New seven-seater Toyota Corolla Verso

The new generation Toyota Corolla Verso will challenge the way owners of MPVs, hatchbacks and sports saloons choose and run their cars, according to local importers Michael Debono Limited of Zabbar.

Style, versatility and sheer driving enjoyment are all trademarks of the new vehicle, now available in Malta. Although a fully-fledged, seven-seat family car, the all new Corolla Verso also offers a level of driving dynamics and superior quality far beyond that which compact MPV drivers are used to.

The Corolla Verso offers a selection of engines to suit most tastes. All engines feature in the larger Toyota Avensis - the nippy 110 bhp 1.6-litre VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing - intelligent) or more powerful 129 bhp 1.8-litre VVT-i fuel-injected petrol engines offer sport, exhilaration and performance.

The 1.8 VVT-i unit is also available with a new five-speed Multi-mode Manual Transmission (M-MT) that provides a combination of automatic and sequential shifting.

The 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine, delivering 116 bhp, has all the answers in terms of torque, robustness and fuel economy, responding to the needs of the segment customers.

It has achieved a class-leading five-star performance in the latest EuroNCAP crash test protocol. The Corolla Verso boasts nine airbags - including a segment first 18-litre SRS knee airbag, the efficiency of which in reducing impact and injuries on drivers has been officially tested and proved by the EuroNCAP programme.

For this car, Toyota further developed the technology achieving a 40 per cent load reduction on the driver's knees in the event of a frontal crash similar to the EuroNCAP test.

Stiff competition makes the MPV C-segment a hotly contested place to be. But the Toyota Corolla Verso is more than a match for the others.

For the driver, there is a beautifully designed interior, comfortable steering wheel, a more dynamic driving position and numerous innovative ideas to make driving a Corolla Verso an exciting and rewarding experience.

The Corolla Verso's interior is completely new and, for a compact MPV, this seven-seater car offers outstanding space and storage thanks to its clever design. Situated predominantly is the centre console around which the car's interior is designed.

Subtle colours and stylish metallic inserts bring new light and a feeling of well-being to the cabin, while plush new fabrics and a flush surface finish offer continuity and space as they tempt the driver and passengers to make the most of driving the car and to enjoy journeying inside it.

Thanks to the Toyota Easy Flat-7 system, the new Corolla Verso is the only MPV in the world in which all the five rear seats can be folded flat, and the folding system is the simplest to operate of all MPVs on the market: with only one operation it is possible to fold down each rear seat.

All storage space has been carefully considered by Toyota engineers who thought about not just how much equipment occupants would take with them in the car, but also the type of objects they would be taking.

A high quality Panasonic audio system comprising built-in radio, CD, amplifier, and steering controls supplies top-quality sounds for driver and passengers during journeys. Rear-seat passengers will enjoy the optional Toyota In-Car Entertainment system. Five-inch LCD screens are installed in the back of the front headrests and are connected to a DVD player. The system can also be connected to the most common game consoles and can play several disc formats, like VCD, audio CDs and even MP3 files.