Toyota PREVIA RANGE
The Previa MPV Has Undergone A Makeover To Bring It Into Line With The Rest Of The
Toyota Range. Andy Enright Reports
As an entry in the automotive Register of Members Interests, I must admit a sneaky affection for the Toyota Previa. The first generation cars mid engined rear-wheel drive layout was so off the wall it still raises a smile, whilst the current car seems to have an inordinate amount of fun built into what on paper should be an uninspiring drive. In order to fall into step with the rest of the Toyota line up, the Previa has undergone a mild transformation. What better excuse to reacquaint ourselves with Toyotas magic bus?
Out go the GS, GLX and CDX grades and in come T2, T3 and T Spirit trim levels much as weve seen in the Yaris, Corolla and Avensis models. The key difference between the trim levels leaving aside basic equipment provision is that the T2 comes with eight seats as standard, the T3 with a choice of seven or eight and the T Spirit is exclusively supplied as a seven seater. So, in this instance at least, the more you pay, the less you get. It seems that Toyota havent ironed all the idiosyncrasies from the Previa.
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Safety is one area that
Toyota have paid concentrated on and all models now feature front side airbags as well as the twin front bags. Seven three-point seatbelts are featured on all seven-seater models. The all-alloy 2.4-litre four cylinder VVT-i engine is Euro IV compliant yet still puts 145bhp through the front wheels.
Prices start at £20,405 for a T2 variant ranging up to £24,955 for the T Spirit auto. The 2.0-litre D-4D turbo diesel version has proved popular and in this instance prices range between £21,905 for a T2 up to £24,955 for a manual T Spirit. Having sampled both gearboxes and engines, we cant help but rue the non-availability of a diesel automatic.
All versions feature those four airbags, digital climate controlled air conditioning, electric windows all round and a tilting steering column. Safety features such as anti lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist havent been skimped on and two ISOFIX child
seat mounts keep the young ones well clamped in if the worst comes to the worst. Remote central locking, electrically heated door mirrors and front armrests complete the picture. Trade up to T3 level and youll find roof rails, five spoke alloy wheels and the air conditioning features separate controls for the rear of the cabin.
Cruise control is a welcome feature on long continental trips. The range-topping T Spirit adds rear darkened privacy glass, front and rear sunroofs and DVD satellite navigation with built-in Electronic Traffic Avoidance. Its a very capable piece of technology. The advantage of offering DVD-based systems is that the disc can store as much information as thirteen CD-ROMs.
Leather upholstery can also be specified.
"If there is such a thing as fashionable practicality, then this is probably it..."
Whichever version of the Previa you opt for, youll find three rows of seats, with those in the middle and at the rear being benches that recline and slide back or forth to alter the amount of leg and luggage room. Opt to order your car in seven-seat form and two individual seats replace the middle bench. Though like the individual seats, the two split-folding benches are removable, they do have three disadvantages. The first is weight: even the basic chairs arent light and the benches require a real workout. The second is the Previas need to have somewhere to store the things should you take them from the vehicle. In the old model after all, the rearmost seats folded up into the side of the cabin: even better, some rivals allow you to store them under the floor. Entry to the rear of the airy cabin is easy thanks to two huge sliding doors. Once inside, there are no fewer than 18 different storage compartments, including a split-level glovebox and deep front door bins. All of which ought to be useful should you decide to take up the option of folding the seats into a makeshift double bed.
Thanks to a longer wheelbase (and suspension that no longer intrudes into the cabin), theres a more spacious feeling in the latest Previa for passengers at least. As ever with vehicles like this, luggage room with all the seats in use is a different story. And as ever, if you plan to regularly use the car to capacity, paying a bit extra for a roof box will probably prove to be money well spent. Start to remove those seats of course, and you quickly arrive at van-like levels of carrying capacity (103.
4 cu ft with two seats in place). The engines are both worthwhile although if youre talking petrol power, combined fuel economy is substantially better in the 5-speed manual model (30.1 mpg as opposed to 26.9 mpg for the 4-speed auto).
Sales data shows that relatively few petrol Previa buyers have chosen the stick shift. Most appear to feel that the automatic better suits the smooth, unruffled characteristics of the astonishingly refined VVT-i engine. Rest to sixty occupies 10.9s on the way to a maximum of 115mph, though acceleration figures through the gears reveal a more leisurely performer.
With the D4-D turbo diesel version, you can expect to see nigh-on 40mpg with a restrained right foot. Rest to sixty occupies 13.6s on the way to a maximum of 109mph. Either way, ride and handling characteristics are well controlled, without ever encouraging you to venture near the cars limits.
The latest changes only reaffirm the notion that for little more than the price of a well-appointed
mini-MPV, the Previa offers the sort of space and feel-good factor that are leagues removed. Its just a case of choosing the right tool for the job. If you need to transport more than five people on a regular basis, a mini-MPV isnt going to cut it as a long-term proposition. The Previa merely demonstrates how it should be done.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Toyota Previa range
PRICES: £20,405-£24,955 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 11-12
CO2 EMISSIONS: 191-259g/km
PERFORMANCE: [2.4] Max Speed 115mph / 0-60mph 10.9s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.4] (urban) 20.0mpg / (extra urban) 33.2mpg / (combined) 26.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags and side / ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, seven three-point seatbelts
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4750/1790/1795mm
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