Greg

TEST DRIVE

THE SEVEN-passenger

Toyota Previa minivan is
now in its third year, and
its aerodynamic, teardrop
shape still looks remarkably
contemporary, even when
compared to more recent
minivan designs.

Fortunately, practical con-
Siderations haven’t been swept
aside in the name of styling.

The Previa offers such expected
minivan features as seven-
Passenger seating with - reclining
rear bench seats or bucket seats,
sliding rear side door, lift-up rear
hatch door, and removable rear
seats (the third seat splits in the
middle and folds up to the sides).

The. huge 157-cubic-foot cargo
area. will fit 4X6 sheets of
plywood, or what-have-vou, be-
tween the wheel wells.

However, the Previa differs
from other minivans in ‘some im-
portant respects.

First of all, the Previa was
designed with a purpose-built
platform exclusive to the Previa,
as opposed to some minivans
which are based on older car plat-
forms.

The Previa’s drivetrain layout is
unique: the engine is mounted on
its side under the floor between
the driver and passenger and
drives the rear wheels (full-time
four-wheel drive is also available).

With its rear-wheel-drive layout
and the engine mounted low and
towards the centre of the vehicle,
the Previa has a better front-to-
Tear weight balance than most
minivans.

This contributes to unusually
good handling for such a tall
vehicle.

In other words, the Previa
drives more like a car than some
minivans, which is exactly what
many people are looking for.

However, the position of the
engine has some drawbacks.

The standard 2.4-litre four-
cylinder engine is closer to the
driver and passenger, and it’s a
trifle noisy under hard accelera-
tion. During normal acceleration
and at cruising speeds, however,
the drivetrain is acceptably quiet.

The fuel-injected 16-valve
twin-cam = 2.4-Hure four-cylinder
engine has 138 horsepower,
enough — but not more than
enough ~— to pull the -Previa'’s

‘1,572 kg curb weight plus passen-
_ gers and cargo.

Since it has rear-wheel drive,

_
ce

’ NEWS photos Mike Wakefield

THE REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE Toyota Previa minivan offers standard seven-passenger seating, driver’s-side airbag, a 2.4-litre four-
cylinder engine with 138 horsepower, and optional anti-iock brakes. The Previa is also available with full-time four-wheel drive tor
improved winter traction.

the Previa offers a surprisingly
good towing capacity of up to
1,587 kg (3,500 !bs.).

But uniike most minivans, the
Previa is not offered with a V6
engine. A six-cylinder engine
would undoubtedly offer more
low-end torque and quieter run-
ning performance, but Toyota has
no plans to offer one.

The fact is, a V6 engine is just
too big to fit in ‘the engine bay
under the floor, The Previa is a
four-cylinder van, period.

You might expect the four-
cylinder Previa to get better fuel
economy than a six-cylinder van,
bur this is not the case: the
Previa’s highway/city ratings of
13.5/9.8 litres per 100 kilometres
are the same or worse than other
V6 minivans.

For those who want improved
safety, traction and control in POPULAR GPTIONS include captain's chairs, separated front and
winter driving, the four-wheel- rear air-conditioning systems, and power windows and door
drive Previa is the way to go, al- focks.
though it doesn’t come cheap.

Its base price of $26,538 is marked, and outward visibility in| and electrically operated outside

Price as tested $31,168

Base price $21,448

Type seven-passenger,
three-door minivan

Layout longitudinal mid-
engine/rear-wheel drive
Engine 2.4-litre four-
cylinder, DOHC, 16 valves,
electronic multi-point fuel in-
jection

Horsepower 138 at 5,0C0 rpm
Torque 154 Ibs.-ft. ut 4,000
rpm

Transmission five-speed
manual/four-speed automatic
GVWR 2,409 kg/5,310 tbs.
Payload 801 kg/1,765 Ibs.
Wheelbase 2,865 mm/112.8
in.

Length 4,750 mm/187.0 in.
Width 1,800 mm/70.9 in.
Heights 1,745 mm/68.7 in.
Tires P215/65R-15 Dunlop

about $5,000 more than the all directions is excellent. — mirrors. . radials
two-wheel-drive model and fuel Two-wheel-drive Previas start Popular options include cap- Cargo capacity 4,460 litres/
consumption is slightly wo-'se. at $21,448, and come well equip- tain’s chairs, separated front and 157 8 cu ft ,

But there’s no denying that the ped. Standard equipment includes rear air-conditioning systems,
winter traction of full-time a five-speed manual transmission, power windows and door locks,
four-wheel drive is significantly six-speaker AM/FM_ stereo/ front and rear sunroofs, alloy

Fuel economy City 13.5 L/
100 km, 21 mpg; Hwy 9.8

superior to rear-wheel drive. cassette player, seven-passenger wheels, and an anti-lock braking L/100 km, 29 mpg
The Previa’s interior layout is seating with front reclining system that includes rear disc Warranty Basic three yrs./
unique, too. buckets with armrests and reclin- brakes instead of the standard 60,000 km Powertrain five
The central dash area sweeps in ing rear bench seats, driver’s-side drum brakes. years/100,000 km
close to the driver and passenger airbag, variable power-assisted A fully equipped Previa LE Inquire about the Previa at

so that most controls can be steering and tilt steering wheel, tops out at about $31,000 while a
teached from the seat without tachometer, rear window wiper/ loaded four-wheel-drive LE is
having to fean forwards. All in- washer/defroster, intermittent priced ver $33,000. Freight. and
struments and controls are clearly wipers, cargo-area tonneau cover, charges are on top of that.

Jim) Pattison Toyota, 1765
Marine- Drive, North Van-
couver. ‘

reaettararen hs