Commonly known as the Previa in the UK, the Toyota Estima was launched in 1990. Over its three generations it underwent serious face changes to compete well with European minivans such as Renault Espace and VW Sharan. Although Estima was discontinued in Europe due to aggressive pricing from Ford and VW in 2006, the second and third generation are among the most desirable minivans in the UK. A used Toyota Previa or Estima would cost between £ 2,000 and £ 12,000, depending on its model, mileage and condition. Now, before making the decision, it is favorable that all the pros and cons of this great MPV are studied, so here is its brief description.
Pros
- Estima comes with all the safety features one expects from a full-size family minivan; From airbags to collapsing pedals to crumple zone, even today it is among the safest vehicles on the market.
- It comes loaded with equipment, spacious and comfortable 7 reclining seats, all with headrests, independent air conditioning for the front and rear, audio system, central locking and power window options are just the tip of the iceberg.
- When it comes to reliability, you can always bet on Toyota and Estima is no exception. The best build quality and top-of-the-line reliability have kept its resale value and appeal high.
- Despite being large, it is agile to drive and handles like a car on all roads.
- The controls are tilted toward the driver and positioned in the center of the dash, making them more driver-friendly to operate.
- Even after crossing 100,000 miles on your Estima, you will find many people willing to buy it at a reasonable price, but you can definitely expect better performance than Renault and Ford.
Cons
- Although Toyota offered 3.0 and 3.5-liter gasoline engines in the second and third generation respectively, the 2.4-liter gasoline engine was programmed for the European and British markets, making the Toyota Estima engine a low-power engine, compared to its rivals.
- Despite having a 2.4-liter gasoline engine, it is not an environmentally friendly minivan. With CO2 emissions hitting the 256g / km mark, Estima won’t save you money on taxes.
- Although its build quality is impeccable, some of its parts are expensive. Also, due to the high demand for Estimas, Toyota dealers charge a premium even on used models.
Its pros definitely outweigh its cons, with an underpowered Toyota Estima engine being the only real downside. However, before you buy used Estima, ask for the full service history and ownership record, just to be safe.
