Toyota has globally revealed its next-generation luxury people mover, the Alphard, and its sporty companion model, the Vellfire.
Both people movers are incredibly popular globally, and rank as one of Australia’s most frequently grey-imported vehicles.
Unlike the Toyota Australia-backed Granvia which is only available with a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine sourced from the HiAce commercial van, the new-generation Alphard is available with the choice of a 2.5-litre petrol engine (134kW/235Nm) or a 2.5-litre petrol hybrid (184kW combined).
Meanwhile, the sporty Vellfire is able to be equipped with either the hybrid system or Toyota’s new 2.4-litre turbocharged engine (205kW/430Nm) which replaces the previous 3.5-litre V6 engine option.
All versions are CVT driven apart from the 2.4-litre turbo Vellfire which uses an eight-speed torque converter, while all-wheel drive is also available across the range in its home market of Japan.
The new Alphard and Vellfire pair move onto Toyota’s TNGA-K chassis shared by the current Camry, Kluger and Lexus RX, promising improvements to handling and refinement. The new people movers also include extensive dampening to increase cabin ambiance, and the suspension includes frequency-responsive dampers to increase ride quality.
While the new model has barely grown from the outside to remain compliant with various Japanese class regulations, interior space has been expanded slightly in the new design.
New features include a ‘Super-Long Overhead Console’ which offers controls, air vents, ambient LED interior lighting and storage. The seats have been enhanced with memory foam, and for the first time, Toyota has included integrated pull-down sunshades for the rear windows.
The styling, meanwhile, does not stray far from the formula long-established by the people mover pair, with a huge chrome-embossed face for the Alphard, and a more GR-inspired blocky satin look for the Vellfire.
The interior inherits many components reserved for the Lexus marque in export markets, like the huge multimedia panel, digital instrument cluster, and digital shifter in high-grade examples.
While Toyota Australia has reiterated its commitment to the Granvia in the past, the confirmation of the Lexus version of the Alphard (the Lexus LM) for our market, could give the brand the economy of scale it needs to finally factory-back the popular Alphard and Vellfire range.
Speaking to CarsGuide recently, a brand representative said: “Toyota is always considering exciting new models as they become available for our market, but we have no announcements to make today.”
The Alphard is priced from the equivalent of AU$55,792 to $90,094 in Japan, while the Vellfire is priced between $67,674 and $92,172. Meanwhile the comparatively unpopular Granvia is priced from $67,250 to $77,950 before on-roads.
Lexus Australia has recently said it is ‘inundated’ with interest in the incoming LM, but has yet to reveal pricing for its ultra-luxury people mover. As it is grey importers are forking out between $75,000 and $130,000 for late model grey-imported Alphards and Vellfires, so both brands certainly have latitude in the pricing department.
Keyword: 2024 Toyota Alphard revealed: Legendary Toyota people mover debuts with hybrid and turbo power, but will it ever come to Australia?