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MODEL BACKGROUND
The Toyota Previa is an up to 8-seater "MPV" (multi-purpose vehicle) / "People-carrier" marketed under three different model names across the World:
The "First Generation"
The "first generation" or "Mark 1" Previa was introduced in 1990 and was powered by the 2TZ-FE 2.4-litre 4-cylinder fuel-injected petrol (gasoline) engine.
Early Previa sales in the US Domestic Market proved to be disappointing for Toyota, due mainly to the fact that American Car Makers were already selling more powerful V6-engined MPVs to meet US drivers' demands for greater engine power. Therefore, in
1994, Toyota supercharged their 2TZ-FE petrol engine - creating the 2.4-litre 2TZ-FZE engine and increasing power from 135hp up to 160hp. By 1996, Toyota has ceased marketing the normally aspirated 2.4-litre engine to the US Market - only the Super-charged Previa was available from this point in time. In 1997, the Previa was discontinued completely in the USA, replaced with the US-designed and built Toyota Sienna.
All engine variants were available in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel (four-wheel) drive versions. Despite its sister Emina & Lucida models receiving facelifts in 1995 and 1997, the Previa's design remained consistent until its Second Generation replacement in 2000
"First Generation" Previa Statistics:
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ENGINE:
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(2TZ-FE) 4-cylinder fuel-injected petrol
(2TZ-FZE) 4-cylinder fuel-injected super-charged petrol
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DISPLACEMENT:
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2438 litres
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TRANSMISSION:
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5-speed manual / 4-speed automatic ECT (with overdrive)
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MAX TORQUE:
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151 lb / ft @ 4,000 RPM
201 lb / ft @ 3,600 RPM
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BHP:
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138bhp @ 5,000 RPM
160bhp @ 5,0000 RPM
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0-60mph:
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11.7 seconds
11.0 seconds
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TOP SPEED:
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108 mph
112 mph3
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WEIGHT:
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1,800 kg
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LENGTH:
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4,750 mm (external)
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WIDTH:
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1,800 mm (external)
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HEIGHT:
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1,810 mm (external)
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The "Second Generation"
In 2000 Toyota introduced a new model of Estima with sliding doors on both sides. Again, this model was marketed to the Japanese market as the Estima, the Tarago to the Australians and as the Previa to the Rest of the World - however, for the first time in the UK since its launch in 1990, the Previa was now available with Toyota's 4D4 diesel engine (see our Estima - Emina/Lucida Guide for more information on the diesel variant). Toyota developed only the one "second generation" body-style for the Estima; therefore the Emina and Lucida models were dropped from the Second Generation.
As well as a complete redesign of the exterior and interior, Toyota also replaced the Previa's 2TZ-FE & FZE engines with its 2ZA-FE "variable valve timing with intelligence" (VVT-i) engines and moved the power from the rear wheels and made the second generation model with front wheel drive. In 2000, a 3.0l V6 model was introduced for the Japanese-only Market.
A 'hybrid version' was also introduced in Japan which used a single-electric motor coupled to a mechanical continuously variable transmission (CVT)
Toyota had discontinued the First Generation Estima in the USA in 1996 and replaced it with the US designed and built Toyota Sienna, Therefore the Second Generation Estima was not available in the United States.
For more information on the diesel variant of this Second Generation model, please see our Estima - Emina/Lucida Guide.
"Second Generation" Previa Statistics:
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ENGINE:
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(2AZ-FE) 4-cylinder VVTi petrol
(1MZ-FE) V6-cylinder VVTi petrol
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DISPLACEMENT:
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2362 litres
2994 litres
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TRANSMISSION:
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5-speed manual / 4-speed Automatic
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MAX TORQUE:
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162 lb / ft 220 Nm @ 4,000 RPM
193 lb / ft @ 4400 RPM
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BHP:
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157bhp @ 5600 RPM
190bhp @ 5400 RPM
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0-60mph:
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11.3 seconds
???
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TOP SPEED:
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111 mph
???
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WEIGHT:
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1,730 kg
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LENGTH:
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4,750 mm (external)
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WIDTH:
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1,790 mm (external)
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HEIGHT:
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1,770 mm (external)
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The "Third Generation"
The Third Generation Estima was introduced in January 2006 - keeping the branding consistent; Toyota maintained it's Estima and Tarago names.
However, the third generation Previa was not made available for the UK market and still remains unavailable to the US Market.
Although no longer using the name "Previa", Toyota chose to forsake the use of diesel engines in the Estima, preferring petrol and hybrid designs. For more information on the development of the "Third generation", please see our Estima - Emina/Lucida Guide
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