Tardis-like Toyota Verso S has rivals in its sights

Launched into the competitive world of the small SUV it has the Honda Jazz and Nissan Note in its sights.

A sharp new look, in-line with the diminutive iQ city car and Urban Cruiser, means that it wears the latest face of Toyota.

It's angular style looks immediately more modern than the Note and fresher than the subtly re-vamped 2011 Jazz.

There are two specifications of Verso-S, TR (from £13,995) and T-Spirit (from £14,995), both of which come with a 98bhp, 1.33-litre petrol engine.

Equipped with the optional constantly variable automatic transmission, the T-Spirit  tested here came in at £16,895.

On paper, running costs should be a match for the equivalent Jazz and Note (albeit not in 1.5-litre dCi diesel form), a lightest-in-class 1,070kg kerb weight helping it to achieve 54.3mpg claimed fuel consumption and 120g/gm CO2 emissions.

I recorded a 43mpg average during my test, however.

The T-Spirit is well-equipped with Toyota’s impressive touch screen media system comes complete with a reversing camera as standard—keeping the dash clutter free—and there are electric windows all round, a panoramic sunroof, tinted windows and 16 inch alloys.

A 429-litre boot is part of a Tardis-like interior which has a more premium feel than either the Jazz of Note in terms of materials and overall build quality.

The Verso-S fails to deliver the same load flexibility as the Jazz—with its adjustable boot floor and ‘magic’ seats—but offers greater passenger comfort by virtue of its more supple suspension.

Small, manoeuvrable and efficient, the Verso-S is well-equipped to do battle with the Jazz and Note.

Toyota will be hoping that its impish good looks have what it takes to drag customers onto the forecourts.