Toyota Previa - We've Owned Them All

"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
12/09/2015 at 03:00 • Filed to: Toyota, Previa, Estima, Hong Kong, China, Asia

Most Americans remember the original Toyota Previa (JDM: Estima). It had an innovative mid-engine layout which placed the engine under the front seats, laid down sideways, driving the rear wheels. It did 0-60 mph in about 13 seconds. It had a buzzy exhaust. It was a space-maximising MPV with a usable third row and fairly impressive cargo space even behind the deployed third row. It looked like a spaceship or an anonymous blob, depending on your outlook on life.

My parents have owned all three generations of the Previa. The first one I will spare of your precious time; it was sold worldwide and had mass appeal in North America. My parents had a LHD 1992 Previa LE here in the States.

The second generation didn’t make it to NA, although it was still sold in most Eurasia markets. The appearance had clearly evolved to a sleeker, more luxurious form. In late 2002, my parents bought a RHD 2002 Previa in Hong Kong. It had an improved 2.4L 2AZ-FE inline-4 with a significant HP bump. It also had a centrally located instrument panel. Nice touches included convincing wood trim and leather upholstery. The third row became a drop-down design and disappeared into the floor.

The JDM Estima also received a Hybrid version. Oh, and the engine was no longer under the floor. It moved to the front where it belongs, and drove the front wheels just like all other modern non-luxury cars.

In 2006, the car was traded in on the freshly debuted third-generation Previa GL. This model no longer sold in Europe, although it continues in Australia as the Tarago. Eventually, demand from China led to a LHD version being introduced. The car was and remains one of the sharpest-looking 7-seater MPVs to grace the roads.

The interior continued the futuristic theme, but the quality of plastics regressed to thin, cheaply textured pieces as typical for Toyotas of the mid-aughts (see dashboard pic below). A feature long popular in the lazy States, power sliding doors are finally available. Still not widely available in the US are the second-row ottoman foot rests. The leather was buttery smooth and comparable to that found in Lexus cars. The second-row captains’ chairs not only adjust forward and backward for legroom, but also side-to-side; I found this feature @#$% amazing.

Although the 2.4L engine now features VVT-i for an improved power and torque curve, the well-known 2GR-FE 3.5L V6 was soon added to the Previa lineup. Japan and Hong Kong RHD markets received an Estima E-Four Hybrid version. Sharp 17” wheels were standard on Hong Kong models, but the JDM Estima had a cheaper base trim with 16s. Our car had HID headlamps, new to the segment at the time.

The JDM Estima Aeras was also a popular import in Hong Kong, leading official Toyota distributor Crown Motors to eventually sell Previas in Aeras trim:

The current Previa remains fairly popular in China, although status seekers now gravitate to the larger Alphard and Vellfire luxury twins.

The Previa never evolved into the oversized hulks that are modern American-market MPVs. Despite that, it remains a stylish, spacious van. Few cars look this good at 10 years old. Any others have interesting Previa ownership stories?

DISCUSSION (18)

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/09/2015 at 03:11

I’ve only ever ridden in a first gen Previa owned by a high school friend’s family. It was interesting for sure. The middle seats resonated with the engine when on throttle.

That said, for some reason I can’t bring myself to like minivans in the US but they just work for Hong Kong. If I were to ever live in Hong Kong I’d want a van.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC
12/09/2015 at 03:15

Honestly carparks terrify me. They leave no room for larger cars to clear a turn. I’d just want an Abarth 500 to bomb around town in HK.

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/09/2015 at 03:22

I’d imagine so with how densely populated it is. An Abarth 500 would sound GLORIOUS echoing off the skyscrapers. Hell a 4c would be pretty awesome too.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/09/2015 at 04:13

I’d hoon the shit out of one.

hike > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/09/2015 at 07:12

Still have my 92 Previa I grew up in. One of my favorite all time cars. I don't believe the 13 second 0 to 60 time you quoted cause it feels faster to me. Even at its advanced age it will cruise comfortably at 70mph. I also enjoy driving it more than any other minivan. It's interesting to me hearing about the modern ones as well. Thanks for the write up!

pjhusa > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/09/2015 at 07:19

I wished we had JDM minivans here. I’d take a Vellfire any day.

Though we did have a bad experience with a Serena Highway Star. Ugly inside and out. Cramped third row.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > hike
12/09/2015 at 11:22

Only going from ratings, 12.8 sec. from what I remember.

It drove fine, honest throttle and reasonably stable & quiet up to about 75 mph.

Spoon II > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/09/2015 at 14:20

Kinja'd!!!

Long live the rwd Previa aka The Drift Egg

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > pjhusa
12/09/2015 at 14:21

My parents had two successive Nissan Serenas before the 2002 Previa. They were cheap for a 7-seater, but it showed in the interior quality and anemic powertrain. The blunt-nose pug face styling was endearing in the 1990s Japanese manner, but that was the only upside.

pjhusa > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/09/2015 at 14:26

We had a 2012 for a week. Atrocious. Cheap materials, bigger outside than inside (as in space expectations), BIG in SE Asia... BLEH YUCK

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > pjhusa
12/09/2015 at 14:28

The 2.0 was also rather underpowered, not sure what the newer ones use. At the time my parents lived in the countryside (nearly unimaginable in Hong Kong), and the thing struggled in the hills.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Spoon II
12/11/2015 at 02:28

Is this in the Bay Area? I’ve seen the name Canibeat before.

Spoon II > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
12/11/2015 at 18:39

I’m honestly not sure, I just found it on the interwebs randomly

protodad > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
01/23/2016 at 00:01

I’ll need to find a photo but a friend of mine had a second gen (USDM) Previa with a garrett turbo and nitrous. Carbon fiber interior and (cause early 2000s) a crazy stereo system.

It was pretty much underivable but got a place at SEMA.

Emmy M > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
01/30/2016 at 20:02

Awesome post! I live in the US but went to Japan a few years ago and was so jealous of all the van and minivan options they had. We also did the Toyota factory tour to see where the Previa awesomeness began :)

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > protodad
01/31/2016 at 01:49

You sure it wasn’t that purple monster that someone posted a few comments above?

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Emmy M
01/31/2016 at 01:52

I’m in California myself; don’t own any vans though!

protodad > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
01/31/2016 at 15:50

Hmm, strangely close but no. The purple was darker and he had imported some body kit for it. Also, stance hadn't hit quite then.