Toyota Estima: history, nicknames and how to spot one

At a glance

98.6–276.1 hpPower

10.8 s0–100 km/h

167.4–180 km/hTop speed

190–344 N·mTorque

1,600–2,010 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.^{2,6,8,10,11,14,15,16}

Engine: 2.4 L I4, gen 1 also supercharged; gen 2/3 V6s: 3.0/3.5 L; hybrid/TD options^4,8,9,10
Layout: Gen 1: mid-engine RWD/AWD; gen 2-3: front-engine FWD/AWD^4,8,10
Gearbox: Gen 1: 5MT/4AT; gen 2: 4AT/hybrid CVT; gen 3: 2.4 L CVT, 3.5 L 6AT^4,9,10,13
Built at: Fujimatsu plant, Kariya, Japan; gen 3 also Motomachi^4,10

The story

Built for North America's minivan boom, the original hid its engine at 75 degrees under the floor for space and sedan-like handling. Estima, Previa and Tarago spanned three generations, 1990-2019.^1,4,5

GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones^{1,4,8,10,12,23,25,26}

Show the numbers

Year	What happened
From 1982	Toyota TownAce (R20/R30)
1982–1992	Toyota MasterAce Surf (YR20G)
From 1983	Toyota Spacecruiser
1990–1999	Toyota Estima / Previa / Tarago (first generation) (XR10/XR20)
From 2000	Toyota Estima T / Estima L (second generation) (ACR30W/ACR40W; MCR30W/MCR40W)
2006–2019	Toyota Estima (third generation) (XR50)
1990	Japan launch: a 75-degree underfloor four
1992	Lucida and Emina join the family
1994	Supercharged: 158 hp in Japan
2000	Estima T/L move the engine forward
2001	THS-C, E-Four and electronic brakes
2006	Third generation brings a 276-hp V6
2006	THS II: 187 hp and 10.8-sec 0-100 km/h
2016	Safety Sense C and black-roof paint
2019	Production ends after three generations

1990
Japan launch: a 75-degree underfloor four
The original paired a 2.4-liter engine tilted beneath the floor with a brief to combine sedan-like handling and generous cabin space.^1,5
1992
Lucida and Emina join the family
The smaller siblings arrived with distinct front and rear designs, a 2.2-liter turbodiesel option and a five-speed manual.^4,6
1994
Supercharged: 158 hp in Japan
The original Estima gained a supercharged engine in Japan; US Previa S/C models were rated at 161 hp.^1,4,7
2000
Estima T/L move the engine forward
The second generation merged Estima, Lucida and Emina into Estima T/L, moved the engine to the front and added a 3.0-liter V6.⁸
2001
THS-C, E-Four and electronic brakes
The world's first hybrid minivan paired THS-C with E-Four electric rear drive and ECB electronically controlled regenerative braking.^2,9
2006
Third generation brings a 276-hp V6
Designed for innovation and refinement, the new model gave seven-seaters 800-mm second-row seat travel and a third row that folded into the floor.^10,11
2006
THS II: 187 hp and 10.8-sec 0-100 km/h
The third-generation Hybrid switched to THS II with E-Four and placed its battery in the center console to free up seating arrangements.^2,10
2016
Safety Sense C and black-roof paint
Japan's facelift made Toyota Safety Sense C standard, added optional black-roof two-tone paint and left gasoline models with a 2.4-liter four.^4,12
2019
Production ends after three generations
Production ended in October after a run that began in 1990; the family had carried Estima, Previa and Tarago badges.⁴

Every generation

R20/R30From 1982
XR10/XR201990–1999
ACR30W/ACR40W; MCR30W/MCR40WFrom 2000
XR502006–2019
Toyota Sienna
H300
AH30

Power over the years

From 133 hp to 276 hp in 16 years.

^{1,4,6,7,8,10,14}

Show the numbers

Year	Horsepower	Model
1990	133	Original Estima 2TZ-FE
1991	138	1991 Previa LE
1992	99	Lucida/Emina 3C-T turbodiesel
1994	158	Japan Estima 2TZ-FZE
1994	161	US Previa S/C
2000	158	Estima T/L 2AZ-FE 2.4
2000	217	Estima T/L 1MZ-FE 3.0 V6
2006	168	Third-gen 2AZ-FE 2.4
2006	187	Third-gen Hybrid THS II (system)
2006	276	Third-gen 2GR-FE 3.5 V6

Versions

7 versions worth knowing, with their power.

Standard

Previa Deluxe / LE (US)

1991–1997
Standard

Estima T / L J, X and G

2000
Performance

Previa LE S/C All-Trac (US)

1994–1997

161 hp
Performance

Estima T / L Aeras-S

2003
Special

Estima Welcab (third generation)

2006
Special

Estima T / L Aeras G-EDITION

2003
Special

Estima Aeras VERY Edition

2014–2016

How to spot one

Look for

First generation: an egg-shaped body with a steeply raked windshield.^1,14
First generation: only one sliding rear side door.⁴
Second generation: sliding rear doors on both sides.⁸
Third generation: blacked-out pillars make the roof appear to float above the glass.^10,11
2016 facelift: slim headlights wrap around the sides above a huge lower grille.¹⁷

Year by year

1992–1994 (US)
A high-mounted brake light appeared in 1992; 1994 models gained a new front bumper and spoiler.^4,7
October 1993 (UK)
GX added alloy wheels and roof rails; a rear spoiler and revised wipers also arrived during this update.^4,23
December 1994 / January 1998
The first generation received two facelifts, each identifiable by a different grille design.⁴
May 2003
Six round headlamp elements and LED tail/brake lamps appeared; Aeras used a trapezoid bumper opening with round fog lights.¹⁸
May 2012
Aeras gained a revised grille and bumper plus new headlamp and rear-lamp colors; the hybrid range gained Aeras trim.²⁴
June 2016
Slim wraparound headlights, a huge lower grille and red-based LED rear lamps arrived; optional black-roof two-tone paint joined the palette.¹⁷

Don’t confuse it with

Estima
Toyota Alphard / Vellfire
Toyota Alphard / Vellfire
Their bodies are square and their noses more imposing; the third-generation Estima has a smoother, rounded silhouette.¹⁶
Estima
Toyota Noah
Toyota Noah
The Noah has a tall, square outline; the third-generation Estima sits visibly lower with a rounded, flowing profile.¹⁶

Against its rivals

Estima vs Chevrolet Astro (1992)

Power

Estima138 hp

Chevrolet Astro (1992)200 hp
²⁷
Estima vs Ford Aerostar XL Plus (1992)

Power

Estima138 hp

Ford Aerostar XL Plus (1992)155 hp
²⁷
Estima vs Dodge Caravan SE AWD (1992)

Price as tested lower is better

Estima$22,013

Dodge Caravan SE AWD (1992)$22,104
²⁷
Estima vs Mazda MPV (1992)

Power

Estima138 hp

Mazda MPV (1992)155 hp
²⁷

Prices

Value today $1.3K–$3.4K^1,7

Price when newAuction saleValue today

^{4,14,27,31,32,33,34,35,36,38,39}

Show the numbers

Year	Price	Amount	Detail
1991	Launch price	$13,998	US base price, 1991 model year
1991	Price when new	$16,608	US base, Deluxe All-Trac
1991	Price when new	$18,698	US base, LE
1991	Price when new	$20,995	US as tested, LE
1991	Price when new	$21,308	US base, LE All-Trac
1992	Price when new	$20,313	US base, All-Trac
1992	Price when new	$22,013	US as tested, All-Trac
2016	Auction sale	$7,300	1990 Estima 4WD, 26,600 km, BaT
2016	Auction sale	$6,000	1990 Estima 4WD, BaT
2020	Auction sale	$7,900	1993 Lucida turbodiesel 4WD 5-speed, 118k km, BaT
2023	Auction sale	$14,000	1996 Previa LE S/C, BaT
2024	Auction sale	$1,200	1992 Previa DX RWD 5-speed, 201k miles, Facebook Marketplace
2024	Auction sale	$3,300	1997 Estima Lucida X turbodiesel, 137k km, BaT
2025	Auction sale	$9,900	1996 Previa LE S/C, 83k miles, BaT
2025	Auction sale	$12,750	1994 Previa DX All-Trac, 48k miles, BaT
2025	Auction sale	$3,400	1991 Previa Deluxe, 92k miles, BaT
2026	Auction sale	$18,750	1994 Previa LE S/C All-Trac, 87k miles, BaT
2026	Value today	$1,300–$3,400

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

Versions
- Why each of the 7 versions matters
Legend
- 14 stories from its legend
- “Index of Effluency at The Ridge”
- “A Previa in All Cars Go to Heaven 2”
Generations
- The story of each of the 9 generations
Market
- 5 things to check before buying one
- Where prices are heading, and why

Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 39 sources

toyota-global.com
global.toyota
zenseeker.net
en.wikipedia.org
consumerguide.com
toyota.jp
caranddriver.com
redbook.com.au
webcg.net
mag.toyota.co.uk
carsales.com.au
24hoursoflemons.com
jalopnik.com
offroadium.com

At a glance

The story

Japan launch: a 75-degree underfloor four

Lucida and Emina join the family

Supercharged: 158 hp in Japan

Estima T/L move the engine forward

THS-C, E-Four and electronic brakes

Third generation brings a 276-hp V6

THS II: 187 hp and 10.8-sec 0-100 km/h

Safety Sense C and black-roof paint

Production ends after three generations

Every generation

Power over the years

Versions

Previa Deluxe / LE (US)

Estima T / L J, X and G

Previa LE S/C All-Trac (US)

Estima T / L Aeras-S

Estima Welcab (third generation)

Estima T / L Aeras G-EDITION

Estima Aeras VERY Edition

How to spot one

Look for

Year by year

Don’t confuse it with

Toyota Alphard / Vellfire

Toyota Noah

Against its rivals

Prices

The rest of the story is in the app

Versions

Legend

Generations

Market

Sources

Photo credits

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