Toyota Verso D-Cat 150 Auto introduced

Toyota do make fine cars. But unfortunately, many of the fine cars they make are fine cars in terms of construction and reliability, not in terms of the enjoyment they deliver. Boring would probably cover most. My Dad drove a Toyota in his later years and it suited him fine. Once a traffic police car driver, he had always enjoyed the ‘Drive’. But once he got to an age where driving became just a means of getting from A to B his priorities changed. He wanted the most reliable car around; one that was well built and never caused him problems. And that’s what he got with his Toyota.

And unfortunately, that is what the MPV Verso is – even the new Toyota Verso. Well-built and reliable, and little more. But there are lots of drivers who don’t buy a car for the ‘Drive’ but for the ‘Transport. So that’s why it sells. Rather well. And to keep those sales moving Toyota has added a new version to the range – the Toyota Verso D-Cat 150 Automatic.

This new Verso get a 2.2 litre diesel delivering 150bhp and CO2 of 178g/km. It manages 41.5 mpg and 0-60mph in 10.1 seconds. And it gets a D-CAT, which I’m all in favour of as it cuts the NOx and particulate emissions by a big chunk. Much more important than CO2.

Remarkably – for such a car – the new six-speed auto box offers not only a sports setting but a set of paddle-shifts. I’ll bet my boots you won’t find one Verso owner who does any more than try them out when they buy their Verso, thereafter to leave the ‘box in Drive.

You can get the 2.2 D-CAT in TR and T Spirit trim. Prices start at £20,835.

Toyota Verso D-CAT 150 Auto Models and Prices

MODEL	OTR PRICE	VED BAND	INSURANCE GROUP
Verso TR Toyota Optimal Drive 2.2 D-CAT 150 6AT	£20,835	I	8
Verso T Spirit Toyota Optimal Drive 2.2 D-CAT 150 6AT	£22,265	I	8