Review of the Toyota Proace Verso

The Toyota Proace Verso is an MPV that puts a good argument forward for being one of the most practical vehicles on the market. With space for up to nine people and loads of handy features inside, the Proace Verso caters for everyone, from families to small businesses.  

Rivals to the Proace Verso include the Volkswagen Multivan, Mercedes-Benz V-Class, and Ford Tourneo Custom. 

Our Toyota Proace Verso review covers:

• Modern and good-looking exterior 
• Spacious interior with space for seven, eight, or nine people 
• Up to 912-litres of boot space 
• 1.5 or 2.0-litre diesel engine
• Three trim levels 

Pros:

• Versatile interior 
• Can fit up to nine people on board 
• Comfortable ride 

Cons:

• Interior quality could do with an upgrade 
• Expensive 
• Drives like a van 

The exterior of the Proace Verso follows the same principles as the standard Proace van. The front end looks practically identical with its V-shaped front grille and sleek headlights, and the only main difference is that tinted windows have replaced the panels along the side. 

For those sitting in the front of the Proace Verso, there's plenty of head and legroom to get comfortable. The same can be said for passengers in the rear; regardless of whether there are seven, eight, or nine seats, a full-sized adult can get comfortable on all three rows.  

The Proace Verso is available in two lengths: Medium and Long. Width (1,920mm) and height (1,910mm) are universal throughout the range, while Medium has a length of 4,959mm, and Long comes in at 5,309mm. 

The amount of luggage space the Proace Verso gets depends on the number of seats. If you've gone for the nine-seater Medium you'll get 700-litres of space, but select Long and it increases to 912 litres. For the family trim (only available in Medium length), you get 603 litres, while VIP has 912 litres. 

If I had to describe the interior of the Proace Verso in one word, I'd choose 'pleasant'. All materials look good, and feel built to last. If you've got a large family with young children, the interior will hold itself together nicely for the duration of your lease agreement. 

All versions of the Proace Verso come with a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a DAB radio, Bluetooth, sat-nav with voice recognition, Wi-fi connectivity, and an eight-speaker audio system. It's a pretty good and responsive system, but we'd recommend upgrading to the Family trim that comes with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. 

Three trim levels are available for the Proace Verso: Shuttle, Family, and VIP. 

Shuttle has 16-inch alloy wheels, dark-tinted rear windows, dark grey cloth seat upholstery with vinyl trim, a height-adjustable driver's seat, nine seats, a seven-inch touchscreen, rear parking sensors, cruise control, ABS with brake assist, and vehicle stability control. 

Family adds 17-inch alloy wheels, opening tailgate glass, eight seats, front seatback airline-style tables, carpeted floor and mats, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, an electronic parking brake, a luggage cover net, and Toyota Safety Sense safety technology. 

VIP adds a multifunction roof, power side doors with sensor operation, brushed aluminium dashboard inserts, leather seat upholstery, seven seats, a folding lounge table on an adjustable rail system, a front seat massage function, a hi-fi surround system, a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system, and a welcome light. 

Three diesel engines make up the engine range for the Proace Verso. The entry-level unit is a 1.5-litre diesel that returns 120hp and goes from 0-62mph in 12 seconds. It's a pretty good engine for an entry-level option and is more than good enough for driving around town, but it lacks the power on the open road. 

If this is something you're after, there's a pair of 2.0-litre diesel engines available. The mid-range option is the 140hp unit that goes from 0-62mph in just over ten seconds, while the range-topper has 180hp and goes from 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds. 

The latter comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the others use a six-speed manual transmission. 

Get on the road with the Proace Verso, and you'll find it drives extremely similar to a van. It's calm and composed at lower speeds, but shift through the gears and the suspension becomes slightly bumpy (especially with few people on board). 

Around town, the Proace Verso is decent to drive. It handles well and is relatively straightforward to park thanks to the rear parking sensors that come as standard. Unfortunately, you'll be able to feel undulating road surfaces, and the car begins to bounce a bit.  

Increase it to motorway speeds, and the Proace Verso is relatively quiet. Road and wind noise are hushed, and combining this with cruise control makes for a relaxing long-journey experience. 

Find yourself on a country lane, and the Proace Verso isn't much fun. It becomes apparent that Toyota has gone for safety over excitement, thanks to slow steering. If you're looking to provide excitement for your family, we'd recommend the smaller Volkswagen Touran.

Prices for the new Toyota Proace Verso start from £33,129.00 OTR* or to lease from £407.44 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Toyota Proace Verso? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offer various leasing deals to suit your every need.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.