mReview: Toyota Alphard – The MVP Of MPVs

The new Alphard is the most valuable player (MVP) in Singapore’s premier league of multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs). 

Which is why it has been well-used by captains of industry and family/taxi minibus captains across four model generations. 

The current fourth-generation Alphard, as the undisputed Mount Fuji of Japanese MPVs, has reached the peak of Toyotally multi-purpose usefulness in the Asian context. It’s like having three cars in one boxy bento - executive limo, family minibus, deluxe taxi. 

This Toyota MPV has indeed come a long way from its origins as a versatile, quasi-commercial minivan for the average man. Today, it is a luxury MPV for above-average men such as business leaders and supreme leaders. 

At the same time, the Alphard is always able to play the role of “salaried” co-worker together with independent transport providers who drive it to earn an honest living.  

This Japanese castle makes the driver feel like a temporary emperor of the road.

Toyota’s development team for the Alphard delivered a modern people-mover that offers versatility and inclusivity in equal measure.

The development theme - “the joy of comfortable mobility” - created a cabin space for everybody. It really accommodates everyone comfortably. The driver; whether it’s father, mother, chauffeur or whoever; and up to six passengers; whether they’re family, friends, colleagues, bosses, or some random combination of diverse folks.  

The “everybodies” in this case include me, a young senior motorist who prefers a Supra to a Sienta because the sports car makes me feel younger. Yet, even though I only have one wife to sayang, no children to support and no VIPs to transport on a daily basis, I would also enjoy the comfortable mobility provided by the Alphard. 

Now, let’s all get comfortable and get going with the car. 

Or should that be castle? Because this is a big car. 

It’s a bit over 5 metres long and 1.85 metres wide, which puts this boxy car right at the limit of Japan’s automated parking systems. The height is about 1.95 metres, which is higher than every full-blown SUV in the Toyota model range except the Land Cruiser, a mighty off-roader we’re much more likely to see in the Middle East than Jurong East. 

To be safe, the lofty Alphard should not (try to) enter multi-storey or basement carparks with a ceiling height restriction of less than 2 metres. 

The wheelbase stretches to 3 metres exactly, which is barely half a Japanese chopstick less long than the generous wheelbase of the flagship Lexus LS limousine. 

Captains of industry, here is the Toyota imperial palace at your service.

The Alphard’s obvious boxiness is expected, because it’s meant to be a multi-purpose vehicle for multiple people. Even so, this premium bento box-on-wheels has some decoration. 

For instance, that imposing front end, which is more than a massive grille with a Toyota badge - it is facial armour worn by a towering samurai, who might be on an airport run. Another decorative detail is the reverse-slant “Alphard” emblem at the tip of the bodyside flourish. In addition, there are tasteful chrome appliques. 

The design makes me feel like an Ultraman with an ultravan. It is quite a “ninja van” too, thanks to its cargo-hauling capability.

The Alphard’s cargo area is not accessed through a mere tailgate. It is an epic gate that leads to the Tokyo Imperial Palace storeroom. 

It opens and closes under its own power, which is good because it probably weighs more than a sumo wrestler and relies on heavy-duty hinges, struts and whatnot. It needs plenty of clearance when opening, so you better watch out for obstacles behind, such as a wall, another vehicle or an innocent bystander.

When the large canopy is deployed, it shelters me from everything - sun, rain, killer litter, maybe even an attack by Godzilla.

With the third row of seats up, there’s enough adjustable space for personal belongings and at least a week of groceries for my two-person household. Flip down the individual backseats for extra cargo space, or fold them away to the sides for extra-extra cargo space. It’s done manually though, with no option for easier electric operation. 

Alphard's third row is roomy and comfy enough for two adults.

Two people in the third row would be transported in the premium economy section of this Japanese liner. 

They get decent headroom and convenient storage points. They also get enough air-con and their own little armrests. If they need more legroom, they could ask their luckier travellers in front to move their motorised seats forward.

The second row is Alphard business class, and you don’t have to be a successful businessman to enjoy the lounging experience. Even me, an unsuccessful man who only knows how to mind my own business, could lounge in here and not feel out of place.  

The pair of superseats are motorised and luxurious. They have proper headrests, armrests and footrests. They have built-in ventilators and massagers. 

They also have remote controllers to operate a variety of features, such as the seating configuration, air-conditioning, skylights, sunshades and ceiling lighting. 

The Very Important Person who needs to do very important work could use the foldable side table, three-pin power socket and USB pockets to stay productive on the go. 

The best seats in the house are fully equipped to pamper the privileged.

I think the only feature missing from this business-class cabin is a Singapore Girl onboard, serving expensive champagne. As I sip the imaginary bubbly, I play with the real remote controller.   

My favourite massage mode in the throne is “Energise”, which includes “thermal stimulation”. Fortunately, if I use this mode too often and become too thermally stimulated to get out of my seat, I could grab the well-placed assist grips.

The main doors are proper power-sliders, of course. The Alphard even offers a choice of three door operation chimes. Too bad the classic konbini entrance tune is not one of them. It would have made me happier activating those semi-glass doors. 

Anyway, I’m a happy and proud captain behind the wheel of the Alphard. Admittedly, not so much a captain of industry who pays wages, but more a minibus captain who earns a wage. 

The family/taxi minibus captain would use this overhead control panel regularly.

This is my Japanese castle and I am a temporary non-Jap emperor on the road. 

The windscreen is a widescreen. The windows are bigger and nicer than those in my skyscraper flat. The 14-inch infotainment touchscreen with loud JBL audio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto keeps me well-informed and well-entertained. 

The parking camera system and driving aids help prevent accidents and reduce fatigue, especially for the hardworking driver who clocks a few hundred kilometres daily. This machine is ready for high-mileage, big-haulage duties. 

As a 2.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid, the Alphard is not about performance or excitement, but all about fuel efficiency and getting the job done - every day, everywhere, transporting everyone and everything.

The petrol-electric transitions are refined enough, although the attentive driver might notice the four-cylinder engine kicking into action when needed. 

The Alphard seems to perform most comfortably on the highway, where it cruises quietly and maintains its composure regardless of traffic situations and weather conditions. This is a major reason why the Alphard is such an airport-run champion. 

There is an EV mode whereby the Alphard runs as a transitory electric vehicle, but only if there’s enough juice in the battery, the speed is slow and the drivetrain load is low. The plug-in hybrid version that Toyota started selling in Japan from January 2025 is probably better at being a makeshift BEV MPV.  

Leng Kee urban legend has it that the towkay of a multi-brand automotive company, who has a fleet of flagship saloons at his disposal, was usually in the captain’s chair of an Alphard when travelling between his many business meetings.

But the Alphard is not alone in Singapore’s premier league of MPVs, because its closest competitor is the closely-related Vellfire. 

Read More: mReview: Toyota Vellfire Hybrid – Emperor's Bento Boxcar

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