Toyota’s Previa arrived in North America for the 1991 model year as an unusually styled, purpose-built minivan that stood apart from the more conventional vans of its era. Toyota developed it as a family hauler with a distinctly aerodynamic shape and a packaging-first layout that gave it a reputation for clever use of space and a very different driving feel from the boxier rivals on sale at the time. The nameplate became one of Toyota’s most recognizable 1990s people movers, especially for buyers who wanted something more distinctive than the mainstream choice.
The first-generation Previa ran through the 1997 model year in the United States and Canada, after which Toyota replaced it in North America with the Sienna for 1998. In Toyota’s own historical materials, the Previa is identified as a single first-generation run from 1991 to 1997, which makes that span the definitive production period for this nameplate in the market most commonly associated with it. Its unusual engineering and memorable shape have helped it remain a cult favorite among Toyota enthusiasts and minivan history fans alike.