS, traction control and hill-climbing for free, which means there's nothing to complain about when it comes to safety. In the meantime - I finally got to Monte Carlo, it's time to check how the car is going.
Narrow streets, lots of cars, half of them Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Maserati and Bentley - Verso seemed taken out of context, but in the city it did a great job. Only the thick rear pillars interfered a bit when reversing, but what is the parking sensors for? After a minute of wandering, I managed to get to the F1 track - the serpentines and sharp changes in the height of the road were a real test for the torsion beam and McPherson struts, but the manufacturer tuned the suspension very well. For such a tall car, the Verso behaves predictably and doesn't lean too much in corners. However, it is difficult to resist the impression that the suspension is quite stiff and straight. Steering also has a positive effect on traction, which automatically increases with speed. This short route culminated in the famous Monte Carlo Tunnel, where F1 cars pass. While the Verso doesn't even try to pose as a sports car, it's content to be a good family road companion and a pleasure to drive. What about the price? Compared to the competition, it's tempting until you start looking at the 2.2L diesel - the higher fees mean the ROI can be compared to starting a fireplace for $100. However, the 177 hp version of the engine itself recommended due to its excellent dynamics.
You might argue that Toyota keeps improving the same recipe by changing the packaging of their candies. However, the best oracle is the market, and as you can see, a successful recipe will never seem insipid. So why change it?
