Geneva 2009: Toyota Verso crams three rows into Corolla-sized package
by Dan Roth on Mar 5th 2009 at 6:59PM 
Toyota Verso – Click above for high-res gallery
Toyota officially unveiled the latest version of its slick looking, Euro-centric people mover at the Geneva Motor Show this week. Called the Verso (not to be confused with the Nissan Versa), the three-row, five-door hatchback wears handsome sheetmetal with lines that are definitely "in family" for Toyota. For as much as we like the outside, the instrument panel has Scion disease. Center gauges. Please stop it. That third row also has severely limited legroom, but it's still a neat trick to fit so many perches within a Corrola-sized footprint, even if some are occasional-use grade. The Verso will likely delight for bopping across the moorland, but you might need to have your legs removed so you'll fit in back.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Jake B 7:04PM (3/05/2009)
Oh my it would suck to be in that rear row during a rear end collision with a truck.
Reply
Bloke 7:57PM (3/05/2009)
The chances of surviving any collision with a truck at highway speeds in the vast majority of cars are remote to nil.
Kitko 10:00AM (3/06/2009)
There are no stupidly oversized trucks mascarading as utility vehicles in Europe, key Verso market.
MKIV 5:08PM (3/06/2009)
Jake,
It would also suck to get his by a big truck in an expedition. It would also suck just as much to get hit by a train in an 18 wheeler. Jump in front of a Yugo and it would suck for you to get hit by that too...
Trent 7:05PM (3/05/2009)
I never did see how much the car is selling for....?
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AMcA 11:51PM (3/05/2009)
Dumpy little thing, ain't it?
I'd rather be seen driving a stripped Dodge Caravan.
zamafir 7:09PM (3/05/2009)
"That third row also has severely limited legroom, but it's still a neat trick to fit so many perches within a Corrola-sized footprint, even if some are occasional-use grade."
Such a neat trick, I wish mazda could figure it out... oh what? they have? It's been on sale in North America for a while even? oh. moving along.
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Mazda FTW! 7:46PM (3/05/2009)
+1 lol
jte 7:50PM (3/05/2009)
Mazda5 only seats 6, this seats 7.
Mazda please put 3 seats in the middle row!
Yes, yes, i know only kids can sit in either 3rd row.
Aprime 7:52PM (3/05/2009)
You mean it seats 7 like the Highlander does?
lol.
TeamNutmeg 7:54PM (3/05/2009)
Amen! And they do it so much better, too: better looking, undoubtedly better handling, and probably a good $5k less, knowing Toyota's usual pricing.
Our business uses a 5, and we've had six people in it. One guy in the back was over six foot, and while he says he wouldn't want to take a road trip back there, he was comfortable enough for the 45 minutes it took us to get where we were going.
Bloke 8:03PM (3/05/2009)
Yes, the last-generation Corolla Verso was also available as a seven-seater, as have been both generations of the Opel/Vauxhall Zafira.
It's nothing new in C-segment MPV's. Nothing new to Mazda. Nothing new to Ford. Nothing new to Opel/Vauxhall, and nothing new to Toyota. It's only new, it seems, to Autoblog correspondents.
Aprime 9:03PM (3/05/2009)
Wow, it's even worse than I thought, and you can't even put baby seats there because the hooks are on the second row.
Rick 10:28AM (3/06/2009)
Yes, the 5 only sits 6, but seriously, I rather prefer the storage shelf we get for the kids. And WHO wants to try and get to the 3rd row with such a small opening through a regular door? In the 5, you have wider sliding doors to get into, and with no middle seat, you can walk between the second row to get to the 3rd row.
Jvijil 7:14PM (3/05/2009)
is that third row supposed to me some sort of sick joke?
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Jvijil 7:14PM (3/05/2009)
woops sorry i meant be not me
Sea Urchin 7:18PM (3/05/2009)
The third row is JUST IN CASE thing. Instead of buying a HUGE SUV and getting 2 MPG for that Just in case towing or transporting people, you can do the same with this car and not pollute planet and still get 25-30 MPG. It's economical and practical............a concept lost on far too many Americans.
FordTruckin 7:39PM (3/05/2009)
Just in case you have 2 extra kids under 4 feet, maybe. There is no way an adult could even cram in there, I don't think that a young teen could. The Mazda 5 looks like it has more room in the back row. I'd much rather have a small SUV that could do the same (Mitsu Outlander, Ford Freestyle). Also, I dunno if it was a typo, but I don't think you will be doing ANY towing with anything Corolla sized.
Jake B 7:42PM (3/05/2009)
The third row is actually a Toyota designed torture chamber. I hear they will advertise the third row of the Verso in Saw VI.
Jedix123 7:59PM (3/05/2009)
Emergency use only. Kinda like last Friday when we fit 9 grown adults in a 4dr Honda Accord after some partying.. that kind of emergency.