Toyota moves up a gear with new Verso

Fed up with Gauteng traffic jams, constant changing of gears, Toyota has something which may ease your motoring blues.

The upgraded Verso range, one of the more popular family SUVs, has undergone a change of drivetrain on the 1.8 litre Verso SX with the addition of a new-generation continuously variable transmission (CVT).

For those unfamiliar with a CVT gearbox it can best be described as a smooth, seamless changing of ratios in an automatic gearbox.

Think of a sewing machine, the harder you push on the pedal the quicker the motor spins (as in the car's engine) and the faster the machine sews.

This is similar to a car fitted with a CVT box, only a bit more technical.

According to the Toyota boffins, the new generation CVT system utilises their multidrive S two-pulley system which has infinitely varying gear ratios that are electronically matched to the engine's speed, power range and driver inputs.

They claim the multidrive S-system, in combination with a new low speed lock-up clutch and a general weight saving of between 30kg over a conventional automatic gearbox, means that the new CVT transmission offers better acceleration than previous generation CVT gearboxes and improved fuel consumption compared to traditional automatic gearboxes.

However, without a full bag of test instruments, it's difficult to judge this.

But we can say the Verso, in weekend rush hour traffic (?) in Knysna, lived up to expectations. Sit back, relax, gentle pressure on the accelerator and the world and its problems glide by.

The CVT also includes a smaller torque converter and an uphill/downhill gearshift control system to achieve smooth shifts when driving uphill, while utilising engine brake force and lower gear ratios when travelling down a slope.

For the more adventurous the transmission is equipped with a Sport mode, which changes the transmission and engine characteristics when the driver requires more assertive acceleration or better engine braking.

For the driver who wants to play Michael Schumacher there are paddle shifts which can be used at any time, even when in full automatic mode, to quickly change gears if required.

The range has also undergone a number of cosmetic changes, including the introduction of privacy glass to the rear half of the vehicle.

This offers an added safety benefit by limiting the view from outside the cabin to the second and third row of seats.

Other changes include large light clusters on the front and back of the vehicle, with LED lighting in the rear light clusters and high mounted stop lamp.

The TX grade Verso models have auto adjusting high impact discharge (HID) head lights and a headlamp cleaning system.

There may be some who criticise the interior of Toyota products, including the Verso, as bland, but it has everything that the average motorist may need - not too much bling, but it has more bang for your buck!

According to January Naamsa sales figures the top selling rivals are the Mercedes-Benz B Class which sold 152 units, with the Verso in second spot with 64 and the Mazda 5 61 vehicles.

The new Verso SX CVT is in a tough market segment. But with a big dealer network and a reputation for retaining its value, it should continue to be an attractive option for the family which wants a fun, no stress vehicle.