The Toyota Verso is the latest MPV to be axed in Europe, as SUVs lure buyers away from the formerly huge segment.
Toyota sold just 821 examples of the Verso during the year so far, while the Toyota RAV4, for example, found homes on 3921 driveways in the same period, with 88% of them being hybrid models.
Hybrids sell in greater numbers than internal combustion-only cars, according to Toyota. The Verso was only offered with a 1.6-litre diesel, a 1.6-litre petrol or a 1.8-litre petrol. The Prius+ sold even fewer units across the first half of the year, at 484, but will remain the brand's only MPV offering.
Only dealer stock remains in the UK, with the last Versos predicted to be sold by the end of the year.
Sales of the Turkish-built MPV have plunged 46% on 2017 and Toyota confirmed that the significant shift from MPVs to C-segment SUVs was the reason behind the decision to pull the plug on the Verso, as Toyota reviewed its European product lineup. Production stopped in October 2017, but sales continued online until far more recently.
The Verso disappeared from Toyota’s UK website in recent weeks and sales will end all over Europe as the model officially finishes production.
Other MPVs discontinued this year include the previously huge-selling Vauxhall Zafira, while other manufacturers have trimmed slower-selling three-door models from their line-ups. Seat recently axed all three-door cars from its range.
Europe’s best-selling MPV is the Renault Scenic, which has shifted 57,559 units in the year so far. The Volkswagen Touran was second place, followed by the Citroën C4 Spacetourer.
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