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Since we've talked so much about minivans, I thought it was time to ramble about the minivan from one of the world's largest car manufacturers, and I'll start with the Toyota Verso AR20.

Which is very strange for the Toyota Verso AR20. Toyota is a manufacturer focused on mainstream, regular and practical cars. They have small city cars like the Yaris, they have family cars like the Auris and Avensis, they also have SUVs like the Rav4 or the Land Cruiser, but they don't really have minivans here in Europe. They had the Yaris Verso and the regular Verso and that's about it. In fact, I quickly browsed the Toyota website and currently they don't have any minivans for sale. And the Yaris is a special case because the Yaris was an experimental car for Toyota. They turned it into a crossover, they turned it into a minivan, they turned it into a sports car, they tested their hybrid systems on it. Just like napkins or lubricant, the Toyota Yaris was used for more purposes than the original one.

And then we have the Toyota Verso AR20. A minivan based on the Corolla and which no one bought. Which is odd, since the Corolla is the world's best selling car. Yes, of course, somewhere later the BMW engine also appears. Yes, sure, the Toyota Verso AR20 was the safest MPV of its time. But we actually have such a boring combination of car elements that codeine seem like Red Bull in comparison. First of all, we have a boring brand, Toyota. Second of all, we have a boring automotive genre, the MPV. If you combine the two, you get the automotive equivalent of the generic radio music you subconsciously listen to in the morning traffic. It's like watching a documentary about trees. Very good and quality content, but so boring that it makes me fall alseep. And even if I fell asleep at the wheel of a Verso, the chances of dying are slim.

Toyota Verso AR20 Engines

Petrol

• 1.6 1ZR-FE Valvematic of 132 horsepower – The entry level engine, which no one bought. Which is easy to understand, because putting this engine to drive the 7-seater version as cramped as you would expect it to be is like putting Shaq inside to drive. It's not going to work out very well.


• 1.8 2ZR-FE Valvematic 147 horsepower – The only petrol engine with an automatic transmission and again it was avoided by buyers more than vegans avoid black pudding. Pay close attention to the Valvematic unit, which can cost half the value of the car when it breaks. Not “if”, but “when” it breaks.

Diesel

• 1.6 D-4D 1WW of 112 horsepower - This engine is a variation of BMW's N47 engine and I wouldn't bother with it at all. Timing chain issues, timing chain which sits at the back of engine so it's an engine out job, and it's so small for the Verso, you might aswell power it with a phone charger.


• 2.0 D-4D 1AD-FTV of 126 horsepower – On the Toyota Verso AR20 you have the opportunity to catch the last train with the legendary 2.0 D-4D engine. An ancient, reliable and capable engine. An old-fashioned engine, but which was retired by emissions regulations. A great shame.


• 2.2 D4-D 2AD-FTV and 2AD-FHV of 150 and 177 horsepower – Here you have to take care of the engines as if you just arrived at the Luton airport and you have to watch out for your wallet, phone, purse, wig, teeth, footwear, any type of wear, and you yourself. The 2.2 D-4D 150 horsepower engine is fine, but the 2.2 D-CAT 177 horsepower is famous for cylinder head gasket cracking and all the fun costs about 2 grand. That's why Rav4s with this engine are so cheap.

Toyota Verso AR20 Reliability Issues

• The electrically operated parking brake will leave you stranded, just like that girl who said we should meet up romantically by the Cole river and never showed up did. But at least I fished a boot. I cooked it. I ate it. Still better than cafeteria food.


• The steering column is another common issue with Toyotas from this period, so you will need to prepare yourself metaphysically, spiritually, and especially financially.


• It's not the best soundproofed car possible, so you'll hear what's going on outside the car quite loudly, starting at speeds of 15 mph. If the Toyota Verso AR20 can handle such speeds.

Toyota Verso AR20 Verdict

I don't understand why the Verso didn't take off in Europe. We have the most family-friendly car from the most family-friendly car manufacturer. Even the BBC1 is not as family-friendly as the Toyota Verso. So then why nobody bought?

Which engines do I recommend? For petrol, probably the 1.6 naturally aspirated with 132 horsepower, but most likely you will go for the 2.0 D-4D diesel and it's 126 horsepower because it's the most balanced engine for the first gen Verso.