Motoring and Leasing blog

The 2014 version of the Toyota Verso compact MPV is up and ready to go, not only with extra style and high-tech equipment, but also as the first Toyota model to use a new 1.6-litre D-4D diesel engine from BMW.

The new 1.6 D-4D diesel engine is making its first ever appearance in a Toyota in the 2014 Verso, having been sourced from the BMW Group. Admittedly it isn’t being used in its original form, having been worked on and modified extensively by Toyota engineers, and now has a newly-developed dual-mass flywheel, revised engine mounts, and completely redesigned electrical interfaces.

So what does all this mean then?

Replacing the 2.0-litre D-4D engine, the 1.6-litre D-4D diesel engine gives the Toyota Verso more efficiency with a lot less weight (20kg actually!)  Power is now up to a maximum of 110bhp (82kW) at 4,00rpm and peak torque up to 270Nm, generated from 1,750 to 2,250rpm. When it comes to 0-62mph acceleration we are talking 12.7 seconds, top speed 115mph, fuel economy 62.8mpg (an improvement of 8% on the old 2.0 D-4D unit) and CO2emissions lower by 10g/km at 119g/km; all supported by the first ever use of a stop and start system in a Verso as part of the Toyota Optimal Drive principles.

The engine is fitted to a Toyota six-speed manual transmission and is available in the 2014 Verso alongside the established 1.6 and 1.8-litre Valvematic petrol units.

New Verso Trend

On top of the new engine, Toyota have also added a new Trend grade to the Verso line-up for 2014 which, according to Toyota themselves, introduces “an extra dash of style and some high-tech equipment features to the specification.”

Slipping nicely between the Icon and Excel models in the Verso brand, it’s easy to spot a Trend by the black C-pillar decal that helps to create a floating roof effect, just like the latest Yaris Trend, and it also has its very own five-spoke alloy wheel design, front fog lamps and rear privacy glass.

When we look deeper into the specification of the Trend, we see that it builds on that of the Toyota Icon grade, but then adding in Toyota Touch 2 with Go, adding satellite navigation, connected services, Google Street View and TomTom real time traffic data to Toyota’s already technologically advanced touchscreen multimedia system’s functions, a rear-view camera and front parking sensors to aid with parking manoeuvres.

The new Toyota Verso is available in the usual Verso colours but has also an addition with a new Avantgarde Bronze paint finish, new cloth upholstery in black and (optional) grey, and a new leather trimmed gear knob.

All this means that the full Verso grade line-up for 2014 has some changes in it, ranging from the Verso Active to the Verso Icon and Trend, right up to the top-of-the-range Verso Excel with its 1.8 Valvematic and D-4D engine options.