Toyota Vellfire Makes a Grand Entrance with a Starting Price of JPY 4.27m (Rs 27.23 Lakh)

Toyota has recently unveiled its new VIP mobiles, the Alphard and Vellfire. While both vehicles offer opulent features and share the 2.5L hybrid powertrain, there are notable distinctions between them. The Alphard lacks the 2.4L turbo petrol option, whereas the Vellfire lacks the 2.5L naturally aspirated choice. Let's delve into the details of these luxurious models.

Pricing and Variants:

The Toyota Alphard and Vellfire come with a starting price of (approximately Rs. 27.23 lakh), but this is applicable only to the Welcab-assisted mobility vehicles available exclusively for the Alphard model.

The regular Alphard is priced between (around Rs. 31.17 lakh) and (approximately Rs. 50.34 lakh), while the Vellfire ranges from JPY 6.55 million (about Rs. 37.81 lakh) to JPY 8.92 million (around Rs. 51.48 lakh). We eagerly anticipate the launch of the new Vellfire in India, albeit at prices expected to be more than double those in Japan.

Enhanced Luxury and Refinement: Both the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire are based on the GA-K variant of the global TNGA platform. Toyota has devoted significant attention to enhancing its luxurious appeal. The vehicles boast 50% more chassis rigidity, thanks to improved adhesives, adaptive suspensions, rubber bushings in the seat frames, memory foam seats, reduced wind noise, low-noise tires, and sound-absorbing interior materials. These refinements contribute to a heightened sense of opulence and sophistication.

Distinctive Design Elements:

The Alphard and Vellfire exhibit visual differentiations through their front and rear designs while adhering to the "Forceful X Impact Luxury" theme. The Alphard features a parametric-effect grille and an LED DRL signature, while the Vellfire adopts a design similar to that of the Land Cruiser LC300. 

The Vellfire's appearance may remind some of the recently-debuted MG Maxus, as it shares similarities in the side profile, albeit with different wheels. Additionally, the vehicles sport unique taillights, with the Vellfire showcasing a sharp and contemporary wide LED bar signature.

Luxurious Interior Features: Inside the Alphard and Vellfire, occupants are greeted with a modern and minimalist dashboard. Wood inlays, a large central touchscreen infotainment screen, and a digital instrument console contribute to the sophisticated ambience. 

The middle-row individual seats, arranged in a 2+2+2 or 2+2+3 configuration, exude luxury akin to thrones. These seats offer a plethora of creature comforts, including electric seat adjustment, electric ottoman function, seat heating and ventilation, retractable tables, and pull-down window shades. Accessing these seats is seamless with automatic sliding doors and auto-retracting side steps, which provide a step height of 220 mm from the ground. 

An extended overhead console adds ambient lighting, and each second-row passenger has the option to open their side of the sunroof, adding an extra touch of convenience. Moreover, both seats feature detachable displays for controlling various functions.

Engine and Performance

The Toyota Alphard offers two powertrain options to cater to different preferences. The first is a 2AR-FE 2.5L naturally aspirated petrol engine, delivering 180 bhp and 235 Nm of torque. This engine is paired with a CVT transmission and is available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. 

Additionally, the Alphard offers a hybrid version of the same engine, generating a total power output of 247 bhp. This hybrid variant is equipped with FWD and AWD options, along with a 5 Ah battery to enhance efficiency and eco-friendliness.

On the other hand, the Toyota Vellfire shares the hybrid powertrain with the Alphard, providing similar performance and efficiency characteristics. However, the Vellfire distinguishes itself by incorporating an additional powerplant option.

Alongside the hybrid engine, it boasts a 2.4L turbocharged petrol engine capable of delivering an impressive 275 bhp and 430 Nm of torque. This turbocharged variant comes paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and is available in both FWD and AWD configurations