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If there’s a car you would want to take home to meet your mother, it would have to be the Toyota Verossa. It’s an all-around good car that you wouldn’t regret bringing into the family. This four-door sedan was originally intended to be marketed for the Japanese domestic market only; secondhand units are now widely available from Japanese vehicle exporters online. It is similar to the popular Camry (2001-2006 generation) but with a rear wheel drive platform and all-wheel drive. The name of the vehicle model is derived from the Italian word for truth, “vero” and red, “rosso.” It was manufactured and assembled at Toyota’s Iwate Plant by the Kanto Auto Works, Ltd. The Verossa has in interesting vehicle lineage: it had been designed as the successor to the brand’s Cresta and Chaser lines, whose production both ended in 2000. It was introduced in 2001 and was sold exclusively by Toyota Vista Store; the other dealerships Toyota Store and Toyopet Store also had their own alternatives, namely the Brevis and Progres. The Verossa is a combination of the best qualities of the vehicles it replaced: it got the Chaser’s sporty looks, combined with the Cresta’s elegant appeal. The size is smaller that the Toyota Crown but slightly larger than the Altezza. Unfortunately the company wasn’t able to sell a lot of units of the Toyota Verossa, due perhaps to the Japanese market preference for other sedan models such as the Corolla and Premio. The production ceased in 2004 to also give way to the merger of the Vetz and Vista sales channels. The Verossa was offered in a variety of trim levels—six in all—to suit the preference of the most particular of customers. The all-wheel drive is available with an automatic transmission only. It may not be popular when it comes to its looks—it was somewhat radically and uniquely designed after all—but deep inside it’s got the ever-reliable Toyota engine that’s known throughout the world as highly fuel-efficient and won’t leave you stranded along a desert highway. Under the hood you will discover a powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter straight-six engine delivering 280 PS. There is also a 2.5-liter direct injection engine and a 2.0-liter one. The VR25 model is considered to be the most top-of-the-line variant; in addition to turbo power, buyers can choose between a five-speed manual or five-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission system with Tiptronic sports shift. The standard features of the Toyota Verossa include anti-lock brakes with electronic force distribution and brake assist, progressive power steering, dual and side curtain airbags, and power seats and mirrors. Some used Verossas come already equipped with a voice-activated GPS navigation system and multimedia system. The secondhand Verossa units available from the used-car market today come in different trim levels and packages. The G Package has leather seats and alloy wheels. The V25 has a rear stabilizer bar, 17-inch wheels, and leather seating option. Pre-owned units’ prices range from US$2,000 (basic package) to US$7.000 (modified). Because they were only marketed in Japan, there aren’t that many Verossas in other parts of the world. If you want to have a unique and reliable car, grab a Toyota Verossa now!
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