We say Spacious and well built, but in terms of performance, buying and running costs there's a more obvious choice in this sector. Can we point you towards the Honda Jazz?Performance There’s just one engine available on the Verso-S and it comes in the form of a 1.33-litre petrol unit. It’s worth 96bhp and sprints to 60mph in 12.9 seconds before eventually hitting a top speed of 106mph. That doesn’t sound great but it’s more than enough for a compact-MPV suited to city driving.Emissions On a combined cycle the Verso-S returns a respectable 51mpg and emits 127g/km. Unfortunately, rivals on the market offer much more economical and efficient figures than the Japanese model.Driving Easy to drive, easy to park and because of its relatively high seating and large areas of glass, easy for around-town driving and manoeuvring.Feel Ride quality is good and it is a comfortable car with only the worst bumps from ridges and potholes encountered at low speeds being transmitted into the passenger compartment. It does feel underpowered at times though and is limited on motorways.Space Load space ranges from 429-litres to 1,388-litres. The load space comes with a handy, lightweight deck board that can be set at two different levels for added flexibility.Equipment There is a good piece of innovation in the form of the new Toyota Touch multimedia system fitted as standard to all versions of Verso-S. There are lots of gadgets to make travel and parking easier.Price The Verso-S doesn’t come cheap and it may be difficult to justify the expense of a compact MPV that is poor on the open road. List prices range from almost £15,000 and rise to nearly £18,000.Quality Overall in terms of quality the interior of the car is best described as functional rather than sparkling. The materials are ok and no doubt durable but the plastics look drab and feel hard. The controls are simple and uninspiring.Safety Euro NCAP has not tested the Toyota Verso S but expect it to fare well. It should get five stars because it is packed with kit to protect you and your passengers.Pros Attractive exterior styling, roomy interior, good load space, well equipped, cheap to run.Cons Noisy engine under load, sluggish performance with the CVT transmission, bland interior and a high entry-level price.Alternatives Honda Jazz, Vauxhall Meriva, Skoda Roomster
