Toyota · 1990–2019

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 Previa was the second largest minivan in Toyota's lineup in Japan after the bigger and more luxurious Alphard/Vellfire. The name Previa, used in the United States and United Kingdom, is derived from the Italian previdenza, meaning 'providence' or 'foresight'. The name Estima is taken from the word estimable.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Toyota TownAce · Successor: Toyota Sienna

All Toyota Previa data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

First generation (XR10/XR20; 1990)

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 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

Second generation (XR30/XR40; 2000)

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. The Previa/Estima received a facelift in July 2003, including redesigned, somewhat slimmer headlamps. 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. For the first generation, the Estima was split into two lines with slight visual differences (the Emina and the Lucida), depending on the dealership chain. For this generation, the diff

Third generation (XR50; 2006)

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. Estima Hybrid. 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

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Toyota Previa
Manufacturer: Toyota
aka: Toyota Estima (Japan), Toyota Tarago (Australia)
Production: January 1990 – October 2019
Class: Minivan
Body style: 4/5-door minivan
Layout: Front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive (1990–1999), Front-engine, front-wheel-drive (2000–2019), Front-engine, all-wheel-drive (1990–1999, 2006–2019)
Predecessor: Toyota TownAce/MasterAce Surf (R20/R30)
Successor: Toyota Sienna (North America and Taiwan), Toyota GranAce/Granvia (H300) (Japan, Australia, Taiwan and Middle East), Toyota Alphard (AH30) (Asia)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1428197CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_PreviaCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1375300129 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TOYOTA_PREVIA_(XR50)_China_(32).jpgCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Dinkun Chen · retrieved 2026-10-01
Manufacturer website (link only) — http://toyota.jp/estima/Link only; no content copied · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.