The Previa's double-curved dashboard has a distinctly sci-fi look about it - part lunar lander, part George Jetson. The major instruments are readily visible, and the sliding climate controls are mounted high in the center where they're easy to locate and use.
However, we've seen better ways of managing secondary controls. The Previa's are mounted on stalks, and there are too many of them jutting out of the steering column.
Having the engine in the middle of the van creates a good news/bad news story regarding interior space utilization. The good news is that with no engine up front, there's not much Previa ex-tending beyond the front wheels, which gives the driver an excellent view. The bad news is that the engine housing cuts off the front-seat pass-through that so many minivan buyers like.
Our Previa's seats were comfortable, with high-grade cloth upholstery. The standard seating setup is buckets up front, with two bench seats in the rear. Our van came with optional captain's chairs in the middle.
Even with its optional dual moonroofs, our Previa had plenty of headroom, and its legroom was good at all three seating positions.
Cargo capacity is also a plus, even though the Previa's trim exterior makes it look small. There's a 32.5 cu. ft. well behind the split-bench rear seat, and cargo access through the big rear hatch is excellent. Set up for maximum cargo space, the Previa can ingest more than 150 cu. ft. of stuff.
We expected to be impressed with the Previa's overall quality - it's a Toyota, after all - and we were. Inside and out, this minivan shows careful attention to assembly detail and final finish. That's why it has scored top customer-satisfaction marks with J.D. Powers for three years running.
Safety provisions are also good. The Previa has dual airbags, side-impact door beams and 3-point seat belts in all outboard positions. Anti-lock brakes are available as an option on both models.
Besides providing our Previa with a welcome measure of additional oomph for passing and keeping up with traffic, the supercharged engine had another benefit. It's quieter than the standard engine, largely because it doesn't have to work quite as hard to get the job done.
Even so, there's still a fair amount of noise when you tramp on the throttle. Although the engine is insulated with lots of sound-deadening material, it still lets you know that it's right there with you, instead of out front.
The Ford Windstar is just about the quietest of the bunch right now. The Previa falls a little south of mid-pack.
In terms of ride and handling, however, the Previa is better than most. The mid-van engine layout gives a positive feel to all maneuvers, particularly those you have to execute in a hurry, and the suspension has a hearty appetite for nasty pavement - eats it up and spits it out smooth.
The Previa has lots of glass - that's why air conditioning is part of its standard equipment - giving drivers better-than-average sight lines. In this regard we found the hefty roof pillar just behind the front doors just a little annoying at first, but it didn't take us long to adjust.