The Toyota Previa is a Multi Purpose Vehicle, the export version of the Toyota Estima. In its original form it was exported from 1990-1999 and had only one sliding side door for the rear passengers.
The Previa is unique in its platform. The 4-cylinder engine is installed almost flat, beneath the first row of seats (driver/front passenger). 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 and 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 Previa is wider and longer than an important tax bracket (4700mm long x1700mm wide) in Japan pre-1989, so a narrower and shorter version was launched in Japan alongside it. These are badged the Toyota Estima Emina/Lucida.
The vehicle is powered by a 135 bhp (101 kW) four cylinder 2.4 L fuel injection engine driving the rear wheels. Available with a four speed automatic or five speed manual gear box, the Previa has seven or either eight seats. While both configurations have a driver and front passengers seat forward and 3 seater bench seat at the rear that splits and folds flat against walls, the 8 seat version has another 3 seater bench seat centrally while the 7 seat version has two independent swivelling 'captain' chairs in the middle row.
In 2000 a new version was produced with passenger doors on both sides and with the option of a diesel engine. This new version is front wheel drive and shares its platform with a number of Toyota sedans.
External links
