The Toyota Proace and the rise of the 9-seater minibus

It used to be the 9-seater minibus (technically classed as a car) was not an obvious choice for schools or organisations when considering a minibus.

That’s no longer the case, there are several reasons this type of vehicle’s popularity has risen recently including price, comfort, and the fact anyone can drive them.

We’re going to take you through these reasons with a particular focus on the Toyota Proace Verso EV 9-seater, but we have a wide choice of 8-9 seat minibuses available. 

Compact and Comfortable

9-seater vehicles offer the comfort of a car with the advantage of carrying so many more passengers. Most have configurable seats to give you greater flexibility.

The exterior of the Proace Verso EV gives the functional feel of a minibus and it’s boxy shape maximises interior space. It is literally like having a mini-minibus. Inside the seats are configurable can be adjusted or removed to suit different needs. This flexibility makes it ideal for both carrying passengers and luggage. It’s perfect for smaller sports teams and equipment or transporting passengers and their luggage.

Although supremely comfortable, the materials used in the interior are durable and built to withstand wear and tear from less than careful students, service users or clients.

For the driver, their position is elevated, providing good visibility, and the dashboard is user-friendly with intuitive control, with an infotainment system to keep all onboard entertained.

Large enough to be an advert for your organisation

We have talked about the advantages of having a smaller vehicle, the price, the ease of driving and the lack of restrictions but let’s not forget a 9-seater is larger than the normal car and is certainly big enough to make an impression out on the streets and become an effective and enviable advertisement for your organisation.

School runs, regular pick-ups, smaller sports teams, nursery schools and care homes would also benefit from demonstrating they have these modern and more comfortable vehicles for their students, clients or service users.

Rivervale will add your livery and logos for you before delivery, so your vehicle arrives looking amazing and ready to promote your brand from day one. 

Saving money with an electric vehicle

If you have not considered an electric vehicle, it might be the time to do so. Not only are they better for the environment, but are they cheaper to run, especially if you use off-peak electricity to charge overnight.

For schools and organisations operating within the M25 or in a ULEZ or clean air zone there is currently no charge for electric vehicles.

We appreciate that range anxiety is a real concern, but the Toyota Proace Verso EV L1 50kWH will give you 120-140 miles per charge, which will enable you to drive from London to the White Cliffs of Dover, Southampton or the far Northwest of Oxfordshire. Charging will also take as little as 30 minutes with a 100kW rapid charger, or 7 hours if you’re using a 7kW charger overnight.