Toyota’s Weirdest Minivan May Be Coming Back After Years Away

Remember the Previa?

When the minivan scene exploded in the '80s, Toyota tried to ride the wave in the U.S by bringing the Lite Ace stateside and simply calling it the Van. It wasn't exactly a smash hit and had a tendency to overheat due to its cab-over design. Toyota tried again with the Previa in 1990, and it proved to be a far more successful design.

It was sold in the U.S for the 1991 model year and lasted until 1997. Also known as the Estima in Japan and Tarago in Australia, it featured a mid-engined layout that maximized interior space, all while wrapped in an egg-like body that's oh-so '90s. The first generation was a collaboration between Japanese and American designers and would set the blueprint for future Toyota minivans.

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No Direct Successors

In the U.S, the Previa was eventually replaced by the more conventional Sienna in 1998, but the model spawned two more generations outside of North America. The second-gen was produced from 2000 to 2005, moving the engine to the front along the way. The third and final iteration would run for a whopping 13 years from 2006 to 2019. It was effectively succeeded by the Alphard and Vellfire, which eventually spawned the Lexus LM. Quite the family tree, we say.

Since the Previa's worldwide discontinuation, there hasn't been a direct successor. That said, the Japanese market and a couple of others in Asia have alternatives to it. There are the aforementioned Alphard and Vellfire, along with the smaller, narrower Noah and Voxy. Those are actually pretty neat vans, but the slab-sided family buses are nothing like the egg-shaped Previa and Estima.

Potential Comeback

Now, a report from Japan has said that the Previa could return soon. In this case, it's called Estima for the Japanese Domestic Market. According to MotorFan, it will serve as the more 'driver-oriented' family shuttle, whereas the Alphard is more for the chauffeured crowd.

Before anyone gets too excited, do note that Japanese reports tend to sound overly eager. That said, some reports published years earlier proved accurate, such as the return of the Pajero and Montero. Still, it's good to be a little cautious.

Interestingly, though, Toyota has been going on a trademark spree with the JDM name of Estima. It was registered in Japan last year, as well as in the EU, the U.S, Australia, and New Zealand, to name a few. More recently, it was officially registered in Malaysia and Canada. Of course, this could simply be the company protecting its name, but it doesn't rule out a comeback, either.

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Bold Claims

Motor Fan goes so far as to claim that the revived Estima/Previa will likely come with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It's not totally far from reality, as Toyota makes PHEVs, although it's a little too early to call it right now. The publication also speculated that the minivan will follow the form of its predecessors, but we doubt it'll retain the mid-engined layout of the first generation.

But for the boldest claim, it has to be the premiere date itself. A concept model may be revealed at the 2027 Japan Mobility Show, followed by the production model in 2028. Admittedly, things look a little far-fetched right now, but it could also be the revival that might surprise us.