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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.
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Detailed ratings
Compact Full Electric Cars
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. Unlike these models, it comes only in five-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.
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Range data
| Min | Max |
| Price | 34113 | 37701 |
| Insurance group 1-50 | 18 | 21 |
| Max Speed (mph) | 93 | 93 |
| 0-62 mph (s) | 8.7 | 8.7 |
| Min | Max |
| Electric WLTP-Rated Driving Range (miles) | 205 | 205 |
| Length (mm) | 4403 | 4403 |
| Width (mm) | 2107 | 2107 |
| Height (mm) | 1841 | 1841 |
| Boot Capacity (l) | 775 | 775 |
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 205 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.
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Design and build
This Proace City Verso EV isn't too much of a van-looking thing - well it isn't in plusher 'Family'-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' (4.41m) and 'Long' (4.76m), though unlike the alternative Vauxhall, Citroen and Peugeot models, the 'Long' version can't be had with an extra third seating row.
Inside, the look and feel of the cabin depends a lot on your choice between base 'Shuttle' trim or plusher 'Family'-spec. The former gets a basic 3.5-inch instrument display. The 'Family' model replaces this with a 10-inch multi-information instrument display; and also adds an 8-inch central multimedia system monitor, which incorporates smartphone integration with 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto'.
The second row features a 60/40 split-folding seats. Medium variants feature up to 597-litres of boot space, extending up to 2,126-litres of space with the rear row folded. While 'Long' variants come with 850-litres of space, and up to 2,693-litres with the rear rows folded.
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Market and model
Prices range in the £34,000-£38,000 bracket. There are four versions to choose from: the entry level 'Shuttle' model or the 'Family' grade, with medium (4,403mm) or long (4,753mm) body lengths. The 'Shuttle' specification gives you 16-inch steel wheels and includes an 11kW onboard charger, air conditioning, rear privacy glass, Bluetooth and four airbags. You also get heated power-adjustable door mirrors, two sliding side doors and Lane Departure Alert with steering control.
The plusher 'Family' versions add a larger 10-inch multi-information instrument display and an 8-inch central multimedia system that incorporates smartphone integration with 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto'. Plus automatic air conditioning, power-retractable door mirrors and 16-inch alloy wheels with five triple-spoke caps. Safety-wise, 'Family'-spec includes a pre-collision system and automatic high beam to dip the headlights for you at night.
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Cost of ownership
We mentioned the improved WLTP-rated range in our Driving Experience section - 205 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 less than 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.
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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 only need five seats. 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 205 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.
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