Likes
- Private Jet levels of accommodation.
- Shares mechanicals with locally available Toyota models.
- Exceptional build quality and reliability.
- Arguably the pick of people movers, especially in Hybrid form.
Used Toyota Vellfire/Alphard review
2015 - Current
Dislikes
- The looks aren’t to everyone’s taste.
- Certain grey importers can be dishonest, to say the least.
- Not as cool or sexy as a 7-seat SUV in terms of image.
- V6 models can be quite thirsty.
Stuff you should know
When it comes to the challenging situation of needing to transport an ever increasing population of children in your life, some seem to fight this reality they’ve created for themselves and buy a 7-seat SUV and yes the SUV option might be the sexier option compared to a people mover but things can quickly turn disastrous as you run out of actual cargo space as you pump out more kids.
However, others embrace the fact that it’s far more sensible to make a logical choice and buy a people mover.
Not only are the Toyota Vellfire and Alphard possibly THE sensible choice for transporting a family, they are often the go to set of wheels for celebrities, politicians and heads of industry in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong. They are relatively rare here in Australia, but they are hugely popular across Asia.
While ostensibly twins, the Vellfire is marketed as the sportier version of the luxurious Alphard, not that the Vellfire isn’t luxurious in anyway, both could convincingly pass as private jets on four wheels..
The Vellfire and Alphard have existed across different generations since the early 2000’s however this cheat focusses on the 2015 to 2023 AH30 range and like any good Japanese domestic market car, it is available in a confusing range of different trim specs, all of which can vary in what they offer depending on if they are pre or post the 2018 update, through to even what dealership sold the particular Vellfire or Alphard in the first place.
For example, at the time of writing, there are more than 15 different trim specs available across the Vellfire and Alphard range, and Australia doesn’t currently receive all the possible trim variations.
Aside from the the convoluted trim spec options, engine choices are far easier to navigate, all are petrol and there is a<span class=”Apple-converted-space”> </span>choice of 3.5-litre V6, 2.5-litre 4-cylinder or 2.5-litre hybrid, all running various forms of automatic transmissions driving the front or all 4-wheels depending on those confusing trim specs.
Even in terms of accomodation, you’ll even have a choice of seating options between providing pews for 6, 7 and even 8, again depending on the model.
What goes wrong
Exterior:
Toyotas, especially if uncared for or if left out in the sun can suffer from paint (especially white paint) fading, cracking and peeling.
Equally as concerning is that with how large the panels are, a full quality respray won’t be cheap.
There have been some reports of parking sensors around the car failing to identify objects.
Some owner’s have reported issues in regard to the rear sliding door, some of which consist of it making an excessive amount of noise when opening/closing it, or they just fail entirely.
The Sunroof can suffer from a similar fate of not opening/closing and there have been minor reports of leaks as well.
Owner’s have also reported cases of excessive wind noise when traveling at higher speeds. Although, it is a box on wheels, surely wind noise is to be expected?
Interior:
There are a few reports of air conditioning issues. Problems can range from weak airflow to warm air coming from the vents. This could be due to a variety of issues, such as a clogged air filter or a refrigerant leak.
Some owners have reported issues with the Alphard’s infotainment system, these issues can range from a frozen or unresponsive screen to connectivity problems with Bluetooth or USB, or even glitches in the navigation system. However, this isn’t exclusive to the Alphard or Vellfire, all Toyota’s can have infotainment issues.
Also, with the Alphard and Vellfire being so jam packed with tech and features, there have been reports of the battery draining excessively quickly.
Mechanically:
The 4-cylinder 2AR-FE and hybrid 2AR-FXE are all round Toyota workhorse engines that are in a host of different Toyota and Lexus models and aside from the occasional water pump and coil pack, both have very few issues.
The 6-cylinder 2GR-FE is an engine that been around for years and statistically one of the most reliable engines of all time.
The current versions are more complex than the earlier examples, but again, incredibly reliable.
As for the Hybrid, Toyota have done a great job here as well with no serious common problems to look out for. Although it is important that the cooling vents don’t get covered over with fluff and life’s filth because that can cause the batteries to overheat and eventually fail.
All the transmission options, the 6-speed, the 8-speed and the CVT in the hybrid are again amongst the most reliable transmissions in this class (or any class for that matter) and if they’re serviced properly are unlikely to give you any problems.
Servicing is cheap. There are no timing belts to worry about and the timing chains (unlike so many other modern engines) rarely cause any dramas, especially if well serviced.
As
Exterior:
Toyotas, especially if uncared for or if left out in the sun can suffer from paint (especially white paint) fading, cracking and peeling.
Equally as concerning is that with how large the panels are, a full quality respray won’t be cheap.
There have been some reports of parking sensors around the car failing to identify objects.
Some owner’s have reported issues in regard to the rear sliding door, some of which consist of it making an excessive amount of noise when opening/closing it, or they just fail entirely.
The Sunroof can suffer from a similar fate of not opening/closing and there have been minor reports of leaks as well.
Owner’s have also reported cases of excessive wind noise when traveling at higher speeds. Although, it is a box on wheels, surely wind noise is to be expected?
Interior:
There are a few reports of air conditioning issues. Problems can range from weak airflow to warm air coming from the vents. This could be due to a variety of issues, such as a clogged air filter or a refrigerant leak.
Some owners have reported issues with the Alphard’s infotainment system, these issues can range from a frozen or unresponsive screen to connectivity problems with Bluetooth or USB, or even glitches in the navigation system. However, this isn’t exclusive to the Alphard or Vellfire, all Toyota’s can have infotainment issues.
Also, with the Alphard and Vellfire being so jam packed with tech and features, there have been reports of the battery draining excessively quickly.
Mechanically:
The 4-cylinder 2AR-FE and hybrid 2AR-FXE are all round Toyota workhorse engines that are in a host of different Toyota and Lexus models and aside from the occasional water pump and coil pack, both have very few issues.
The 6-cylinder 2GR-FE is an engine that been around for years and statistically one of the most reliable engines of all time.
The current versions are more complex than the earlier examples, but again, incredibly reliable.
As for the Hybrid, Toyota have done a great job here as well with no serious common problems to look out for. Although it is important that the cooling vents don’t get covered over with fluff and life’s filth because that can cause the batteries to overheat and eventually fail.
All the transmission options, the 6-speed, the 8-speed and the CVT in the hybrid are again amongst the most reliable transmissions in this class (or any class for that matter) and if they’re serviced properly are unlikely to give you any problems.
Servicing is cheap. There are no timing belts to worry about and the timing chains (unlike so many other modern engines) rarely cause any dramas, especially if well serviced.
As we find time and time again with used cars, generally anything from Toyota has a fairly high threshold for neglect unlike some other manufactures (yes we’re looking at you Euro), regular servicing is still a must and if kept up to date should give very little trouble.
Exterior:
Toyotas, especially if uncared for or if left out in the sun can suffer from paint (especially white paint) fading, cracking and peeling.
Equally as concerning is that with how large the panels are, a full quality respray won’t be cheap.
There have been some reports of parking sensors around the car failing to identify objects.
Some owner’s have reported issues in regard to the rear sliding door, some of which consist of it making an excessive amount of noise when opening/closing it, or they just fail entirely.
The Sunroof can suffer from a similar fate of not opening/closing and there have been minor reports of leaks as well.
Owner’s have also reported cases of excessive wind noise when traveling at higher speeds. Although, it is a box on wheels, surely wind noise is to be expected?
Interior:
There are a few reports of air conditioning issues. Problems can range from weak airflow to warm air coming from the vents. This could be due to a variety of issues, such as a clogged air filter or a refrigerant leak.
Some owners have reported issues with the Alphard’s infotainment system, these issues can range from a frozen or unresponsive screen to connectivity problems with Bluetooth or USB, or even glitches in the navigation system. However, this isn’t exclusive to the Alphard or Vellfire, all Toyota’s can have infotainment issues.
Also, with the Alphard and Vellfire being so jam packed with tech and features, there have been reports of the battery draining excessively quickly.
Mechanically:
The 4-cylinder 2AR-FE and hybrid 2AR-FXE are all round Toyota workhorse engines that are in a host of different Toyota and Lexus models and aside from the occasional water pump and coil pack, both have very few issues.
The 6-cylinder 2GR-FE is an engine that been around for years and statistically one of the most reliable engines of all time.
The current versions are more complex than the earlier examples, but again, incredibly reliable.
As for the Hybrid, Toyota have done a great job here as well with no serious common problems to look out for. Although it is important that the cooling vents don’t get covered over with fluff and life’s filth because that can cause the batteries to overheat and eventually fail.
All the transmission options, the 6-speed, the 8-speed and the CVT in the hybrid are again amongst the most reliable transmissions in this class (or any class for that matter) and if they’re serviced properly are unlikely to give you any problems.
Servicing is cheap. There are no timing belts to worry about and the timing chains (unlike so many other modern engines) rarely cause any dramas, especially if well serviced.
As we find time and time again with used cars, generally anything from Toyota has a fairly high threshold for neglect unlike some other manufactures (yes we’re looking at you Euro), regular servicing is still a must and if kept up to date should give very little trouble.
Should you buy it?
Before we answer the should you buy question, if you’re seriously considering buying a people mover over a 7-seat SUV, congratulations, it’s great to see logic wins over image for you.
But, should you buy the Vellfire or Alphard pair? Very possibly.
The Vellfire and Alphard both make so much sense, with the only real potential negatives being dodgy grey importers, the immense fuel consumption of the V6 models and the polarising looks.
Just make sure you do your homework and make sure it has come from a reputable importer, get the Hybrid for fuel saving and budget for some sexy aftermarket wheels to distract everyone from the unfortunate-looking face, and it’s an absolute yes from us, you should buy one.
Before we answer the should you buy question, if you’re seriously considering buying a people mover over a 7-seat SUV, congratulations, it’s great to see logic wins over image for you.
But, should you buy the Vellfire or Alphard pair? Very possibly.
The Vellfire and Alphard both make so much sense, with the only real potential negatives being dodgy grey importers, the immense fuel consumption of the V6 models and the polarising looks.
Just make sure you do your homework and make sure it has come from a reputable importer, get the Hybrid for fuel saving and budget for some sexy aftermarket wheels to distract everyone from the unfortunate-looking face, and it’s an absolute yes from us, you should buy one.
Should you buy it?
Before we answer the should you buy question, if you’re seriously considering buying a people mover over a 7-seat SUV, congratulations, it’s great to see logic wins over image for you.
But, should you buy the Vellfire or Alphard pair? Very possibly.
The Vellfire and Alphard both make so much sense, with the only real potential negatives being dodgy grey importers, the immense fuel consumption of the V6 models and the polarising looks.
Just make sure you do your homework and make sure it has come from a reputable importer, get the Hybrid for fuel saving and budget for some sexy aftermarket wheels to distract everyone from the unfortunate-looking face, and it’s an absolute yes from us, you should buy one.
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Models, pricing & features
Tech specs
Body Style:
5-door people mover (minivan/MPV)
Engines:
2.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol
3.5 litre V6 petrol
2.5 litre 4-cylinder hybrid petrol
Power:
134kW – 2.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol
206kW – 3.5 litre V6 petrol
221kW – 3.5 litre V6 petrol (from 2018)
112/105kW (engine/electric motor) – 2.5 litre 4-cylinder hybrid petrol
Torque:
235Nm – 2.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol
344Nm – 3.5 litre V6 petrol
361Nm – 3.5 litre V6 petrol (from 2018)
206/270Nm (engine/electric motor) – 2.5 litre 4-cylinder hybrid petrol
Transmission & Drivetrains:
7-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT), front-wheel drive (FWD)
7-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT), four-wheel drive (4WD)
6-speed automatic, front-wheel drive (FWD)
6-speed automatic, four-wheel drive (4WD)
e-CVT, four-wheel drive (4WD)
Fuel Consumption:
5.2 – 10.5L/100km
Length:
4915-4945mm
Width:
1850mm
Height:
1880 – 1950mm
Kerb Weight:
1920 – 2220kg
Body Style:
5-door people mover (minivan/MPV)
Engines:
2.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol
3.5 litre V6 petrol
2.5 litre 4-cylinder hybrid petrol
Power:
134kW – 2.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol
206kW – 3.5 litre V6 petrol
221kW – 3.5 litre V6 petrol (from 2018)
112/105kW (engine/electric motor) – 2.5 litre 4-cylinder hybrid petrol
Torque:
235Nm – 2.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol
344Nm – 3.5 litre V6 petrol
361Nm – 3.5 litre V6 petrol (from 2018)
206/270Nm (engine/electric motor) – 2.5 litre 4-cylinder hybrid petrol
Transmission & Drivetrains:
7-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT), front-wheel drive (FWD)
7-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT), four-wheel drive (4WD)
6-speed automatic, front-wheel drive (FWD)
6-speed automatic, four-wheel drive (4WD)
e-CVT, four-wheel drive (4WD)
Fuel Consumption:
5.2 – 10.5L/100km
Length:
4915-4945mm
Width:
1850mm
Height:
1880 – 1950mm
Kerb Weight:
1920 – 2220kg
Body Style:
5-door people mover (minivan/MPV)
Engines:
2.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol
3.5 litre V6 petrol
2.5 litre 4-cylinder hybrid petrol
Power:
134kW – 2.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol
206kW – 3.5 litre V6 petrol
221kW – 3.5 litre V6 petrol (from 2018)
112/105kW (engine/electric motor) – 2.5 litre 4-cylinder hybrid petrol
Torque:
235Nm – 2.5 litre 4-cylinder petrol
344Nm – 3.5 litre V6 petrol
361Nm – 3.5 litre V6 petrol (from 2018)
206/270Nm (engine/electric motor) – 2.5 litre 4-cylinder hybrid petrol
Transmission & Drivetrains:
7-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT), front-wheel drive (FWD)
7-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT), four-wheel drive (4WD)
6-speed automatic, front-wheel drive (FWD)
6-speed automatic, four-wheel drive (4WD)
e-CVT, four-wheel drive (4WD)
Fuel Consumption:
5.2 – 10.5L/100km
Length:
4915-4945mm
Width:
1850mm
Height:
1880 – 1950mm
Kerb Weight:
1920 – 2220kg
Warranty & servicing
Warranty:
No manufacturer’s warranty (grey import)
Servicing:
12 months/10,000km
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Disclaimer
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of June 2, 2022.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
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