At the end of a hard working day sometimes you feel like flopping into a comfy seat and relaxing. Toyota has brought that feeling to the office car park.

Hop on board the Corolla Verso and wherever you are you feel instantly at home. Comfortable seats, plenty of space, loads of storage, all wrapped in a high-quality, safe and secure package, with hidden treats to keep children quiet. It's the perfect family car. The seven-seat Corolla Verso's cabin is remarkable for the space available and the ease with which seating and storage space can be adjusted in a matter of seconds, with no need to remove any seats from the vehicle. The Corolla Verso features a system by which each of the five rear seats can be folded down in a simple movement to form a flat load floor.

Safety is another of the Corolla Verso's great strengths, with a top five-star rating for passenger safety in official Euro NCAP testing and four stars for child passenger protection.

It is also the first vehicle in its class to be fitted as standard with a driver's knee airbag and to offer a Cornering Assist Monitor (an option on T Spirit and T 180 grades), which uses a miniature front-mounted camera to give the driver a better view of oncoming traffic at blind junctions.

The introduction of two new engines from Toyota's new generation of turbo-diesel power units, both made in Toyota's plant in Poland, increases the appeal of the Corolla Verso, which is built in Turkey, even further.

The 114 horsepower 2.0-litre D-4D engine has been replaced by a smoother and more powerful 134 horsepower unit the D-4D 140 that gives a more rewarding driving experience. Toyota expects this to become the best selling engine in the Corolla Verso, accounting for about a third of the model's sales in the UK in 2006.

With prices starting at £16,100, two 2.2-litre units are offered: the D-4D 140, which replaces the 2.0-litre D-4D engine in the range; and the D-4D 180, which is the most powerful and cleanest engine in its class, developing 175 horsepower and low exhaust emissions. The Corolla Verso comes with a Panasonic audio system with steering wheel controls and, as standard on T Spirit and T 180 models, a DVD player with LCD screens mounted in the front seat headrests for playing movies, or linking up to games consoles.

Two infra-red headphone sets and a remote control handset allow rear seat passengers to enjoy their entertainment without interrupting the radio or CD listening of those in the front. A truly peaceful home from home.

Auto facts Toyota Corolla Verso 2.2 D-4D T Spirit

  • Price: £19,900
  • Insurance group: Nine
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 44.8mpg
  • Top speed: 122mph
  • Length: 436cm/171.6in
  • Width: 177cm/69.6in
  • Height: 162cm/63.7in
  • Fuel tank capacity: 12.1 gallons/55 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 167g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles