1996 Toyota Previa Reviews, Pricing & Specs

For 1996, Toyota eliminated the less powerful engine and only offered the Previa with the supercharged engine. Compared to American made...

For 1996, Toyota eliminated the less powerful engine and only offered the Previa with the supercharged engine. Compared to American made minivans’ V6 engines, however, the Previa was still far less powerful than its competitors. Because of the engine’s position under the front seats, the Previa was unable to accommodate a larger engine.

The 1996 Previa came in four trims: the DLX, the DLX AllTrac, the LE, and the LE AllTrac. All shared a supercharged 2.4-liter, 161-horsepower four-cylinder engine. Fuel economy was about 17/21 mpg. The 1996 Previa sat seven people, and had the option of captains’ chairs in the second row instead of a bench. The last row of seats could be pinned to the sides of the car to create more cargo space.

The 1996 Previa is well liked because it offers more room than many other minivans; owners claim that even the third seat is roomy enough for adults. The front seats also offered plenty of legroom, and with the second row captains’ seats, the minivan is comfortable for passengers of all sizes. Those who still drive them today wish they had more modern features, like dual sliding doors, and many complain that the engine is not powerful enough for such a large vehicle. Because of the location of the engine, owners say repairs can be expensive.