Once only available in Malaysia via the grey market, the Toyota Alphard has become the go-to option in Malaysia if you are looking for a spacious chauffeur-driven mobile. Introduced in UMW Toyota’s official lineup a few years back, the Toyota Alphard is now available in Malaysia in its latest iteration – the Toyota Alphard 2.4T Executive Lounge which costs RM538,000.
The all-new Toyota Alphard and the Vellfire made their world debut in June 2023, both sporting revised exteriors and all-new underpinnings. Globally, the Alphard is available in three variants, namely the Z, Executive Lounge, and the Welcab. There are also several powertrain options (including hybrid and turbocharged ones), but Malaysia only gets the Executive Lounge variant with a 2.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine.
Launched in Malaysia late last year, the new Toyota Alphard cranks up its luxurious exterior with a bigger and more imposing front grille and an overall more sophisticated look on the outside. More curves have appeared in the Alphard’s exterior surface, although the general box/fridge on wheels look is still the basis of the MPV’s look.
Standard exterior items on the 2023 Toyota Alphard Executive Lounge for Malaysia include tri-LED headlamps with sequential signal lamps, automatic sliding doors, and 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 225/55R19 tyres. The new Alphard sports a MacPherson strut suspension setup at the front and a double wishbone suspension setup at the back.
Although there are several powertrain options for the all-new Alphard globally, only the 2.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine is available for Malaysia. The mill is paired with an 8-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission and power is sent to the front wheels only. This setup can put out a maximum power output of 278 hp (metric) at 6,000 rpm and 430 Nm at 1,700-3,600 rpm. Capable of reaching a top speed of 180 km/h, this system also boasts a fuel consumption rate of 9.0 l/100km.
The main highlight of the Alphard is its interior. With “Executive Lounge” in its variant name, this Alphard sports a 6-seater configuration with Captain seats in the middle. Accessed via the power sliding doors, the middle seats come with a massage function, a rotary table, a vanity mirror, and seat heating and ventilation.
While those items add to the luxury experience, the core of the middle seat is its VIP Ottoman design with a relaxed power recline. There are various amenities in this row too, such as the middle screen, electric window blinds, and the fixed panoramic glass roof (which is split in the middle). There are also mobile phone-like control units for this special row.
The driver isn’t left out when it comes to getting luxury items too, as the luxury trims are distributed equally all around. The cockpit gets a luxurious steering wheel, power-adjustable seats, and a head-up display for the “prestige of pure control” as Toyota likes to call it.
Not the highlight of the Toyota Alphard Executive Lounge’s cabin is its third-row seats which take up the cargo space. Good enough for a short trip for the average adult, the third-row passengers at least get to experience an almost similar level of luxury as the 15-speaker JBL sound system is distributed all around.
As for safety items, the all-new Toyota Alphard is equipped with the full suite of Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) advanced safety systems. This includes items like Pre-collision System (PCS), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Road Sign Assist (RSA), and Adaptive High-beam System (AHS). Included in the price of the Toyota Alphard Executive Lounge is a 5-year/unlimited mileage manufacturer warranty.
GALLERY
