Toyota's contender in the super-large MPV EV segment is this Proace Verso EV model. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

Toyota has used its LCV partnership with Stellantis to bring us this model, the Proace Verso EV. A full-electric large People Carrier, it's a really sensible family or business choice if you need an MPV with room for up to nine people.

Background

If you're in search of a really big full-electric MPV these days, you'll need a big cheque book. Think over £60,000 for a Ford E-Tourneo Custom. And nearly £90,000 for a Mercedes EQV. Toyota though, wants to suggest a more sensible option. At starting prices from under £50,000, the company's Proace Verso EV looks much more accessible. The Proace Verso, based on the brand's Proace mid-size van, has been around since 2016, when its arrival marked Toyota's return to the large MPV segment, a market sector it'd been absent from since the demise of the Previa back in 2007. But prior to this EV model's launch in 2024, we'd only had this vehicle in diesel form. That black pump-fuelled model was replaced by this full-EV variant. As before, it's a Toyota version of a Stellantis Group design - now also sold as the Peugeot E-Traveller, the Citroen e-SpaceTourer and the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric.

Driving Experience

Toyota is offering the 75kWh battery pack fitted to this model's Stellantis Group cousins. Which means you get much the same sort of range as is quoted with those models - here rated at 213 miles. Not massive, but if you're planning to use this Proace Verso for merely suburban duties, that might not matter. As with the Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroen versions of this design, the powertrain features a 134bhp electric motor. The driver can select Eco, Normal or Power driving modes using a centre console-mounted switch. In Power mode, maximum output delivers peak torque of 260Nm from start-up. Top speed is electronically limited to 80mph and 0-62mph acceleration can be accomplished in 11.9 seconds. In Eco mode output is reduced to 81bhp with 190Nm of torque, while in Normal mode the electric system produces 107bhp with 210Nm. Through the corners, as you would expect, there's plenty of body roll if, rather unwisely, you start throwing the thing about. If you can ignore both that and the slightly vague steering and find yourself absolutely having to push on, you'll find that there's reasonable grip and traction. The turning circle isn't too huge - at 12.9 metres - which, along with the glassy cabin makes this a surprisingly manoeuvrable vehicle for use around town.

Design and Build

Toyota's managed to properly differentiate the front end of this Proace Verso EV from its Stellantis cousins, with the front end dominated by a huge grey-framed lower intake. The Stellantis origins are very evident at the side though, where as usual with this design there's a choice of two body shapes - L1 'Medium' (4,959mm) and L2 'Long' (5,309mm). Provided you've avoided the base 'Icon'-spec 'Long' version of this model (which has a two-person passenger bench next to the driver), there are the usual two single seats in the front. It seems strange in a Toyota to be staring at the two screens we've used so often in Stellantis Group MPVs and vans of this size; namely a 10-inch colour digital combimeter instrument display and a 10-inch central multimedia display with navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. On mainstream models, the second row features space for three. If you avoid base 'Icon' trim though, these chairs will come on an adjustable rail system so you can slide them about. Avoid base trim and you get these seat-back tables too. The top 'Excel' model swaps the three-person seating arrangement for two individual captain's seats separated by a fold-out lounge table. Getting into the third row requires you to push the seat base forward, then retract the seat back forward. All variants have three seats in the very back and the van-based approach really pays dividends for third row folk, in terms of both leg and head room. Even with all the three seating rows upright, there's quite a lot of luggage space. In the 'Medium'-length L1 model, there's up to 550-litres if you load to the tonneau cover - or up to 700-litres if you load to the roof. For the Long model, the capacity figures are quite a bit more; up to 980-litres if you load to the tonneau cover - or up to 1,300-litres if you load to the roof. Take out the removeable third row seats and of course you'll boost those figures considerably. And if you've the floor rail system fitted and can take out the second row seating too, you'll free up 3,511mm of load length and your Proace Verso's carriage capacity won't be too different from that of the Proace van it's based on.

Market and Model

At the time of this test in early 2026, Toyota was offering this Proace Verso EV at on-the-road prices of around £46,000 for the medium length eight-seat Medium-length version. If you want the only version in the line-up with nine seats (courtesy of a front passenger bench), that's the 'Icon'-spec 'Long' body length model, which costs around £700 more. If you want a bit more kit in your Proace Verso, there's a mid-range 'Design'-spec 'Medium' 8-seater version at just under £50,000; or an even better-specified 8-seater 'Design Premium' 'Long' body length model at just under £54,000. The top 'Excel' spec comes only in 'Long' form, has seven seats (because there are two, rather than three chairs in the second row) and as we filmed cost from just under £56,000. Toyota is now only offering this model with a 75kWh battery. We need to point out that these prices are a chunk above those being asked for the other versions of this Stellantis-sourced design - the Vauxhall Vivaro Life, the Peugeot E-Traveller and the Citroen e-SpaceTourer. Partly (but not entirely) because unlike those cousin models, this Proace Verso EV didn't (at the time of this test) qualify for the lower £1,500 level of Electric Car Grant. Toyota points out that spec here is better than lesser versions of those models - but of course you're going to need to want that extra kit. If you do, then you'll want a bit more detail, so we'll try and give you that here. All versions of this model get auto LED headlamps with automatic high beam, front fog lights, rain-sensing wipers, rear privacy glass, power-folding mirrors, rear parking sensors, cruise control, a full alarm and a rarity on an EV, a temporary spare wheel. Inside, there's a 10-inch colour digital combimeter instrument display, a heated driver's seat, air conditioning and an auto-dimming rear view mirror. Media stuff includes a 10-inch multimedia display with navigation, an 8-speaker audio set-up and smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Cost of Ownership

Because the Proace Verso EV supports up to 100kW rapid charging technology, a 10-80 per cent DC charge will take around 45 minutes. This EV People Carrier also features a 7.4kW on-board charger. A full charge from a 7.4kW domestic wallbox takes around 11 hours 20 minutes. With the alternative 11kW wallbox, you can reduce that to seven and a half hours. 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. To get close to the quoted 214 mile range figure, you'll need to engage 'Eco' mode frequently - which reduces power output to 80hp. To maximise range, you'll also need to regularly engage the fiercest of the regenerative braking settings, activated by steering wheel paddles. Owners can set up deferred charging or to pre-condition the vehicle via a dedicated mobile app on their smartphone. This app also allows drivers to initiate or schedule thermal preconditioning and view, schedule, start or deferred charging remotely.

Summary

We always thought the diesel-powered Proace Verso offered a lot of family car for the money - and you could say the same for this EV version. If you can live with the range figure from the 75kWh battery, then there's plenty to like here, assuming you don't mind paying a bit more than the equivalent Vauxhall, Peugeot Citroen version of this model. Compensation for that comes with this Toyota's much longer warranty. This then, is the 7-to-9-seater family car you properly never considered. But possibly should.