2016 Toyota Vellfire 2.5L launched in Malaysia, priced at RM355k



The Toyota luxury MPV lineup has enjoyed tremendous success in Malaysia, thanks to its proper 7-seater configuration, a generous boot and wide sliding doors. Models such as the Estima, Alphard and Vellfire have been popular among families that seek luxurious comfort when travelling.

However, the bulk of these MPVs we see on the road are purchased through parallel importers. UMW Toyota did officially sell the fully-imported Alphard and Estima (named Previa here) before, but it’s the first time they are throwing the Vellfire into the mix.2016 Toyota Vellfire 2.5 Launch - AutoBuzz.my

QUICK FACTS

Name 2016 Toyota Vellfire 2.5
Engine 2,494cc 2AR-FE with DVVT-i
Transmission 7-speed continuous variable transmission (CVT)
Max Power 177 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max Torque 235 Nm @ 4,100 rpm
Price (OTR with insurance) RM355,000

EXTERIOR

Sitting at 4,930mm in length, 1,850mm in width and 1,895mm in height, the Vellfire is screaming with road presence. Features such as auto-leveling full LED headlamps, cornering lamps and LED daytime running lights, together with the large chrome grill on the front fascia truly give an impression. Just like the Alphard, the fog lamps are also of the LED type.

At the rear, clear tail lamps with LED combination is standard, as are the fog lamps. A spoiler with integrated LED braking lights completes the Vellfire. The Vellfire rides on multi-spoke 18 inch alloys (same as the Alphard) wrapped in 235/50 profile tyres to complete the exterior package.

INTERIOR

The all-new Vellfire comes with a full-black interior theme with wood trimmings. The powered front seats (Ottoman function for the front passenger) are finished in high quality leather. The rear Captain Seats come with power reclining and Ottoman features as well. The third row seat have a 50:50 split design for easy folding when not in use. Power sliding doors and a powered boot comes as standard for easy access.2016 Toyota Vellfire 2.5 Launch - AutoBuzz.my

Toyota has spent a lot of resources to refine the ingress and egress of the Vellfire. As such, the doors are now 70mm wider, side steps sit 50mm closer to the ground, overall vehicle height is lowered by 20mm and it gets a longer door assist handle for easier reach. Other creature comforts are keyless entry with push-start button, electronic parking brake with auto hold function (a first for Toyota), multi-functional steering wheel, cruise control, auto rain sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, 7-inch touch screen display with navigation and reverse camera, triple-zone climate control with nanoe™ and passenger air vents, 10.2-inch roof-mounted entertainment system with remote control and wireless headphones compatibility, manual sunshades, twin moon roof and a 16-colour LED ceiling illumination. This Vellfire is definitely not short on equipment.

PERFORMANCE

The tried and tested 2.5-litre 2AR-FE with DVVT-i is mated to a seven-speed CVT to maximise efficiency. On the front,  MacPherson strut bars with stabilisers is tasked to manage ride comfort, whereas the rear end is managed by new double wishbones to provide luxurious ride quality and performance. Chief Engineer for the all-new Alphard and Vellfire, Kenichi Yoshioka claims that the ECU and suspension have undergone special tuning to suit Malaysian driving conditions, especially in our hot and temperate climate. All four corners get disc brakes as standard.2016 Toyota Vellfire 2.5 Launch - AutoBuzz.my

SAFETY

Buyers will be glad to know that the Vellfire comes standard with a generous amount of crucial safety kit. Standard affair include seven airbags, Traction Control, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), ABS with EBD, BA and hill-start Assist Control. ISOFIX mounting points are available for easy fitment of child seats.

WHAT ELSE?

This Toyota Vellfire comes in four exterior shades: White Pearl, Silver Metallic, Black and Burning Black (black with a slight purple tinge, seen here) which is specific to the Vellfire. All luxury MPV models come with a 5-Year unlimited mileage warranty and 10-year parts guarantee. Since its inception in 2015, Toyota has sold more than 108,000 units of the all-new Alphard and Vellfire. UMW-Toyota hopes to receive similar encouraging results by targeting to sell 1,500 units of the all-new Aphard and Vellfire by end-2016.2016 Toyota Alphard 3.5 Executive Lounge - AutoBuzz.my

An equipment-heavy Vellfire backed by factory warranty, wide network of aftersales support and 10-year parts guarantee for a peace of mind ownership; all for the price of RM355,000? Hats off to you, UMW-Toyota. Meanwhile, read our report on the Alphard here.


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