Toyota Previa Overview

In the three years since its introduction, the Toyota Previa has made its mark with innovative design. Its interior spaciousness is due in part to the midship mounting of the engine beneath the floor. That structure allows for a potential 157.8 cubic feet of storage space, making it among the top two or three roomiest minivans on the market.

In the Toyota Previa, the driver can comfortably leave his or her post to referee a rear-seat rug-rat ruckus without having to step outside. That ease of passage, combined with sleek aerodynamic styling and ahead-of-schedule adherence to federal safety standards helped the Previa earn Best Compact Van honors in J.D. Power and Associates' 1993 Initial Quality studies.

We tested an Evergreen Pearl-colored model with a 2.4-liter, twin-cam, 16valve, four-cylinder engine with electronic fuel injection. For driving on slippery surfaces or on rocky terrain, the All-Trac feature combines full-time AWD capability with a limited-slip differential that monitors wheel slippage and distributes power to the wheels that have the best traction at that moment.

Our Previa All-Trac LE's base MSRP was $28,848. Although four-wheel ventilated disc brakes are standard on the LE, the anti-lock brake system was a $950 option. Other optional amenities, such as swiveling captain's chairs, a premium seven-speaker stereo system with a CD player, aluminum alloy wheels and bronze privacy glass, brought the price of our vehicle to $32,842.