Toyota Alphard and Toyota Vellfire: The Ultimate Luxury Minivans

If you are looking for a spacious, comfortable, and luxurious minivan that can accommodate up to seven passengers, consider checking out the Toyota Alphard and Toyota Vellfire. These two models are the flagship minivans of Toyota, offering a premium driving experience and a host of advanced features. In this article, we will explore the latest versions of these minivans, which were launched in June 2023 with gasoline and hybrid electric options.

What are the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire?

The Toyota Alphard and Toyota Vellfire are minivans that were first introduced in 2002 as the ultimate Toyota minivans for customers who appreciated luxury. They have a similar body size and layout but differ in their exterior and interior design. The Alphard has a more elegant and refined appearance, while the Vellfire has a more aggressive and sporty look. Both models have three rows of seats that can be configured in various ways to suit different needs and preferences.

The Toyota Alphard and Toyota Vellfire have undergone several upgrades and improvements over the years, with the latest fourth-generation models being launched in June 2023. These models have a new design concept of "Forceful x IMPACT LUXURY," which conveys a sense of powerful, dynamic forward charge while maintaining a spacious interior. They also have improved performance, comfort, safety, and environmental features, making them more attractive and competitive in the minivan market.

What are the main features of the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire?

The Toyota Alphard and Toyota Vellfire have many features that make them stand out from other minivans. Here are some of the main ones:

Engine and transmission: The Alphard and Vellfire have two engine options: a 2.4-liter turbo engine that delivers 215 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque and a 2.5-liter hybrid electric engine that delivers 178 horsepower and 221 Nm of torque. Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that provides smooth and responsive driving. The hybrid electric engine also has an E-Four system that distributes power to all four wheels for better stability and traction.
Suspension: The Alphard and Vellfire have a new double-wishbone rear suspension that reduces vibration and noise and enhances ride comfort. The Vellfire also has a special suspension tuning that improves handling and agility.
Design: The Alphard and Vellfire have a distinctive front grille that expresses their personality. The Alphard has a chrome-plated grille with horizontal bars, while the Vellfire has a mesh grille with vertical bars. The headlights are also different: the Alphard has LED headlights with daytime running lights, while the Vellfire has LED projector headlights with sequential turn signals. The rear design is also unique: the Alphard has LED taillights with clear lenses, while the Vellfire has LED taillights with smoked lenses.
Interior: The Alphard and Vellfire have a luxurious and spacious interior that can accommodate up to seven passengers. The seats are made of leather or fabric, depending on the grade, and can be adjusted electronically or manually. The second-row seats can be reclined up to 180 degrees and have an Ottoman feature that provides leg support and massage functions. The third-row seats can be folded flat to create more cargo space. The dashboard has a 12.3-inch touchscreen display that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a 7-inch multi-information display that shows various driving information. The rear passengers can also enjoy a 13.3-inch entertainment screen that can play DVDs or connect to smartphones or tablets.
Safety: The Alphard and Vellfire have many safety features that protect the driver and passengers from accidents and injuries. Some of these features are Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, which includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, automatic high beams, blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist with front and rear sensors and panoramic view monitor, rear seat reminder, airbags for all seats, anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist, vehicle stability control with traction control, hill-start assist control, emergency stop signal, tire pressure monitoring system.

How much do the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire cost?

The Toyota Alphard and Toyota Vellfire have different prices depending on the engine, grade, and market. In Japan, the Toyota Alphard starts from 4,950,000 yen (about $44,500) for the gasoline version and 5,650,000 yen (about $50,800) for the hybrid version. The Vellfire starts from 4,950,000 yen (about $44,500) for the gasoline version and 5,650,000 yen (about $50,800) for the hybrid version. The top-tier Executive Lounge grade costs 8,100,000 yen (about $72,800) for the Alphard and 7,900,000 yen (about $71,000) for the Vellfire.

In Singapore, the Alphard starts from $279,888 (about $206,400) for the gasoline version and $299,888 (about $221,200) for the hybrid version. The Toyota Vellfire starts from $269,888 (about $199,000) for the gasoline version and $289,888 (about $213,800) for the hybrid version.

In USA, the Toyota Alphard and Toyota Vellfire are expected to be launched in late 2023 or early 2024. The prices are not yet announced, but they are likely to be higher than the current models that start from about $116,700 for the Vellfire.

Conclusion

The Toyota Alphard and Toyota Vellfire are two of the world's most luxurious and comfortable minivans. They offer a premium driving experience and a host of advanced features that cater to different customers' needs and preferences. They are also environmentally friendly with their hybrid electric options and their future plans to introduce plug-in hybrid vehicles. If you are looking for a minivan that can bring you and your passengers the joy of comfortable mobility, you might want to consider the Toyota Alphard or Vellfire.