Toyota Previa

BACK in 1990, when Toyota launched its Previa people carrier in the UK, I had a resident family large enough to fill one of these monsters. I'd have bought one if it had been ú10,000 cheaper on-the-road, came with a diesel engine, and had a sliding door on the right as well as the nearside.

Previa still hasn't got an oil-burner, although that's coming next year, but it does have a twin set of doors. Too late for me, but the latest generation Toyota MPV is priced closer to real life for those who actually need a seven/eight-seater - although the market is widening and moving away from the luxury bracket with the introduction of compact MPVs such as the Vauxhall Zafira.

The new Previa has had its petrol engine enlarged from 2.3 to 2.4-litres and it's been moved forward from amidships and given front-wheel drive. That's done wonders for space and handling, but restyling has been just as dramatic. Sleek exterior lines are firmly in the school of new edge and there are starship pretensions in the cabin. Toyota calls it 'one-wave' design, which includes flexible options from two to eight seats, a usable boot, and a neat captain's bridge console incorporating audio, air vents, controls, auto gearshift and analogue meters.

Trims are GS manual, GS auto, GLS auto and CDX auto with prices ranging from less than ú20,000 on-the-road to ú24,450.