Toyota PROACE Verso MPV (2024 - ) review

Choosing any vehicle from one of the four trim levels available makes no difference to the motor and battery combination. From the entry-level Icon trim right up to the Excel models, each Proace Verso EV is equipped with a 100 kW motor and 75 kWh battery pack providing up to 214 miles of range. The battery can also be rapid charged from 0-80 per cent at speeds of up to 100kW in around 45 minutes, meaning downtime is comparable to most electric MPVs of its size. However, we didn't get a chance to test charging speeds because the vehicle seemed to develop a fault that prevented us from charging it properly at multiple charging stations. We feel sure it's not a common issue, but it was rather frustrating having to conserve the battery and ration our time with the vehicle. That issue aside, you have to look at the whole package to see if it will work for you. It does come at a price, but that price is offset by the longer-term savings electric vehicles offer and the amount of passenger space you get for the investment. Don’t forget though that the upfront price can be broken down on finance or by finding a good lease deal, so if you’ve got your heart set on one there are options.

Every new Toyota Proace Verso EV comes with a very standard three-year manufacturer warranty, followed by a 12-month/10,000-mile additional warranty, with every qualifying service for up to 10 years (which is anything but standard). The batteries are also covered by their own eight-year/100,000-mile warranty, and you get 12 months of AA breakdown cover included. The charging issue we experienced aside (see above), if you wanted some peace of mind that you are driving a reliable vehicle, the confidence the potential warranty length offers is high.

The standard safety system specification on the Toyota Proace Verso EV is daunting and reassuring with every model featuring an anti-tamper alarm, automatic high beam assist, automatic electronic braking, cruise control, various driver attention alerts, the eCall emergency call system, rear parking sensors, hill-start assist, pre-collision systems, tyre pressure warnings, a speed limiter, road sign assist, ISOFIX child restraint system and a full complement of airbags. Additional parking sensors and a rear-view camera are available at the higher trim levels or as paid-for options, meaning you can spec out the entry-level version if desired. The previous model, of which this is a facelifted version, was awarded a five-star NCAP safety rating, which has carried over into this model… and you can see why.

There are two body lengths to choose from, L1 and L2, with the longest L2 versions providing space for up to nine seats. The vehicle’s strength is in its ability to never feel cramped or crowded, even when full of people and luggage. You have the option for a bench seat next to the driver’s seat, but we think the most popular configurations provide a single driver and passenger seat up front, three in row two and another three behind that. The beauty is in being able to move and remove seats as you wish to configure the interior to your liking thanks to a clever rail system on the floor. At the lower trim levels the seats are covered in durable fabrics, but the top trim is covered in leather, which we’d have liked to experience. That said, our passengers in the two rear rows did express how comfortable the seats were compared to other MPVs we’d tested, saying they felt like they were travelling in style. The smooth electric drive quality should definitely take its share of the credit for the comfort levels the Proace Verso EV provides, too.

Equipment levels rise luxuriously across the four trim levels. At the Icon trim level you get 17-inch steel wheels on the outside, and a clear 10-inch infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the inside. You also get cruise control, manual air conditioning, rear parking sensors, auto headlights and automatic high beam assist. The step up to Design swaps steel wheels for alloys and adds the excellent panoramic sun roof, a wireless mobile phone charger, smart entry and push-button start, automatic air conditioning, useful front parking sensors, fold-up tables on the backs of the driver and passenger seats, and rear window sunshades that pull out of the door housing. Design Premium trim adds a massage function to the front seats (really), a memory function to the driver’s seat and kick-activated side doors. At the top Excel trim level you get a sound system upgrade, full leather interior, heated driver and front passenger seats, a height-adjustable front passenger seat, a second row of Captain’s chairs, the third row gets removable rail seats, and you even get rail-mounted lounge tables. There really is a Proace Verso EV for everyone in there. You can add a lot of the features to other trim levels for a price, which is nice, but they’re well-defined trim levels in their own right with each one feeling like a good improvement on the one below.

The 100 kW motor outputs around 136 horsepower and 260 Nm of torque, which is fine for a vehicle of this size. The Proace Verso EV is not going to break any speed records, nor should anyone expect it to. This is meant to be a comfortable and confident passenger vehicle and it drives like one: steering is light and precise, acceleration is steady and it maneuvers well around corners. There’s little else to want from a vehicle of this size. It’s got enough power to get where you need to go without causing any undue alarm for you or your passengers.