2001 TOYOTA Avensis Verso 2.0L VVTi 5MT FWD (150 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Toyota introduced the minivan version of the Avensis in 2001, trying to take a bigger slice of the pie and offering a better alternative to the Avensis Wagon.

The Japanese automaker created the Verso lineup of vehicles based on the Yaris, Corolla, and Avensis. Thus, it fiercely competed against other brands that already had a thing or two to say on the market. Strangely though, the Avensis Verso was launched before the Avenis’ second generation, with which it shared its underpinnings. But that didn’t stop the car from being successful in several markets. Moreover, it even won the Australia’s Best People Mover award.

The Verso’s look was friendly, sporting big, triangular headlights that flanked a two-slat grille. Its short hood and the massive windshield had the right angle between them, so the car could’ve been considered a minivan. On the profile, the Avensis Veros featured a greenhouse fitted with large windows. Finally, at the back, the almost vertical tailgate offered easy access to the car’s trunk. The taillights were split between the rear quarter panels and the tailgate since it was not a vehicle designed for the U.S. market.

Inside, the Avensis Verso offered room for up to seven passengers seated in three rows. As usual for these kinds of vehicles, the second and the third rows could’ve been folded flat, thus creating a huge amount of space. The dashboard looked quite modern for its time, with a dark instrument cluster fronting the driver and a center stack where Toyota installed the HVAC and the audio system. Unlike other minivans, the Avensis Verso featured a floor-mounted gear shift.

Under the hood, the Japanese minivan offered a choice of gasoline and turbo-diesel engines. Depending on the version, the transmission was either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.