Review of the Toyota Proace Verso Electric

The Toyota Proace Verso Electric is the definition of a modern people carrier. Serving its purpose by offering nine seats, the Proace Verso Electric goes the extra mile in terms of practicality, with loads of tech and a flexible seating configuration.  

Rivals to the Proace Verso Electric include the Lexus LM, Peugeot e-Rifter, Citroen e-Berlingo, and Mercedes-Benz EQV. 

Our Toyota Proace Verso Electric review covers:

• Modern design with slick front end 
• Flexible seating configuration 
• 700 litre boot as standard 
• 75kWh battery 
• Four trim levels

Pros:

• Versatile interior and good seat flexibility 
• Pleasant cabin 
• Big boot 

Cons:

• It’s pretty expensive 
• Is there much demand for a people carrier anymore? 
• Tech seems a little dated 

If you’re a car designer, it’s a pretty tough job to make a people carrier look attractive, but Toyota has done a decent job. At the front, there’s a large low-sitting front grille and slick headlights, while the body and rear adopt that typical boxy design of a people carrier. 

The Proace Verso Electric comes with either seven, eight, or nine seats. With all nine in place, there are three rows of three seats. Regardless of how many you choose, all the seats are fully flexible, meaning they can all fold flat if you’re after increased boot space.

There’s also plenty of storage dotted around the cabin, including a 5.9-litre compartment in the front door bins, perfect for water bottles and travel essentials. 

The Proace Verso Electric comes with a standard luggage capacity of 700 litres, but it varies depending on what configuration you opt for. You’ll also get an adjustable rear shelf and easy loading thanks to the low-load lip. With the rear seats folded, there’s more than enough space for bikes and some golf clubs. 

Inside, the Proace Verso Electric more than fits the bill. As well as being spacious, everything you touch feels well-built, and there are also some soft-touch plastics dotted around. In the rear, all the seats are comfortable, so you won’t be hearing too many complaints on a long journey. 

The Proace Verso Electric has a pair of 10-inch displays, one behind the steering wheel for the digital combimeter and the other sitting atop the dashboard for the touchscreen infotainment system. It has all the usual features, such as smartphone mirroring and navigation, and there’s also a wireless charging port below, which is very convenient. 

Four trims are available: Icon, Design, Design Premium, and Excel. 

Icon has 17-inch steel wheels, navigation, cruise control, manual air conditioning, rear parking sensors, auto headlights, and an automatic high beam. 

Design has a panoramic roof, a wireless phone charger, smart entry and push-button start, automatic air conditioning, front parking sensors, fold-up tables, and a rear window manual sunshade. 

Design Premium has 10 Tosca speakers, blind spot monitoring, kick-activated power sliding doors, a massage function on the front seats, and a memory function on the driver seat. 

Excel has a reversing camera, heated driver and front passenger seats, and a height-adjustable front passenger seat.  

The Proace Verso Electric is powered by a 75kWh battery paired with a 100kW electric that powers the front wheels. It comes with a range of up to 214 miles, but I'd expect a real world range in the mid-to-late hundreds. 

In terms of charging, using a 7kW wall box charger can fully charge the battery in seven hours. Rapid charging is available up to 100Kw DC, which takes the battery from 0% to 80% in around 45 minutes. 

A lot of people are put off by people carriers because of how they drive, but Toyota has completely got rid of this. It’s a great van to drive both around town and on the motorway, thanks to accurate steering and nimble handling. 

You’ll be able to drive around the city with relative ease, and the range of driver assistance systems really comes in handy. 

When you reach 70mph, there is a bit of road and wind noise, but get past this, and the Proace Verso Electric is more than happy cruising along. It’s worth noting that when at motorway speed your range will take a big hit, so ensure there’s a charging station on your route. 

Prices for the new Toyota Proace Verso Electric start from £42,207.00 OTR* or to lease from Price On Request per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Toyota Proace Verso Electric? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change, always check with your nearest retailer.