Specifications of a Toyota Minivan
The Toyota minivan has evolved through a number of iterations since its introduction to North American markets in 1983. Starting out as the clunky, boxy-looking Toyota Van or VanWagon, the Toyota minivan has progressed through the Toyota Previa to today's very stylish Toyota Sienna.
Engine/Drivetrain
The original VanWagon offered a choice of 1.8L or 2.0L four-cylinder gasoline or a 2.0L four-cylinder diesel engine mated to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission and either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive.
The Previa offered a 2.4L four-cylinder, with or without supercharging, mated to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission and either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. Although the second-generation Previa line included the world's first hybrid minivan, this version of the Previa never made it to the North American market. The Toyota Sienna took its place in North America instead.
The Sienna offers a choice of a 2.7L four-cylinder or 3.5L six-cylinder V6 gasoline engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission and either front-wheel or all-wheel drive.
Dimensions
The original VanWagon had a 175.8-inch length with an 88.0-inch wheelbase, producing a very bumpy ride and giving it a very short turning radius of 15 feet. With a width of 65.7 inches and a height of 70.3 inches, the VanWagon also ranks as the smallest of the Toyota minivans.
A length of 187.4 inches and a 112.8-inch wheelbase makes the Previa larger than the VanWagon that it replaced in 1990. Wider by over five inches at 70.8 inches and slightly higher at 70.5 inches, the Previa also has more overall interior room that the VanWagon before it.
The largest of the Toyota minivans, the Sienna measures out at 201 inches in length with a wheelbase of 119.3 inches. Add in a width of 77.4 inches and this makes the Sienna the largest of the Toyota minivans to date. The Sienna stands slightly lower than previous minivans with a height of only 68.9 inches. With its aerodynamic styling, the Toyota Sienna presents a sleeker, more modern appearance.
Features
Some features available for the VanWagon such as air conditioning, power door locks, power windows and captain's chairs have continued into the later iterations of the minivan. ABS brakes, four-wheel disc brakes, seven or eight-passenger seating, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, dual sliding side doors and an AM/FM CD player with MP3 playback add to the list of features of the current Toyota minivan models.
Overall, the Toyota minivan has come a long way from its inception as the Toyota VanWagon to the current Sienna models.