Since 1990, the Japanese automobile concern Toyota has been engaged in the mass production of the compact Toyota Previa minivan, which is considered one of the legends of the Japanese car market. Over the entire release period, three generations of the model have been replaced, and at home it is going to this day.
Car history
The first generation minivan called Estima was launched in 1990. In European countries, under the name familiar to most motorists - Toyota Previa - the car began to be sold a little later. The model is a minivan with a bonnet, the first generation of which was produced until 2000.
The second generation was assembled over six years, having undergone significant changes in the exterior and interior. The manufacturer supplemented the Toyota Previa engine line - it was replenished with a diesel two-liter engine. The car was equipped with a five-speed mechanical or four-speed automatic transmission.
The third and at the moment the last generation of the minivan was demonstrated in 2006. The car has acquired not only a new body design, but also improved engines of 2.4 and 3.5 liters. The transmission has remained unchanged: a five-speed mechanics and a four-speed automatic.
Exterior
Despite the fact that Toyota Previa has been produced for several years, the design of the new generation pleasantly surprised motorists: the minivan turned out to be stylish and bright, with a fast silhouette. Black pillars of side windows together with tinting look very impressive. The car door is movable, giving access to the rear row of seats.
Interior
The Japanese minivan is rightfully considered a family car: free space in the cabin is enough even for a large family with several children, grandparents.
The latest generation of Toyota Previa in the territory of European countries is not officially implemented, and therefore it is quite difficult to purchase a car. Korean and European counterparts can make good competition to a minivan, however, they lose significantly to it in terms of assembly and power of power units: for example, Korean manufacturers often save on engine power for the sake of affordable auto cost.
Technical specifications Toyota Previa
The Japanese automaker equips the minivan with gasoline and diesel engines mounted on the Camry and RAV4. The most common are power units with a volume of 2.4 liters, turbo diesel engines are somewhat less common, and it is extremely rare to find three-liter gasoline engines.
Gasoline engines are equipped with VVT-I variable valve timing systems, the action of which is aimed at optimizing the operation of the power unit at various speeds, and ignition systems, the design of which provides an individual coil for each spark plug. There are no problems in the operation of these systems. Engines mounted on a minivan are distinguished by reliability and good technical characteristics. Toyota Previa at the same time requires the use of high-quality fuel: otherwise, lambda probes may fail, and in the case of diesel engines, injectors.
Experts recommend that the radiator of the cooling system be cleaned annually, as its cells quickly become clogged, which can cause overheating of the engines. Toyota Previa power units are disposable, because the aluminum cylinder blocks and it is impossible to complete their overhaul.
Minivan engine maintenance costs a round amount. Valve clearances must be adjusted every 100 thousand kilometers, with each adjusting washer paid separately. All power units are equipped with expensive spark plugs with electrodes with platinum tips, whose service life is 80 thousand kilometers.
In turbocharged engines, it is necessary to replace the timing belt, guides and tension rollers every 100 thousand kilometers. Be sure to diagnose a water pump, which is driven by a timing belt. In gasoline power units, a metal chain is used as the timing, and the pump is driven by a multi-belt attachment belt.
Comfort minivan
Toyota Previa is equipped with a high-quality suspension that provides high smoothness. The disadvantage of this solution is the swath: with sharp braking, the body jerks forward, with sharp turns - heels. The steering settings are similarly made - the power steering simplifies maneuvering in tight spaces, but at a high speed it loses its information content. In the urban cycle, it is convenient to ride a minivan in a measured mode, on a highway at high speed without unnecessary rearrangements. Traffic safety is provided by powerful and effective disc brakes.
The front suspension is independent, classic McPherson type, equipped with anti-roll bar, the rear - semi-independent beam. Chassis is durable. The shortest working resource for the stabilizer bar bushings, the remaining consumables withstand up to 100 thousand kilometers. The same service life of the stabilizer struts, thrust bearings, silent blocks of front levers. The rear shock absorbers will withstand more than 100 thousand kilometers, the silent blocks of the rear beam and the ball bearings of the front levers - up to 200 thousand kilometers.
The steering is equipped with power steering and has considerable work resources. Adjustment is required only to 200 thousand kilometers, while the need for its implementation is signaled by increased backlash of the steering wheel and an unpleasant knock in the area of the rail.
The brake system is characterized by deformation of the front discs, which is caused by water getting on the hot disc after active braking: because the car is too heavy, the discs overheat.
Owner reviews
There are quite a few owners of the Japanese minivan in Russia and the CIS countries. In reviews of Toyota Previa, motorists note the reliability and power of the car, thanks to which the slowness and heaviness of the car hides. The minivan is very high quality and fully meets all the requirements for motorists.