Some people avoid the entire minivan category of vehicles just because they may be referred to as a “soccer mom”. Or perhaps I’m wrong and that term is a thing of the past. Regardless of the stereotypes, I’m king of digging the all-new Toyota Alphard and Vellfire minivans which were recently launched by Toyota for the Japanese market. The new models promise a more roomy interior, comfortable ride, and improved handling and stability thanks to a new double-wishbone suspension setup at the rear axle.

Both the Alphard and Vellfire minivan use the same underpinnings but offer different designs on the exterior. The Alphard gets a large front grille with what appears to have “37-piece ornament” and is integrated with the lower wide grille. The Toyota Vellfire features a front grille with three wide plated horizontal bars which are intertwined with the dual headlamps. Both vehicles feature a similar rear with the Vellfire having blacked-out taillamps.

Both of the vehicles are able to seat up to eight people depending on the seating configuration and both offer a luxurious interior wood-grain finishing. According to Toyota, the ride is very quiet at all speeds thanks to the heavy use of sound and vibration dampening materials along with an aerodynamic design made to reduce wind-noise.

Three engines will be offered for both of the vehicles. The first engine is a hybrid which combines a 2.5-liter 150 horsepower Atikinson-cycle engine with a six-speed Sequential Shiftmatic and an E-Four electric four-wheel drive system with a 141hp front electric motor with a 67hp rear electric motor. This hybrid version returns a fuel-economy of 5.1L/100km or 45.6 mpg.

The second engine available is a 2.5-liter 180 horsepower motor and a seven-speed Sports Sequential Shiftmatic and Super CVT-i. There is also an optional Stop & Start system to improve fuel efficiency. This model offers 7.8L/100km or 30.1mpg.

Alphard Minivan Interior

The third engine is the most powerful of the bunch offering 276 horsepower from a 3.5-liter V6 and makes use of a six-seed Sequential Shiftmatic with Six Super ECT which returns a fuel-economy of 10.5L/100km or 22.3 mpg.

Both of the vehicles will have a base cost of approximately $27,000 and of course that price will change depending on the options and seating configurations. When I have my own family one day, I will have no issues cruising around in these vehicles.

Toyota Alphard Gallery