We say Verstaile, practical SUV that looks good from the outside but is let down by an interior and drive that are both dull.Performance There’s a relatively basic engine line-up with the Verso, dominated by diesels which offer more torque and useful power than the petrol options which feel underpowered. The flagship engine is the 2.2-litre D-CAT diesel that clears 60mph in 9.8 seconds; nothing exciting but good enough for a small MPV.Emissions The 2.0-litre D-4D diesel unit is the best in terms of fuel economy and emissions figures, returning 51mpg and emitting 143g/km in CO2. As you can see, the Verso isn’t the best on that front and there are more economical alternatives out there.Driving The Verso is a cruiser and not a car for driver enjoyment. It’s smooth but not composed around corners with lots of bodyroll. The steering is also devoid of feel and feels vague, hardly keeping the driver interested at all.Feel Diesels cope better with lugging the load of the Verso around and cruise smoothly. That impression is also aided by its suspension set-up which is more tuned towards comfort than excitement and it absorbs most bumps and road blemishes with ease.Space Three rows, with rear seats for kids only, and even they will be cramped. There's all manner of split folding seats and configurations going on with the rear seats as well. Right at the back there’s a small 155-litre boot when all seats are in use but that increases to a more respectable 607-litres when the rear seats are folded away.Equipment Aircon is standard at entry level but you'll have to shell out more for leather, climate control, multimedia kit and alloys.Price The Verso doesn’t come cheap with high-end models costing nearly £26,000. Running costs aren’t brilliant either and it lags behind its competitors.Quality As ever, the Toyota will be strong and reliable but the cabin is a peculiar looking thing. There’s a strange centre console and a mounted gear stick that looks awkward and there’s too much cheap plastic to make it an enjoyable place to be. It’s very dull and grey.Safety Nine airbags plus ABS. Maximum 5 NCAP stars and traction control is an option on top specs.Pros The Verso is a useful compact MPV and it carries seven passengers in as much comfort as anything else in the segment. There’s also a decent amount of kit and equipment available and it makes for an excellent, smooth motorway cruiser.Cons The cabin is ugly and the materials are cheap while the engine line-up is bland and underpowered. Running costs are also disappointing.Alternatives Vauxhall Zafira, Ford C-MAX
