What runs supercharged power, has available all-wheel drive, met 1997 passenger car side-impact standards six years early, is as reliable as a Retriever, and boasts one of the most uniquely attractive shapes on the road? A high-profile sports car? A concept vehicle from the early '90s? Give up? It's the Toyota Previa minivan. That's right. A minivan. And in addition to all of these fine attributes, the Previa adds dual airbags, comfortable seating for seven, optional antilock brakes, and up to 152.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

Toyota minivans come only with a supercharged engine this year; a wise move by product planners since the old base four-cylinder engine was a wheezemeister when it came to traversing anything with an incline. Previas are sold in DX or step-up LE trim, either rear-drive or with permanent All-Trac four-wheel drive.

Acceleration with the 161-horsepower, 2.4-liter supercharged engine is strong. However, it tends to be noisy, and gas mileage isn't the greatest. Worse yet, premium fuel is recommended. A four-speed automatic is the only transmission choice. The engine is mounted amidships, below the floor, but major service points are accessible from under the front hood.

Seven people sit in reasonable comfort, with a fair amount of cargo space out back. Either or both sides of the split rear seat folds outward against the bodysides for extra cargo-hauling capacity, while the two-passenger center seat can be removed completely. Swivel-recline captain's chairs can be installed instead, and two-wheel-drive LE Previas can have dual power moonroofs--that's right, a pair of openings to the sky. Standard LE fittings include power door locks and windows, as well as dual air conditioners.

Unlike some competitors, Previas exhibit a distinctively rounded profile--one of the first minivans to go with curvaceous lines rather than a boxy shape. Previas aren't exactly cheap, and lack a V6 engine option, but like other Toyotas, they provoke relatively few complaints from owners.

Vehicles like this make us wonder why so many people are scooping up underpowered, less capable sport utilities. We like the Previa. You might too.

1996 Highlights

All Previas now have supercharged power.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 1996 Toyota Previa.

Overall Consumer Rating

4.88 reviews

Write a review See all 8 reviews

5(75%)

4(25%)

3(0%)

2(0%)

1(0%)

Most helpful consumer reviews

They Don't Make 'em Like This Any More

Mark Flick,07/06/2009

I bought this Previa used with only 12,000 miles on it. I now have over 216,000 miles and maintenance costs have been minimal. Word of advice: do not ignore the "CHECK ENGINE" light. I did and a blocked catalytic converter caused the head gasket to fail. I live in Colorado and the AWD is a big help in winter. I've stopped buying snow tires. The supercharged engine still has plenty of

Big Van in Small Body

opsofficer,07/05/2004

Nothing comes close for sheer usable space. Visibility and handing are great. At 170000 miles, it needed a drive shaft but a good independent garage made that a $400 repair instead of the $1000 the dealer wanted. Hope it goes another 170000. If you can find one for $10K get it because Previa owners alone know just what a gem these are. Hard to work on, but needs work so

The Best Minivan Ever Made

937auto,05/25/2002

These are the ultimate vehicles. Pricing,economy, and all options and features are totally satisfying.

1996 Toyota Previa

wbscifi,06/21/2002

Nice to Drive & great on curves handles like a car.

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Features & Specs

MPG

16 city / 20 hwy

Seats 0

4-speed automatic

Gas

N/A

MPG

16 city / 20 hwy

Seats 0

4-speed automatic

Gas

N/A

MPG

15 city / 19 hwy

Seats 0

4-speed automatic

Gas

N/A

MPG

15 city / 19 hwy

Seats 0

4-speed automatic

Gas

N/A

See all Used 1996 Toyota Previa features & specs

Safety

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Driver4 / 5
Passenger3 / 5
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
RolloverNot Rated
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of RolloverNot Rated

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Side Impact Test
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested
IIHS Small Overlap Front Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test
Poor

More about the 1996 Toyota Previa

Used 1996 Toyota Previa Overview

The Used 1996 Toyota Previa is offered in the following submodels: Previa Minivan. Available styles include DX 3dr Minivan, LE 3dr Minivan, LE All-Trac 3dr Minivan AWD, and DX All-Trac 3dr Minivan AWD.

What's a good price on a Used 1996 Toyota Previa?

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Should I lease or buy a 1996 Toyota Previa?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.

Used 1996 Toyota Previa

Used