Translated from the Thai original · Read the original in Thai
They share a body, a cabin and a drivetrain, so why do both exist? A close look at grilles, bumpers, lamps, wheels and who each van is aimed at.
Among MPV buyers, the two popular Toyotas, the Alphard and the Vellfire, are usually at the top of the list when it comes to deciding. Looked at casually they seem close: the same size, similar design, the same functions. But look closely and there are real differences. Here is a clear analysis of the 2024 models, by B Autohaus.
Exterior design
Start with the exterior, the easiest thing for anyone to notice, one model at a time.
Toyota Alphard 2024
The design emphasises luxury, premium quality and status, and it burnishes the owner’s image without fault.
- The lower black mesh grille beneath the headlamps is trimmed in chrome, and for the first time the three-ellipse Toyota badge replaces the old Alphard emblem.
- The bumper around the fog lamps is shaped like a diamond, distinctive and premium.
- The headlamps are a large grid pattern against chrome, with daytime running lights split into several segments.
- The tail lamps have a shape of their own, three horizontal rows with short dividing lines like a gull’s wing, more modern and more luxurious.
- 17-inch alloy wheels.
Toyota Vellfire 2024
The design emphasises sport, cool and modernity, for a new generation who love MPVs or simply want many seats and comfort.
- A six-layer horizontal chrome grille with an unusual, eye-catching pattern that speaks of modernity above the norm.
- The bumper around the fog lamps is designed in chrome as an L shape, charming and sporting.
- The headlamps use a sporting horizontal-line motif with daytime running lights, paired with larger air intakes either side of the grille and a single-line running light, a difference that draws the eye.
- The tail lamps are sporting and distinctive, a simple horizontal rectangle that is extremely well resolved.
- 19-inch alloy wheels.
Technology
Overall the technology in the Alphard 2024 and the Vellfire 2024 is almost identical. Both carry:
- The full Toyota Safety Sense 3.0
- A 360-degree camera with a clear view from every angle
- Automatic parking assistance for convenience and safety
- A sharp Head-up Display
- T-Connect infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Four-zone automatic climate control with nanoe X for the front cabin
Interior luxury
Both put driver and passenger comfort first, in full:
- Premium Nappa leather seats, with second-row seats split left and right and electrically adjustable in ten directions
- Electric leg rests with two memory positions, a Massage Relaxation function and seat ventilation, all controlled from a detachable tablet
- The Smart Comfort Program on a 14-inch screen in the super-long overhead console
- Electric sunshades on the sliding-door windows, the third-row windows and the twin moonroof
Engine
The engines in the Alphard 2024 and the Vellfire 2024 were developed the same way: a 3.5-litre 2GR-FKS V6 petrol with 298 hp and 353 Nm, through an eight-speed automatic.
Why build two such similar cars under one brand?
From all of this a question naturally arises: if the Alphard 2024 and the Vellfire 2024 are the same brand, why build cars that compete with each other?
B Autohaus reads it as the manufacturer separating MPV customers into clearly different tastes. The Alphard 2024 is about luxury, status and formality, while the Vellfire 2024 is about sport, cool and modernity.
So if you like a luxurious design with a classic touch that supports your image and social standing, the Alphard 2024 is a good choice. If you prefer a sporting, modern design, the Vellfire 2024 is the better fit.
Whichever you lean towards, come and see and touch the real cars at B Autohaus, the imported-car specialists, ready to advise on both the Alphard and the Vellfire for the best outcome, with plenty of special promotions. LINE @bautohaus.