Toyota enters the EV market for small MPVs with this Proace City Verso EV. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

The Proace City Verso EV is the smaller MPV sibling to the Proace Verso EV. And Toyota's version of the Stellantis Group compact electric van-based people carrier design already offered by Peugeot, Vauxhall, and Citroen. Let's take a closer look.

Background

Perhaps the affordable section of the people carrier MPV market has life left in it after all. We've recently seen rejuvenated versions of the Vauxhall Combo Life, the Peugeot Rifter and the Citroen Berlingo hit the market. Now Toyota has joined the fray with this car, the Proace City Verso EV. As its name suggests, like its Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroen Stellantis Group cousins, it's fully electric. And, like these models, it can come in five or seven-seat form. Toyota has no history in this segment of the MPV market, which is possibly why, when it introduced the Proace City van in 2018, it didn't then choose to sell us the MPV Verso version of that borrowed Stellantis Group design that it could have offered. As part of the early 2024 Proace City mid-term facelift though, Toyota has decided to add this passenger-carrying Verso version to the line-up, mindful no doubt of the pressing need to incorporate more EVs in its model range.

Driving Experience

If you know anything about the engineering of this product, you won't be expecting it to be any different to drive than its E-Rifter, E-Berlingo or Combo Electric Stellantis Group EV cousins - and of course, it isn't. Start up and there's the usual beep as you get the sign that all is ready to pull away; which you do in the default 'Normal' drive mode. The other selectable drive settings are 'Eco' and 'Power'. You'll need the 'Power' mode to unleash the electric motor's full 134bhp output, though if you drive like that, you will of course get nowhere near the 50kWh battery's WLTP-rated best driving range figure, rated at up to 213 miles. Better to stick to the 'Normal' mode, which restricts output to 108bhp; or possibly around town to 'Eco' mode, though that gives you just 81bhp and restricts the climate system. 'Normal' mode should be fine for realistic maximisation of range, particularly if you select the 'B' transmission setting that increases brake regeneration. As usual with EVs, if you do need performance, it's only a right foot jab away; 62mph from rest occupies 11.2s, but the instant response you get to 30mph makes this MPV feel quicker than that. Overtakes are easy too; 50-75 mph takes 8.9s.

Design and Build

This Proace City Verso EV isn't too much of a van-looking thing - well it isn't in plusher 'Design'-spec form anyway, with 16-inch alloy wheels fitted instead of the base model's dour steel rims. As usual with this Stellantis Group-derived design, two body lengths are available - 'Medium' L1 (4.41m) and 'Long' L2 (4.76m). Like the alternative Vauxhall, Citroen and Peugeot models, the 'Long' version can be had with an extra third seating row. Inside, Stellantis hasn't allowed Toyota to add the regen brake paddles behind the steering wheel that you get with the Citroen, Peugeot and Vauxhall versions of this design, but this Proace City Verso EV does get the same updated screen tech as you'd find in those cars - a configurable digital instrument cluster and a 10-inch centre screen, upon which navigation is standardised with both trim grades, plus there's smartphone integration with 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto'. Because the battery pack is neatly mounted beneath this MPV model's floor, cabin space is not compromised. And you might be surprised to find that the sliding doors incorporate electric windows and decently-sized door pockets, plus you get overhead reading lights. But compared to the other versions of this design, there's quite a lot missing here that Stellantis has decided Toyota can't have; like individual rear seats, front seat back tables and the option of roof storage with glass panels. One nice-to have touch this Toyota has been allowed to have (with top spec) is an opening rear tailgate glass panel, which is a real boon when you simply want to throw a light bag inside the back. That's mainly because the tailgate itself is a pain to lift, heavy and vast, with no powered operation option and needful of a large area behind when you need to pull it up. Still, once it's raised, you'll be able to shelter under the thing in the rain while the kids are getting their school bags out of the back. Even the 5-seat short wheelbase 'L1' model can swallow 597-litres in its boot, while the alternative long wheelbase 'L2' version has a capacity of up to 850-litres. You don't get the fixed parcel shelf that's supplied with the other versions of this design (allowing you to theoretically position the family dog above your shopping); instead, there's a pull-out tonneau cover. There's no extra room beneath the cargo base and this charging lead bag takes up valuable space on the floor, but there's side storage on the right, four tie-down points, a dim light on the left and a strap to pull the tailgate back down. The second row seat splits 60:40, freeing up as much as 2,126-litres of space in the 'L1' version; it'd be up to 2,693-litres on the 'L2' version with the rear rows folded.

Market and Model

Prices range in the £30,500-£35,000 bracket, after deduction of the available £1,500 government grant. Most customers will choose the mainstream 'Icon' trim level, available with medium L2 (4,403mm) or long L2 (4,753mm) body lengths. Plusher 'Design' spec comes only in L1 form. The 'Icon' equipment specification includes a 10-inch multimedia display, a navigation system, smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, removable third row seats, automatic headlights and an electronic parking brake. 'Design' grade adds 16-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, smart entry, automatic windscreen wipers, retracting door mirrors, body-colour bumpers, side mouldings and door handles, gloss black door mirror casings, a reversing camera and an energy-saving heat pump for the automatic air conditioning system.

Cost of Ownership

We mentioned the improved WLTP-rated range in our Driving Experience section - 213 miles. A range of provided BEV features delivers key information at a glance: Battery charging and thermal pre-heating programmes, a charging station locator, an autonomy range check and a battery usage display. As you'd want, the Proace City Verso EV supports up to 100kW rapid (DC) charging, with an 80% re-charge taking 30 minutes, while a full charge from a 7.4kW single-phase wallbox takes 7.5 hours thanks to the 7.4kW on-board charger. Customers with access to three-phase power can specify an optional 11kW on-board charger that will charge this Toyota in 4 hours 45 minutes, when using a wallbox that also supports this faster home-charging solution. As usual with a compact zero emissions EV model, there's a Benefit-in-Kind first year tax rate of just 2%. That's until 2025, as is exemption from London congestion and ultra-low emissions charges. Maintenance intervals are much as they would be for a combustion model, but there'll be less for the workshop to do, so costs should be lower. There are plenty of Toyota outlets to choose from, so you should never be too far from one. For peace of mind, the lithium-ion battery pack in this model comes with an eight year/100,000 mile warranty, for up to 70% of the initial battery capacity. A key ownership attribute over this model's Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroen design stablemates is the fact that Toyota offers a 10 year warranty, provided you keep the vehicle serviced at a franchised dealer.

Summary

In principle, the Proace City Verso EV has plenty going for it in terms of transport for a small family. Provided you can accept the EV driving range. Provided you don't mind the LCV origins. And provided you can get a better deal than you'd be offered with essentially the same design from your nearest Vauxhall, Peugeot or Citroen showroom. Lots of provisos then. They needn't necessarily be deal-breakers against this Toyota though. MPVs like this are typically used for small commuting distances, so the 213 mile range between charges should be fine for most customers. The LCV origins mean a boxy shape that makes this car really practical. And there's an easy reason to choose this Proace City Verso EV rather than the Vauxhall, Peugeot or Citroen versions of this design; Toyota's far superior 10-year warranty. So is this car starting to make sense to you now? For some, it just might.