Sector: MPV Price: €23,550–€26,990 Fuel: 4.5l/100km CO2: 119g/km

When Toyota updated the European version of its Verso MPV last year, the end result was so radically different to its predecessor that it could almost have been sold as an entirely new car.

The new design, penned at the carmaker’s studio in France, gained a GT86-style front end and comprehensive package of chassis stiffening with reduced NVH, and improvements to the chassis and steering for added driver appeal.

Cosmetically at least, the end result has transformed the Verso from an anonymous load-carrier to a genuinely good-looking compact MPV, in line with a segment which has become considerably more stylish in Europe recently.

But the final piece of the transformation has only just arrived. Through an ongoing partnership with BMW, which will share knowledge of hybrid and diesel drivetrains and co-develop a sports car platform, the Verso now features a version of the 1.6-litre diesel engine in the MINI Cooper D.

It’s the first time Toyota has made serious inroads into the part of the compact MPV sector which is now using downsized diesel engines, and slots in underneath (or replaces altogether) the 2.0 D-4D engine which had previously offered the range’s best economy.

Shifting down to the 1.6 D-4D brings a small sacrifice in power – from 126 to 112hp – but through Stop/Start technology, a drop in capacity and reduction in weight, the pay-off is a fuel consumption drop from 4.9 to 4.5l/100km, while CO2 emissions have fallen 10g/km to a new low of 119g/km.

While these aren’t the lowest figures in the segment – Renault, Opel and Citroën are edging ever closer to 100g/km with their equivalent diesel engines – it’s a useful step downwards. Shedding capacity doesn’t cost it much in on-road performance, either, offering a good spread of torque and impressive high-speed refinement despite its small size.

Otherwise, the Verso is as good an MPV as it always has been. The cabin is bright, still featuring Toyota’s central instrument cluster and now including the latest Touch 2 infotainment system with optional TomTom satellite navigation and MirrorLink smartphone controls.

Five and seven-seat versions offer a wide load area with the seats up and a completely flat floor from the tailgate across the folded backrests of the second row. Occupants get the ability to move the seats forwards and backwards independently for extra legroom, or to extend the space in the third row or boot.

As a sign that someone’s actually sat down and thought about how the car will be used, the tonneau cover fixes in four positions to create a boot space to suit two or three rows, or under the boot floor when it’s not in use. A small detail, but useful for impromptu load carrying with the second and third rows folded flat. 

Add in Toyota’s renowned reliability, a record which the BMW-sourced engine shouldn’t blunt, and fleet-focused trim levels in selected markets and the Verso has plenty to offer drivers with a growing family.

Verdict:

A great MPV, made better with refreshed styling and a solid new diesel engine, but even lower CO2 would have been helpful to compete with the best in its class.