Toyota Previa

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Toyota Previa

Also called:	Toyota Estima Toyota Tarago
Manufacturer:	Toyota
Production:	1990-Present
Predecessor:	Toyota Van
Successor:	Toyota Sienna (North America only)
Class:	Multi-purpose vehicle
Body style:	3-door minivan 4-door minivan
Similar:	Honda Odyssey Kia Carnival Mazda Premacy Renault Espace

The Toyota Previa, also known as the Toyota Estima (エスティマ) in Japan and the Toyota Tarago in Australia, is an MPV or multi-purpose vehicle (known as a minivan in North America) produced by Toyota Motor Corporation since 1990.

1 First generation
- 1.1 United States
- 1.2 Additional notes
2 Second generation
3 Third generation
4 External links
- 4.1 Reviews
- 4.2 Enthusiast sites

[edit] First generation

First generation

Production:	1990–2000
Engine:	2.4 L I4
Transmission:	4-Speed Automatic Overdrive
Wheelbase:	2860 mm
Length:	4750 mm
Width:	1800 mm
Height:	1790 mm

The first generation had only one sliding side door for the rear passengers and it was introduced in 1990. It featured a unique mid-engined platform, where the in line 4-cylinder gasoline-powered engine was installed almost flat, beneath the front seats. All supplementary mechanisms, such as the alternator and cooling system, are accessible from the front hood. This allows for a very even front/rear weight distribution which has positive consequences for ride quality and car handling. However, this also prevents the installation of a larger engine, while the cost could not be relayed by sharing the platform with other vehicles.

The first generation Previa was 4750 mm long and 1803 mm wide. In Japan, two smaller versions, the Toyota Estima Lucida and Toyota Estima Emina, were produced, which were approximately 110 mm narrower and 70 mm shorter than the standard model. The reason for the difference between the smaller Emina and Lucida models is the vehicle tax system in Japan, which is based on the product of length and width of the car. The smaller variants fall in to a lower tax band. The Estima Emina and Estima Lucida were also available with a 2.2 litre diesel engine (3C-T and 3C-TE) which can be run on vegetable oil although there are questions over whether vegetable oil causes injector pump leaks.

The first generation Previa was available in both rear- and all-wheel drive versions (called All-Trac) and powered by a 135 hp JIS (99 kW) 4-cylinder 2.4 L fuel injection engine. Available with a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual gearbox, this Previa also seated seven or eight people, with three seating configurations offered. All configurations have a driver and front passenger seat forward, and a three-seat bench seat at the rear that splits and folds flat against the sides of the cabin. The 8-seat configuration contains a 2/1 split swiveling bench seat in the middle row, while the 7-seat configurations contain either two independently swiveling "captain" chairs in the middle row or a two seat bench offset towards the driver's side. The third row is also better upholstered in the 7-seat version. It was available with either 4-wheel disc brakes or traditional front disc/rear drum brake setup, with Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) as an option. The range available in Australia was the GLi,GLX and GLS

[edit] United States

In the United States, the Previa was sold from 1991 until 1997. It was imported from Europe to compete with Chrysler's successful Dodge Caravan minivan, and its twins Chrysler Town and Country and Plymouth Voyager. The Previa quickly became a common vehicle in the US, despite its relatively high price, poor fuel economy, and single sliding door. The mid-engine design proved to have a special weakness - the inability to increase engine size, which proved a significant problem as American drivers were used to having more power; the Chrysler models were sold with available V6 engines. Starting in 1994, Toyota solved this problem by adding a supercharger, bringing the engine power up to a competitive 160 hp (119 kW). The United States version of the Previa was discontinued after the 1997 model year, replaced by the more traditionally designed Camry-based Sienna. A few Americans have obtained the newer Previa model, but the U.S. restrictions against grey import vehicles are very strong.

[edit] Additional notes

The last of the 5 Speed Manual Previas (North American models) were made in 1990 to 1993, none of which have superchargers. The supercharged engine is different from the non-supercharged engine due to differences in compression ratio.
Some Previas featured dual sunroofs: A power horizontal-sliding only sunroof existed over the middle row of passengers, and a pop-up sunroof over the front seats.
Previas were also the first van to pass all US safety standards as pertaining to front impact, driver air bag, center-mounted brake light, ABS, daylights, etc.
Gas mileage is below average (11-13L/100 km city, 10-11L/100 km hwy); the small 4-cyl engine needs to work a bit harder due to the power:weight ratio of the vehicle, compared to today's 6-cyl engines. The addition of the supercharger slightly improves power at the expense of heavy gas consumption.
The Previa gives a practically omniscient view, excluding the pillars behind the front doors. This also turns the van into a greenhouse, accumulating extreme heat in a short period of time.
In the United States, Previas are humorously called "eggvans" because of their egg shape.
In the United States, first generation Previa model variations, in order of lowest to highest price/option features, are: DX, DX All-Trac, LE, LE All-Trac, LE S/C, LE S/C All-Trac (where S/C = Supercharged and AllTrac = 4WD)
The front passenger seat must be removed to check the front two spark plugs because there is not enough room to remove plug wires.

[edit] Second generation

Second generation

Production:	2000–present
Engine:	2.0 L I4 diesel 2.4 L I4
Wheelbase:	2900 mm
Length:	4750 mm
Width:	1790 mm
Height:	1770 mm

The first generation was still sold outside the United States until 2000, when a new dynamically designed model replaced it. The second generation Previa had a slightly longer wheelbase (2900 mm) and was both narrower (1790 mm) and shorter (1770 mm) than the first one. It was produced with passenger doors on both sides and offered space for up to six, seven or eight passengers and, as with the first generation, was sold as the Estima in Japan and as the Tarago in Australia. The range available in Australia was the GLi, GLX and Ultima. The Ultima version was targeted as a competitor of Chrysler.

Models sold on the European markets are available with both gasoline and diesel-powered 4-cylinder engines. The diesel engine is a 2.0 L with 116 hp (85 kW) and the gasoline-powered one is a 2.4 L with 156 hp (115 kW). Both models feature a 5-speed manual transmission as the part of standard equipment, while a 4-speed automatic is available as an option on gasoline-powered model. A Hybrid Synergy Drive version of the Estima is available in Japan. The first generation Estima Hybrid, sold only in Japan, used a single electric motor and a mechanical CVT in its transmission.

[edit] Third generation

Third generation

Production:	2006–present (Japan and Australia)
Engine:	2.4 L I4 3.5 L 2GR-FE V6
Wheelbase:	2950 mm
Length:	4795 mm
Width:	1800 mm
Height:	1750 mm

A third generation Previa was introduced in January 2006 in the Japanese and Australian markets as Estima and Tarago, respectively. Features include an available second-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive drivetrain, automatic parallel and back-in parking, track-mounted second row reclining seats with footrests, and power-folding split third row seats.

The second generation Estima Hybrid, currently only sold in Japan, uses a drivetrain very similar to the Lexus 400h with 3 electric motors - 2 for front-wheel drive (HSD) plus one for rear wheel drive.