The new Toyota Verso-S, which is the closest rival for Hyundai ix20 in the B-segment is now on sale in the UK starting at £13,995 for TR and £14,995 for T Spirit. Opting for Multidrive S adds £1,150 to the price.

This cute little car is powered by a 98bhp 1.33-litre VVT-i petrol engine, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and capable of a combined cycle fuel economy of 51.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 127g/km. These figures will improve using the Multidrive S CVT transmission to 54.3mpg and 120 g/km.

The five-door Verso-S is less than four meters long but offers a 2,550mm wheelbase with a very clever interior. Every detail was addressed in the quest for the best possible packaging, including using a slimmer front seat design and tailoring the profile of the rear door trims to add extra “foot space” for easy passenger access. The car also features 60:40 rear seats can be folded flat in a one-touch action, and two-position lightweight deckboard. You can have up 1,388 litres of luggage space with the rear seats folded.

2011 Toyota Verso-S benefits from ToyotaTouch mutimedia system that comes with Bluetooth for hands-free mobile phone use and audio streaming, plus a USB port for connecting personal music players, and a touchscreen that displays info like details of journey time, distance and fuel economy, including journey-by-journey comparison records.

Verso-S is available in two trims – TR and T Spirit. Key features of the TR include Toyota Touch, Bluetooth, reversing camera, front fog lamps, air conditioning, seven airbags (including driver’s knee airbag) and one-touch folding rear seats.

T Spirit models additionally feature 16-inch alloy wheels, front and rear electric windows, a panoramic glass roof (the largest in the segment) and dark-tinted rear privacy glass.

Three option packs are available: Style Pack, with additional exterior chrome trim details; Leather Pack, with premium two-tone grey leather upholstery; and Protection Pack, which provides rear parking sensors, a boot liner and scuff plates.