Think mini people-carrier, think dull and boring. OK. it’s a generalisation but there aren’t too many compact load-luggers which stir the juices.

Toyota, though, may have broken the mould. Verso is not only neat, spacious and affordable, but it also looks and drives with an air of excitement. Let’s not over do it, here. It’s no hot-hatch but it drives with some aplomb.

New Verso, which joins Auris in strengthening Toyota’s presence in the mid-range family and compact car market, has been given a facelift of late with more equipment and an appearance designed to appeal to younger motorists without alienating the older market. Add to that a five-year warranty and the availability of five and seven-seater models and you can see why Toyota has high hopes for Verso.

New Verso now comes with an easy to fathom three-grade range – Active, Icon and Excel. There is improved equipment specifications, with core Icon models gaining a DAB digital tuner, cruise control, rear privacy glass and retractable door mirrors. And the seven-seat versions with come with To quick and simple Easy Flat rear seat folding system. Verso is a car for Europe, for Toyota know that we love this type of car. Demand for mini-MPVs remains strong because they are versatile, yet car-like This latest Verso is a good example of how such logic can pay off. With the car’s design having originated in France, the engineering and development done in Belgium and the factory in Turkey, Toyota’s answer to Volkswagen Touran and Ford C-Max promises to be more hit than miss for its European buyers.

Design-wise Verso has much in common with Auris. It’s clear that Toyota’s European designers are keen to give core C-segment models a distinctive appearance.

Whether for private or company use, diesel is often the engine of choice. For this generation the unit has been overhauled. For those who are less demanding the Verso retains its 1.6 and 1.8-litre petrol motors. I’ve driven petrol and diesel and it’s horses for courses. The petrol here is just fine with excellent performance and decent economy.

Completing the car’s new-found ability to deliver a hushed driving experience is the European-style suspension set-up. Sure, tall Verso can roll when cornering, but the effect is minimised by the suspension set-up and the car’s supportive front seats. If you value a supple ride over go-faster tendencies then the Verso succeeds.

Obviously there’s more to a people carrier’s abilities than how it drives. Historically the Verso’s been a seven-seat MPV and while this remains the case, entry-level variants can be had with five seats.

The trade off is more boot space, but the seven seat arrangement allows you to fold the rearmost pair flat. Continue this with the second row – all rear seats are individual and can be folded one handed – and you’ve got a huge load deck.

As you’d expect given the Verso’s conventional footprint, third row head and legroom is fine only for small children. There’s better news up front, with both front and middle row occupants treated to better than family hatch levels of room. The dashboard and controls and typical Toyota – smart, logical and sensible.

Verso also benefits from a good level of standard kit. There’s a choice of three trim levels (Active, Icon, Excel), with Icon destined to be the most popular. Verso is a car for all seasons and one which is unlikely to disappoint.

Toyota Verso Active 1.6 PRICE: £17,500 ENGINE: A 1,598cc, four-cylinder, 16valve unit generating 130bhp via six-speed gearbox and front wheel drive PERFORMANCE: Top speed 115mph, 0 to 60mph in 11.7 seconds COSTS: town 34mpg; country 50.4mpg; combined 42.8mpg INSURANCE: Group 13 EMISSIONS: 154g/km WARRANTY: Five years, 100,000 miles