Original test date: March 2004

AT a time when car manufacturers are competing with each other to see just how far they can shrink a people carrier before it loses the ability to carry people it’s refreshing to come across a real man-sized MPV.

The Toyota Previa is a giant, even among the ranks of MPVs (that’s multi-purpose vehicles), and only the Renault Espace can compete.

When it arrived on these shores a few years ago Toyota’s people carrier was about as futuristic as it was possible to get.

A mild restyle has squared off the egg-shaped silhouette and freshened up the Previa’s face. Available as a seven or eight seater, drivers with large families will be drawn to the eight-seat option mainly because the third bench folds up when not required.

This transforms the Previa’s boot into a massive cavern capable of swallowing the largest objects.

Without a family to shoe-horn inside I packed the Prev with a pair of alumnium step-ladders, four Wolf-race sonic alloy wheels and tyres (don’t ask), five bin bags of assorted junk and still had space enough for a supermarket shop and four adult passengers.

The Toyota’s seats don’t actually detach from the vehicle – unlike the Ford Galaxy – but they do move up and down on rails to maximise luggage space or legroom.

At first I thought Ford’s approach would be the way to go but Toyota’s gliding seats make it the work of a moment to adjust your interior space.

Removing seats from people carriers can be heavy going (quite literally) and, after a short while, I was glad of the Toyota’s solution. It may not be as elegant but it’s a darn sight easier, particularly when you are in a rush. The good news doesn’t end their, either.

Step inside the roomy cabin and you’ll find more evidence of clear thinking like an amazing 18 storage holders for cups, wallets, maps, colour booking and CDs.

Only the truly disorganised will leave the Previa’s interior looking a mess, there’s no excuse for not putting all that debris in its place.

For such a large vehicle the Previa goes well, too. Ours had the diesel engine that, while not the quietest example now available, is flexible and economical.

It won’t set any land speed records fully loaded or not, but it cruises easily and still manages to eek nearly 40 miles from each gallon.

Equipment levels are high – our mid-range GLS hits the road with alloy wheels, a CD player, soothing backlit Lexus style instruments, and a generous safety package.

Being a Toyota it’s also better built than many continental rivals and, even if it isn’t as nice to drive as a Sharan, it’s unlikely ever to let you down.

It’s also very keenly priced and offers an awful lot of room for the money.

It’s a strange thing but in this country at least, the people carrier market seems to have been stitched up by the Europeans.

My advice would be not to follow the herd – take a look at the Previa before you buy it might just change your mind.

Retro reflections: The Previa was among the last of the dinosaurs - a huge vehicle designed to carry lots of people and their luggage.

It was designed during Toyota's incredible expansion into the car making colossus we know today.

That fertile period gave us some tremendous cars - the original Lexus LS400, the Nautilus-like Celica, the F355-style MR2 and the incredible twin turbo Supra.

Every car Toyota unveiled at this time was a hit. The Japanese could do no wrong.

Previa had some innovative technology, the way the engine was buried partly beneath the floorpan preceded the Mercedes A-Class and the design really did try to provide accommodation and luggage space.

Today, a Previa is a bit like a London bus - well regarded by fans but rather old-fashioned in an era when a car half the size can still carry seven people.

Get a cheap one and it will prove to be a reliable workhorse - just be prepared for the hefty running costs.