2016 Toyota Previa (Estima)
facelift
The 2016
Toyota Estima facelift has been revealed, following early leaks of the MPV on
multiple occasions. The Estima now gets a much more aggressive design
to ensure the decade-old model exhibits a more youthful appearance to all.
The attention-grabbing front
now features a new bumper, which sports a trapezoidal look that echoes the
current Vios, along with a blacked out grille section. Just beside it, there
are LED DRLs that extend upwards, towards the significantly slimmer LED headlamps.
A thin chrome trim piece with the Estima logo links the lighting units here.
Also new here is a two-tone paintjob, which can be specified by the buyer.
Look at the sides, updates
include new side skirts and alloy wheels. As for the rear, there doesn’t seem
to be a whole lot of changes, appearing almost the same as the current model.
Upon closer inspection, the bumper has been slightly reshaped to provide more
definition. New LED rear combination tail lamps and an “aero stabiliser” fin
have been added as well.
Inside, the
dashboard may retain a similar layout, but has been revamped, featuring a
separate centre piece. New items here include a three-spoke multi-function
steering wheel, touch-based air-con controls, reshaped air-con vents, more
premium trim and upholstery, plus a 2.6-inch TFT colour multi-information
display. A variety of seating configurations are also available to buyers, with
capacity for up to eight people, and support for disabled access.
For the Japanese market, the
Estima will be offered as a petrol or hybrid version. For the former, the
outgoing model’s 3.5 litre V6 petrol engine will no longer be available.
Instead, there is now a 2.4 litre 2AZ-FE four-cylinder (170 PS and 224 Nm) that
drives the front wheels via a Super CVT-I transmission.
The hybrid
powertrain employs the 2.4-litre 2AZ-FXE (150 PS and 190 Nm) with two electric
motors, effectively providing electric all-wheel drive to the MPV. According to
the Japanese carmaker, the non-hybrid Estima has a fuel economy rating of 11.4
km/l under the JC08 test cycle. The hybrid version will accomplish a more
impressive 18 km/l.
Safety is priority too,
with the Toyota Safety Sense C package fitted on all variants as standard
equipment. A combination of laser radar and cameras help facilitate functions
such as a pre-collision system, Lane Departure Alert and Automatic High Beam.
As for chassis revisions, Toyota has fitted a front performance damper to help
absorb vibrations while driving, while providing better handling.
Prices for the facelifted
Toyota Estima start at the 3,473,000 yen mark, and go all the way
up to 4,987,000 yen.
