Toyota's upcoming new Corolla Verso is something completely different from the vehicle it replaces on this side of the world. Certainly more stylish, also in keeping with the look of the Avensis Verso launched a couple of years ago. And very much looking like a Toyota.

My immediate first impression was that it has character, from several angles.

The sense begins from the very front, where pretty massive and highly detailed lights forge a glittering impact from behind their clear glass housing.

The actual length of the doors is noticable as being more than the norm, a matter which subsequently proves to be worth it in terms of getting in and out.

The cars on the Irish market will have roof-rails, because that's what a bit of local research says we like to have.

And driving behind the car, it looks interesting too.

Inside, the whole front area is typical of the times, a cab-forward screen and a deep dashboard top which has some storage bins as well as housing the airbag on the passenger side. There are also two 'glove' compartments on that side.

Instrumentation is the Toyota Optitron type, bright and clear and leaving no doubt that you've connected the ignition system as the dials flash up to life.

The gearshifter is located high on an extension to the dashboard, and in the higher-spec models there's a central info screen that does multiple duty as the satellite navigation interface and providing views from rear and front cameras.

After a day four up with probably 400 kilometres under our belts, the seats certainly seem to be comfortable. The middle row ones have a semi-recline ability which certainly makes for painless long drives as a passenger. The two in the back are essentially for children.

Both rear rows fold absolutely flat, and are truly 'one-handed' in doing so. That, Toyota says, was one of the key elements in the design brief.

Optional DVD/games screens set into the backs of the front head restraints can be used simultaneously for different programmes. The individual headphone sets that come with that are without wires, their links to the system being by infra-red.

In some specifications, up to nine airbags will be available. For Ireland, the entry-level cars will have five, including a first-in-segment knee airbag for the driver.

On Spanish roads, the new Corolla Verso proved to be a smooth performer, especially with the D4D diesel doing the traction. In Ireland, the 1.6-litre petrol is likely to be responsible for 75 per cent of sales until the current backlog with production of Toyota's extremely popular 2-litre diesel is sorted.

Expect something competitive around the €25,000 mark.