Is the toyota sienna the new model of the toyota previa in the usa?

Question

but different name and body style FOR 1998 - 2007

Answer 1

The Sienna was the replacement for the Previa here in the U.S. back in 1998. It's a minivan based on the Camry V6- meaning it has more power and smoother ride than the Previa had but it still cant tow like the old 4 cylinder, rear drive Previa, In fact, the Sienna was designed just for the U.S. The original Previa still sold well in other markets and has been redesigned a couple of times but the Previa remains a successful vehicle outside North America.

Answer 2

Toyotatech is right to a degree. I have a 2002 Sienna and a 1992 Previa. The Sienna is more updated and has more power, but I've had less problems with my Previa. The driveshaft that he mentioned on the Previa doesn't need to be replaced. The bushings on it wear out and any mechanic can replace the bushings for less than $300 . The bushings can be bought on ebay for around $70. However, being a Toyota tech, the previous answer knows that the dealer replaces the entire shaft for around $1500. Toyota dealers will sell you the bushings for $250 if you want to do it yourself but they wont just replace the bushings. Kinda reminds me of the Camry and Lexus ES300. Same car mechanically, but if you went to Toyota for a replacement Camry V6 alternator and you have the Lexus ES300, they wont sell you the alternator. Also, the same alternator costs you more for the part because it's for a Lexus. Anyway, my mechanic told me that the shaft should only need replacing if it's damaged (ie, an accident). My bushings were replaced once at 258,000 miles. The A/C on the 1991 models (the first year) had a recall but the other years didn't have problems. I've recharged mine twice and at this time, I'm at 342,000 trouble-free miles on original engine and transmission. I've seen more than a handful of Previas with over 500,000 miles on original engines as well. In fact, I saw one a while ago with almost 800,000 miles!! My Sienna on the other hand has had the headgasket replaced at 78,000 miles. In fact, a lot of the pre-1995 Siennas had this problem. It was caused by oil sludging. I am meticulous with my vehicles and I still had the problem. Toyota makes you feel like it's your fault that it happens when it is a known head design flaw. Unfortunately, the replacement is the same head, so expect it to go out again if you dont take the extra steps to prevent it- like using engine flush every other oil change. Camrys, Solaras, Highlanders,Lexus ES300, Lexus RX300- all of them have the engine sludge problem. Toyota has a TSB on it, but they don't make it easy for you to get it replaced free of charge. Also. Sienna does have a decent build quality but the Previa looks and feels like it was better built. Another thing to consider is that the Previa is still being produced. The Sienna is designed for the U.S. The rest of the world gets Previas. The Previa we had was discontinued for the U.S. in 1997, but the rest of the world had them for 2 more years before any redesign. It sold well in Europe and Asia. Check the web and see what the current Previa looks like. My vote will go to the Previa. While it's only a 4 cylinder and isn't exactly mechanic-friendly because of engine location, reliability wise I haven't seen a Sienna that has held up as well as a Previa in the long run.

Answer 3

The Sienna replaced the Previa in the US. The Previa had a mid engine and RWD, the Sienna has front engine FWD, so not just a name and body change, it's an entirely different vehicle.