Proace City Verso Electric

Overview

The Toyota Proace City Verso Electric stands as one of the most functional and compact passenger vehicles on the market, bridging the gap between utilitarian light commercial vehicles and modern family transport. Built on parent company Stellantis' shared EMP2 platform, this model allows Toyota to offer a zero-emission passenger carrier in direct competition with sister models like the Peugeot e-Rifter, Citroën ë-Berlingo, and Vauxhall Combo Life Electric. Offered in two body lengths, a short-wheelbase Medium (L1) and a long-wheelbase Long (L2), it caters to buyers needing 5 or 7 seats without stepping up to larger, more expensive MPVs.

Design

The exterior aesthetics of the Proace City Verso Electric are purposefully angular, reflecting its commercial vehicle origins while incorporating modern Toyota front-end styling. The front features clean surfaces, slim headlights linked by a upper grille bar, and a lower trapezoidal intake. The side displays a slab-sided design softened by black protective body cladding along the lower doors and wheel arches, providing practical protection against urban car park scrapes. Large side windows ensure maximum visibility throughout the cabin. Dual sliding rear doors come as standard, delivering functional entry and exit in tight parking spaces. The rear features a large, vertically hinged tailgate with an opening glass window on higher specification models, alongside high-mounted rear taillights that remain clear of potential loading bumps.

Interior

Inside the cabin, the emphasis remains squarely on durability, ergonomics, and functional storage. The dashboard utilizes hard-wearing, dark plastics designed to withstand heavy daily use, with textured trims on higher grades to elevate quality. A elevated centre console places the driving controls within easy reach, featuring a digital rotary gear selector and buttons for drive mode selection. Directly ahead of the driver sits a high-definition 10-inch digital instrument cluster. Centred on the dash is a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment display offering standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio, and built-in navigation. Cabins feature numerous storage cubbies, including dual gloveboxes, overhead dashboard shelves, deep door pockets, and an optional ceiling storage gallery with integrated LED lighting. Seat upholstery consists of durable fabric designed for easy cleaning.

Performance & Powertrains

Propulsion across all variants comes from a single front-mounted electric motor producing 134 bhp and 260 Nm of torque. Power is fed by a 50kWh battery pack for a range of up to 213 miles. Performance is adequate for urban and sub-urban environments, taking around 11.2 seconds to complete the sprint from 0 to 62 mph, with top speed capped at 84 mph. Charging performance includes 100 kW DC rapid charging speeds, allowing a 10 to 80% top-up in approximately 30 minutes. The ride quality leans towards comfortable, absorbs road imperfections well due to long suspension travel, and remains predictable despite noticeable body roll in faster corners.

Practicality

Practicality is the absolute standout attribute of the Proace City Verso Electric. In the standard L1 five-seat configuration, boot capacity measures 597 litres under the parcel shelf, expanding significantly to 775 litres when loaded to the roof. The longer L2 variant increases boot capacity to 850 litres in five-seat mode, offering up to 1,050 litres when packed to the ceiling. Folding the second-row seats flat yields a maximum load volume of up to 3,500 litres in the extended body. The second row features three individual ISOFIX-equipped seats on higher trims, allowing three child seats to be fitted side-by-side. The long-wheelbase L2 model can be specified with a third row comprising two full-sized, sliding, and completely removable individual seats, providing genuine headroom and legroom for adults. The low load lip and square aperture make loading heavy items effortless, while the independently opening tailgate glass permits quick access to the load bay without lifting the heavy rear door.

Buying

Pricing for the Toyota Proace City Verso Electric starts from £31,995 for entry-level Icon trim models and rises to £36,595 for top-tier Design specifications. The trim line-up is structured primarily across Icon and Design variants. Icon trim comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels, rear parking sensors, dual sliding doors, air conditioning, automatic headlights, and the full touchscreen display suite. Stepping up to Design adds 16-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers, front parking sensors, individual second-row seats, opening tailgate glass, and additional active safety systems like lane-keep assist and traffic sign recognition. Running costs remain low due to zero tailpipe emissions, lower maintenance requirements over traditional combustion vans, and access to Toyota's Relax warranty scheme, which extends cover up to 10 years or 100,000 miles if serviced at authorized main dealers.

The EV Hub recommended configuration is the long-wheelbase L2 variant in the Design trim. The extended body adds the flexibility of seven usable seats or vast cargo space for a modest premium, while Design trim provides key family-friendly equipment like individual Isofix seats and the opening tailgate glass. Specifying the optional 11 kW three-phase on-board charger is highly recommended for faster AC charging.