Launched: 2023 Toyota Alphard & Vellfire – From RM438K

Months after making its global debut, the next-gen 2023 Toyota Alphard & Vellfire have finally arrived into our local market. Officially brought in by UMW Toyota Motors (UMWT), both the new Alphard and Vellfire arrived in a single variant, with the former coming in a range-topping Executive Lounge guise.

On the mechanical front, both models underpin the same GA-K version of Toyota’s proprietary TNGA platform, which promises over 50% improved rigidity compared to their previous iterations. Unlike the Japanese market, however, the Malaysian-bound Alphard and Vellfire are offered with a slightly different powertrain setup.

For starters, the fourth-gen Alphard Executive Lounge is exclusively powered by a new 2.4-litre 4-cyl turbocharged T24A-FTS mill – the same engine used on both the Japan-spec Vellfire model and the Alphard’s upmarket twin, the new Lexus LM. This forced-induced mill is mated to an 8-speed Direct Shift automatic gearbox to deliver 278 PS and 430 NM.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian-spec Vellfire model gets a less peppy powertrain setup consisting of a familiar 2.5-litre 4-cyl nat-asp 2AR-FE mill that is mated to a 7-speed CVT gearbox to deliver 182 PS and 235 NM. In spite of getting a lower-specced powertrain setup, the new Vellfire is equipped with a front performance brace that helps to improve its driving dynamics.

The new 2023 Toyota Alphard 2.4T Executive Lounge comes in an exclusive Precious Leo-Blond colour

Arriving in a sole souped-up Executive Lounge trim level, the new Alphard gets a bevy of equipment on both its interior and exterior. Starting with the latter, it gets stylish triple LED headlights with segmented LED DRL design that blends well with its segmented front grille design. Aside from riding on bigger 19-inch alloy wheels, the new Alphard also comes with a special Precious Leo-Blond colourway, aside from the standard Platinum White Pearl, Precious Metal, and Black.

Meanwhile, the new Vellfire gets a sleeker and sportier overall design compared to the Alphard, featuring a slew of vertical lines design elements on its LED headlights and taillights, as well as the front grille design. While riding on similar 19-inch alloy wheels as the Alphard, the Vellfire gets extra chrome trims and finishings on the exterior, including on both the front and rear lips, window surrounds, door handles, and many more.

As standard, the Alphard Executive Lounge comes with two Executive Lounge VIP seats

As for the on-board equipment, the Alphard Executive Lounge comes standard with the special Executive Lounge VIP Seat at the second row, featuring two captain-style chairs with powered adjustment, massage and ventilated functions, as well as full recline and ottoman support.

Both seats come with an individual tablet-style control panel which allows passengers to not access the seats’ adjustments and massage functions, but also other cabin functions like the infotainment system, climate control, door openings, cabin lighting, as well as the sunroof controls. Speaking of which, the rear passengers also get a dedicated 14-inch infotainment display mounted at the central part of the Alphard’s headliner, which also houses a slew of buttons and controls.

Moving on to the Vellfire, the Malaysian-bound model is based on the Z Premier trim level we saw in Japan. As a result, its cabin is bestowed with decent equipment like two captain-style second row seats with powered and ventilated functions, split panoramic sunroofs, and many more. However, the Vellfire’s Executive Power Seat does not come standard with neither the massage functions nor both the fully-reclining and ottoman supports.

Aside from that, both the new Alphard and Vellfire get a similar front cockpit setup. Key highlights include a 14-inch central infotainment display with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support that floats above the climate control panel, a 12.3-inch TFT multi-information display for drivers, power adjustable steering wheel with memory function, 64-colour ambient lighting system, 15-speaker JBL sound system, wireless charging pad, and many more.

On the safety front, both the new Alphard and Vellfire come standard with the latest Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 ADAS suite. This safety suite adds a slew of active safety features like Adaptive High-Beam system (AHS), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Pre-Collision system (PCS), and Road Sign Assist (RSA), on top of the standard passive safety features like ABS with EBD, traction (TCS) and stability (VSC) controls, and many more.

Both the new Alphard 2.4T Executive Lounge and Vellfire 2.5 is now open for booking by UMWT

Fully-imported (CBU) from Toyota’s Mie factory in Japan, the all-new 2023 Toyota Alphard and Vellfire is now open for booking, with on-the-road (OTR) sans insurance prices starting from RM438,000 for the Vellfire 2.5 model, while the range-topping Alphard 2.4T Executive Lounge fetching a higher asking price at RM538,000.

Since both models are officially brought by UMWT, they are offered with a full five-year unlimited mileage vehicle warranty, as well as exclusive access to official sales and service at any of the 74 authorised Sales Service centres scattered across the country.