Versatile taxi for moms

The Toyota Verso has been in South Africa for nearly 10 years. It is one of those vehicles that is not big on excitement, but has a boot-load of value, such as reliability, practicality and versatility.

Its party trick was not just that it was a seven-seater, but that the five rearmost seats could be folded flat, making a huge load area.

When it first came to this country it was marketed as a Corolla Verso, in an obvious attempt to cash in on the legendary sedan's popularity.

It offered only a 1.8-litre petrol engine, with a choice of five-speed manual or MMT auto gearbox, and three specifications, from entry-level 180 to SX and TX.

Anyone looking for a mom's taxi, family-type vehicle should at least examine a Verso. Considering Toyota's reputation for reliability, you could even go back to one of the earliest models.

The entry-level, manual-gearbox 180 version is a good bet. You get steel wheels instead of the alloys on more expensive units, and some important safety accessories, including air bags galore, Isofix child-restraint anchors, front-seat belt pretensioners, all-round disc brakes, antilock braking and electronic brake distribution, are standard.

Other features include air conditioning, electric front windows and side mirrors, heater and air ducts for rear passengers, sound-absorbing windscreen, easy-to-read instrument cluster and vehicle info and a steering wheel that adjusts for height and reach. You also get a radio/CD player, lots of cup holders, satellite controls on the steering wheel, height-adjustable front seats, rear fog lamp and headlight adjustment.

To drive, it is perfectly satisfying. It does what you expect in an efficient, fuss-free manner. Braking is good, the gear-changes through the five-speed box are slick and the vehicle feels well made.

You can, if you really want to, fling it around corners with surprising abandon, but that is not what the Verso is made for. Versatility is its strong point, allowing you to squeeze two more children into the rearmost seats, while also conveying five adults in comfort.

Fuel consumption is below 9 l /100km so, w ith the 60-litre tank, you should be able to travel almost 700km between fuel stops.

When the Verso was launched here in May 2004 the entry-level 180 version cost R210000, going up to around R250000 for the more expensive models. Not many are for sale on the used-car websites, but I spotted a 2010 1.8 for R129000, which includes a monitor and tow bar. There was also a 2010 range-topping TX for R199000.

The best bet, for the purposes of looking at older models was a 2006 version for R110000. It had done 90000km.

Toyota later introduced 1.6-litre versions in a bid to scoop up buyers who couldn't afford the R200000-plus vehicles on offer.

These days, there are two new 1.6 models available, along with the 1.8-litre TX and a 2-litre diesel. Prices range from R269200 for the 1.6 S to R293200 for the 1.6 SX, R32400 for the 1.8-litre TX and R340000 for the diesel.

You will get more goodies on the 2014 models, as well as the Toyota warranty of three years and 100000km, and more power (but about the same torque) from the 1.8-litre motor. The manual gearbox is now a six-speed. There is a CVT auto option for the 1.8 TX, adding R12300 to the price.

In 2004, rivals in the seven-seater multipurpose vehicle (MPV) market included the Renault Scenic and Opel Zafira. The Mazda 5 can't be ignored.

Since then, the once-popular MPV has fallen from favour, following the growth of the sport-utility vehicle, or SUV, segment.