Toyota Proace Verso

FIRST DRIVE Can van-based eight-seater make an impact?

We try new van-based people carrier with room for eight

TOYOTA is back in the large MPV class, a market it vacated when the faithful Previa trundled off to do the school run in the sky back in 2007. And the vehicle taking its place is the Proace Verso.

Essentially it’s a plush MPV version of the Proace van, but Toyota is adamant that the Verso isn’t simply a tarted up commercial vehicle. We tested a Family spec model in the smallest of the three body styles the Verso is offered in. Dubbed the Compact, it measures 4,606mm long, which isn’t much for a vehicle claiming to have space for eight adults.

You can certainly fit everyone in, but there’s only 282 litres of boot space if you do. Lift out the rearmost seats, which is a pretty cumbersome task thanks to their weight, and while there’s only space for five, boot capacity is a healthy 1,242 litres.

On the road, the Proace Verso is easier to pilot through town than other eight-seaters. In fact, with light steering and a high driving position, it’s quite at home in the city.

Performance is nothing to write home about, with the 0-62mph sprint taking 11 seconds, but the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel feels strong in-gear, thanks to 300Nm of torque being available from 1,750rpm. Fuel economy is excellent for an eight-seater, too, with a claimed return of 53.5mpg.

Toyota has taken steps to improve the ride and refinement in Verso versions of the Proace, but it’s still slightly rough around the edges, with steering that lacks feel and a clunky six-speed gearbox.