Toyota Previa

The Toyota Previa, also known as the Toyota Estima (Japanese: トヨタ・エスティマ, Hepburn: Toyota Esutima) in Japan, and Toyota Tarago in Australia, is a minivan that was produced by Toyota from 1990 until October 2019 across three generations.
The name "Previa" is derived from the Spanish for "preview", as Toyota saw the first Previa as a vehicle that would preview technologies used in future minivans. The Previa was the second largest minivan in Toyota's lineup in Japan after the bigger and more luxurious Alphard/Vellfire.
The first generation, designed by Toyota designer Tokuo Fukuichi and Calty designer David Doyle in 1987 (patent filed 24 December 1987), was introduced on 27 January 1990, and had only one sliding side door for the rear passengers. It featured a mid-engined platform, where the inline-four cylinder gasoline-powered engine was installed almost flat beneath the front seats, canted at a 75-degree angle from vertical to the right, viewed from the rear of the vehicle. This allowed the designers to maximize interior space for a given exterior size.
The vehicle was sold in Japan as the Toyota Estima, taken from the word "estimable." In the United States and United Kingdom, it was marketed as the Previa, which is derived from the Italian previdenza, meaning providence or foresight.
The first generation Previa is 4,750 mm (187.0 in) long, 1,800 mm (70.9 in) wide, and 1,780 mm (69.9 in) high (with the dual moonroof option), riding on a wheelbase of 2,870 mm (112.8 in). It was available in both rear- and all-wheel drive versions (branded All-Trac) and powered by a 135 PS (99 kW) JIS inline four-cylinder 2.4-liter fuel-injected mid-mounted engine. All-wheel drive models use a viscous-coupled center differential which normally splits torque 50/50 from front to rear. Available with a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual gearbox, this Previa also seated seven or eight people, with three seating configurations offered; however, North America only received two configurations, both seating seven passengers. All first-generation Previa / Estima vans were assembled at the Toyota Auto Body Fujimatsu plant in Kariya, Aichi.
The Previa was available with either four-wheel disc brakes or traditional front disc/rear drum brake setup, with anti-lock brakes (ABS) as an option. Some rear-drive models use independent suspension at all four wheels, with Macpherson struts at the front and double-wishbones in the rear; most models are equipped with a rear suspension which uses a beam axle located by a four-link arrangement with Panhard rod. A lower-cost eight-passenger model, introduced in February 1993, uses the AWD rear suspension.
The Previa / Estima was equipped with a 2.4 L 2TZ-FE I4 engine with a nominal output of 99 kW (133 hp; 135 PS) at 5000 rpm and 206 N⋅m (152 lb⋅ft) at 4000 rpm. Base models were equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, a four-speed automatic transmission was available as an option; higher trim levels came with the automatic as standard. For the 1994 model year, the 2.4 L 2TZ-FZE supercharged engine was made available. The supercharger was mounted in the front of the vehicle, driven by a belt off the SADS accessory driveshaft, and engine output increased to 120 kW; 161 hp; 163 PS at 5000 rpm and 273 N⋅m (201 lb⋅ft) at 3600 rpm. In the United States, the five-speed manual transmission was discontinued starting with the 1994 model year.
In Japan, the Estima Lucida and Estima Emina also were available with the 3C-T intercooled turbodiesel I4 engine.
With either engine, all of the engine-driven accessories, such as the alternator, power steering pump, air conditioning compressor and radiator fan, are accessible from the front hood and are driven by an accessory driveshaft extending forward from the front of the engine, which was named "Supplemental Accessory Drive System" (SADS). A two-liter oil reservoir is also located underneath the hood. Placing these items in front allowed the designers to achieve a nearly-equal front/rear weight distribution, which benefits ride quality and handling. However, it also prevented the installation of a larger engine, and meant that the design and development costs could not be mitigated by sharing the platform with other vehicles. The mid-engine configuration requires the removal of the front right seat, the carpet and an access panel to provide access to the spark plugs.
Fuel efficiency with the naturally aspirated 2TZ-FE engine is below average at 18–20 mpg‑US (13–12 L/100 km) for estimated combined city/highway driving; the small four-cylinder engine needs to work a bit harder owing to the power to weight ratio of the vehicle, compared to contemporary 6-cylinder engines. In instrumented testing, a rear-drive Previa with the naturally-aspirated engine recorded 20 mpg‑US (12 L/100 km) overall. With all-wheel drive and the automatic, observed fuel consumption increased to 17 mpg‑US (14 L/100 km).
The supercharged 2TZ-FZE engine is different from the normally aspirated engine, owing to a slight decrease in compression ratio and stronger engine internals. The supercharger is sourced from Aisin and engaged on-demand by an electromagnetic clutch, based on input from the engine control unit. The supercharged engine has improved power and gives slightly better fuel consumption, estimated at 19 mpg‑US (12 L/100 km) on the combined city/highway cycle.
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 eight-seat configuration contains a 2/1 split swiveling bench seat in the middle row, while the seven-seat configurations contain either two independently swiveling captain's chairs (referred to as "Quad Seating"), in the middle row or a two-seat bench offset towards the driver's side. The third row is better upholstered in the seven-seat version.
The center console is pushed backwards towards the front seat passengers, with contemporary press coverage calling it "pregnant". The stereo was singled out for praise during a long-term test review conducted by Popular Mechanics.
An option for dual moonroofs was provided. This included a power horizontal-sliding glass moonroof above the middle row of passengers, measuring 32×40 in (810×1,020 mm), and a pop-up glass moonroof above the front seats. The overall height of Previas equipped with moonroofs is increased by 30 mm (1.2 in) so the interior headroom is not reduced.
Previas are affectionately called "eggvans", "eggs" or "beans", because of their shape. In Australia, they have been referred to as "Wombats", because they somewhat resemble the marsupial of the same name. In New Zealand, they are very popular with freedom campers and are referred to as "Bucky" buses.
The Previa was the first minivan to meet all US safety standards for passenger cars for the 1992 model year, which included fitment of a driver's-side airbag, under-dash knee bolsters, and a center high-mounted stop light.
When the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested a 1996 model Previa in the moderate overlap front crash test, it revealed many safety issues: the cabin structure was unstable, the steering wheel moved upward all the way to the windshield causing violent head movement, the lap belt tore which allowed the dummy to end up in a partially reclining position, and there were high forces on both of the lower legs. It was given a "Poor" rating as a result.
In some countries (mainly Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom), unsold Estimas and Lucidas were re-badged as 1995/1996 Previas.
In Japan, two smaller versions, the Toyota Estima Lucida and Toyota Estima Emina, were produced from January 1992, each of which were approximately 110 mm (4.3 in) narrower and 70 mm (2.8 in) shorter than the standard model. The original design continued to be sold in Japan, but became known as the "wide-body" Estima.
The reason that the smaller Emina and Lucida models were developed is the vehicle tax system in Japan, which is based on the product of the length and width of the car; the smaller variants fall into a lower tax band. The Estima Emina and Estima Lucida were also available with a 2.2-liter diesel engine (3C-T and 3C-TE). In Japan, the Estima and Estima Emina were exclusive to the dealerships called Toyota Store. The Estima Lucida sold at Toyota Corolla Store dealerships. The two received small redesigns in 1994 and a facelift in 1996.
In the United States, the Previa was sold from March 1990 (for the 1991 model year) until 1997. It was imported from Japan to compete with Chrysler Corporation's successful Dodge Caravan minivan, and its twins, the Chrysler Town and Country and Plymouth Voyager. Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca and other domestic automakers accused Toyota of dumping the Previa, selling at a price claimed to be up to 30.5% below its actual cost in the United States in order to take market share in the minivan segment from Chrysler. While the United States Department of Commerce found the imported minivans were being sold for less than their fair value, the United States International Trade Commission determined there was no material injury to domestic manufacturers.
While the Previa proved more popular than the Toyota Van which it replaced, it did not acquire significant market share from Chrysler—due to its higher price, controversial styling (for its time), lower fuel economy and engine performance—and also due to Chrysler launching redesigned minivans around the same time.
In the United States, the first generation Previa model variations, in order of lowest to highest price/option features, are: DX, DX All-Trac, DX S/C, LE, LE All-Trac, LE S/C, LE S/C All-Trac. DX is also known as "Deluxe". S/C indicates the supercharged engine is fitted, and All-Trac means the vehicle is all-wheel drive.
The mid-engine design precluded the fitment of larger engines, which proved a problem as American drivers were used to having more power; for example, the Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler models were sold with available V6 engines with slightly more power. Its layout did, however, give the Previa greater interior space than the Chrysler competitors, with 157.8 cu ft (4.47 m) of cargo capacity, compared to 115.9–139.4 cu ft (3.28–3.95 m) for the short and long-wheelbase Chrysler minivans.
Specific model year changes include:
The United States version of the Previa was discontinued after the 1997 model year, replaced by the more traditionally designed, front-wheel drive, US-designed and built, Camry-based Sienna.
The first UK market Previas were sold in September 1990, with one trim level called GL with the eight-seat package, followed by the seven-seat uplevel GX (introduced in October 1993) and base GS (introduced in March 1995), retaining the GL as the mid-level model; limited edition models included the Solair I (July 1995, based on GX), Motiv-8 (February 1996, based on GS), Solair II (March 1996, based on GS), and Liber-8 (January 1997, based on GS). No diesel engine Previas were made for the UK market.
The first generation Previa was marketed in the Netherlands between 1991 and 1994. In 1994, the supercharged or SC model was made standard on all Previas. The only engine available was a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine until 1995. Trim levels were base (later renamed to i denoting an injection engine), GL, GLi and GXi. The 2.2-liter diesel version was a popular grey import.
In Australia, the van was marketed as the Tarago, offered in GL/GLi, GLS and GLX forms with 7–8 passenger seating from launch in September 1990. In addition to the Australian market, there were various special edition models available, which varied in trim levels. These include the RV (either 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic with 4WD), commemorative Rugby World Cup editions and Getaway. Feature-wise, all of the special edition models are marketed between the base GLi and GLX models. When the later-style update models were released in Australia, the top-of-the-line GLS model was renamed "Ultima" and the Getaway became a mainstay trim level, being renamed Getaway II.
The first generation Previa was sold outside the United States until 8 January 2000, when a newer front-wheel drive second generation replaced it. The second generation was not available in North America, as they received the Toyota Sienna. The second generation Previa had a slightly longer wheelbase (2900 mm) and was both narrower (1790 mm) and lower (1770 mm) than the first one; it switched to FF layout and was based on the Camry platform.
It was produced with sliding rear 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.
Models sold on the European markets were available with both gasoline and diesel-powered four-cylinder engines. The diesel engine was a 2.0-liter 1CD-FTV with 85 kW (116 PS) and the gasoline-powered one a 2.4-liter 2AZ-FE with 115 kW (156 PS). Both models featured a five-speed manual transmission as the part of standard equipment, while a four-speed automatic was available as an option on gasoline-powered model.
Australian models (known locally as ACR30R) were only available with the 2.4-liter petrol engine and a four-speed automatic.
In the UK, GS, GLS and CDX trim levels were available. When the facelift was introduced in June 2003, these became T2, T3 and T Spirit respectively.
In Japan, a 3.0-liter V6 engine and a 2.4-liter hybrid version of the Estima were available.
The Estima Hybrid employed the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive and used two electric motors. A 2.4-liter gasoline engine and a 13 kW (17 hp) electric motor power the front wheels, while the rear wheels are propelled by a 18 kW (24 hp) electric motor. The vehicle had been on sale in Japan since June 2001. Production of the hybrid started in May 2001 at the Motomachi plant and June 2002 at the Fujimatsu plant. It is claimed by Toyota to be the world's first hybrid minivan.
The third-generation model was introduced in 2006 in Japanese and Australian markets as the Estima and Tarago respectively, and as the Previa in other markets. This generation was notably absent from the European market.
Features include an available second generation Hybrid Synergy Drive drivetrain (only in the Japanese market), automatic parallel and reverse parking (only on Toyota Estima), Lane-Keep Assist (LKA) system which detects the lane markers on the road and steers the car on the right direction (for Estima only), Adaptive Front-Lighting System low beam headlamps which assists to light up the upcoming road around a bend, track-mounted second row reclining seats with footrests, and power-folding split third row seats (for seven-seater models). It received a minor facelift in 2009. G-BOOK was added to the list of optional features. Active driver assist features such as Lane Keeping Assist and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control were offered as an option exclusively to V6 variants.
In some markets such as Hong Kong and Taiwan, Toyota announced the 3.5-liter V6 model in January 2007, but was dropped from the lineup after its major facelift in 2016.
In the Philippines, the XR50 replaced the XR40 Previa in 2009. It only comes in the 2.4L Q variant. It is powered by Toyota's 2.4L 2AZ-FE inline-four engine with VVT-i paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission. It came with power sliding doors, automatic climate control, faux wood trim, 2DIN 6 CD audio system, speakers, remote keyless entry, and leather seats among other features.
The third generation Estima Hybrid is powered by Toyota's 2.4-liter E-Four hybrid system with all-wheel drive. The hybridized Estima bears the model code AHR20 and is specifically marketed and sold exclusively in China and Japan, with limited importation to Australia. It is said to be similar to that of the Lexus RX 400h, but a generation behind.
The Tarago was released in March 2006 bearing the ACR50R model code featuring the 2.4-liter 2AZ-FE inline-four engine found in the ACV40R Camry. In February 2007, Toyota released the GSR50R model with the 3.5-liter 2GR-FE V6 engine producing 202 kW (271 hp) and 340 N⋅m (250 ft⋅lbf) found in the GSV40R Aurion.
The model received a facelift in 2009, with revisions to the headlamps and bumpers. The option of a seven-seater variant was introduced in 2008. Another update was released in 2012 with smart start as standard on all models, smart entry on GLX V6 and Ultima models, new audio systems on all models, automatic headlights and a new Rustic Brown colour option. It also received the major facelift in 2016, with updated interior and other new standard features offered, however it still bears its exterior looks mostly unchanged as with the pre-facelift design. It is available as a family van, a taxicab for regular passengers and a specially designed wheelchair accessible taxi featuring a ramp and longer wheelbase.
In May 2019, Toyota revealed the Granvia, which is heavily based on the latest HiAce van. Toyota Australia confirmed the Granvia will replace the Tarago by the end of 2019, however, they were sold alongside each other for a short period of time. As of March 2020, the Tarago has been discontinued in the Australian market and removed from the Toyota Australia website.
The facelifted model was launched in mid-2016, its dimensions remain mostly unchanged while it receives various new additional equipment to keep up with its competitors. In the interior features a redesigned multifunction steering wheel and a piano black center console that neatly houses a large touchscreen infotainment display. A new safety system "Toyota Safety Sense C" was offered for the first time in the facelifted Estima, but only for Japanese models. The former includes pre-collision system with pedestrian detection function, lane keep assist, high beam assist and radar cruise control.
Along with the new safety features comes with slightly redesigned headlights with LED daytime running lights, tail lights, bumpers, as well as interior with updated steering wheel design, it also becomes the first Toyota to have 360 degree 99% UV cut glass preventing 99% of UV rays from entering into the vehicle creating a cooler environment overall, this 99% UV cut glass also gets a recommendation from Skin Cancer Foundation and has a SPF 50+/PA++++ rating. The Estima drops its 3.5 L V6 engine option and now only offers the 2.4 L inline-4 producing 170 PS (130 kW), and 224 N⋅m (165 ft⋅lbf) and its hybrid variant.