The country’s best-selling luxury van is getting its most daring
makeover yet. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the all-new 2015 Alphard.
Introduced in its home country of Japan not more than a week ago, the
all-new Alphard features a much sharper and aggressive styling to go
with a new platform that promises an improved ride and NVH isolation.
Outside, the all-new Alphard looks decisively more aggressive with its
overly large chrome grille that extends from the top to the lower part
of the bumper. New headlamps and fog lamps complete the look. Observers
will be quick to know that the Alphard’s new design echoes other recent
JDM (Japan Domestic Models) such as the Crown. At the back, sweeping new
tail lights and a larger rear windshield echo the dramatic change.
Inside, it benefits from a reduced seat access height which is lower by
50-mm compared to before. The rear door opening has also been widened by
70-mm for easier ingress/egress. A linear illumination system has been
adopted on the ceiling which can be adjusted in both brightness and
color (16 available). The gauges now feature a 4.2-inch TFT colored
multi-information display sandwiched between the tachometer and
speedometer.
At the back, the third row seats has been enlarged in terms of available
knee room which Toyota says is largest in its class while a 147-liter
storage area located under the luggage room floor improves cargo hauling
capability. Along with the sliding third row, the Alphard can now
swallow six golf bags (four lengthways, two sideways) can be stored in
the luggage room and six items of hand luggage can be packed in the
recessed storage space. Other luxury amenities include roller-type
sunshades on the rear door and quarter glass windows and an 8-speaker
audio system.
Under the Alphard’s much more aggressive skin lies a combination of new
and tried-and-tested technology. The engine, the 3.5-liter 24-valve V6
with Dual VVT-i is carried over but a new rear independent Double
Wishbone suspension should give the Alphard a much plusher ride to go
with its improved NVH. The 3.5-liter V6 is now the Alphard’s sole
engine.
The all-new 2015 Alphard is now available in Black and Silver Metallic
as well as a new shade, Luxury White Pearl. It’s now priced at P
3,292,000 and is available at all of Toyota’s 44 dealerships nationwide.
