The Toyota Vellfire is a large multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) sold as the sportier twin of the Toyota Alphard. The pair has been produced since the Alphard’s debut in 2002 and the Vellfire’s arrival with the second generation in 2008. The 2019 Vellfire belongs to the third generation, coded AH30, which was introduced in 2015 and remained in production until 2023. The Vellfire is primarily a Japanese and Asian-market vehicle and is not sold in the United States.
What the Vellfire Is
The Vellfire is marketed as a more aggressive-looking alternative to the Alphard. Both are seven- or eight-seat luxury MPVs with sliding side doors and a high seating position. Until 2020 the Vellfire was sold exclusively through Toyota’s Netz Store dealership chain in Japan. A further upscale version of the same platform was sold as the Lexus LM from 2019 to 2023. The name “Vellfire” was derived from “velvet” and “fire.”
Third-Generation Engines and Specs
The AH30-generation Vellfire was offered with several powertrains. The 2.5-liter 2AR-FE four-cylinder produced about 177 horsepower; the 3.5-liter 2GR-FE V6 produced about 270 horsepower from 2015 to 2017; and from 2018 the 3.5-liter 2GR-FKS V6 raised output to roughly 296 horsepower and gained an eight-speed automatic. A 2.5-liter 2AR-FXE hybrid combined the gasoline four-cylinder with electric motors for about 201 system horsepower and used an e-CVT.
| Specification | Third-generation (AH30) Vellfire |
|---|---|
| Gasoline engines | 2.5 L 2AR-FE I4; 3.5 L 2GR-FE V6; 3.5 L 2GR-FKS V6 |
| Hybrid | 2.5 L 2AR-FXE I4 with electric motors |
| Power output | About 177 hp (2.5 L); about 270 hp (2GR-FE); about 296 hp (2GR-FKS); about 201 hp combined (hybrid) |
| Transmission | CVT, six-speed automatic, eight-speed automatic or e-CVT |
| Length | 4,915–4,945 mm |
| Width / height | 1,850 mm / 1,880–1,950 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,000 mm |
| Seating | 7 or 8 |
Dimensions, Seating and Layout
The AH30 Vellfire measures between 4,915 and 4,945 mm long, 1,850 mm wide and 1,880 to 1,950 mm tall, on a 3,000 mm wheelbase. Curb weight ranges from about 1,920 to 2,220 kg. It seats seven or eight in three rows, with the second row often specified as two captain’s chairs on higher grades. The boxy body and sliding rear doors are designed to maximize interior space rather than aerodynamics.
The October 2019 Update
Toyota updated the AH30 range in October 2019, when the 3.5-liter 2GR-FKS V6 with its eight-speed automatic became the flagship gasoline powertrain and the hybrid remained available. Japanese market grades included the 3.5Z G, whose list price at launch of the update was 5,258,000 yen. Toyota also offered driver-assistance and convenience features such as radar cruise control and a panoramic view monitor on upper grades.
Where the Vellfire Is Sold
The Vellfire is sold in Japan and in many Asian markets, as well as in Russia, Belarus and parts of the Middle East, where the Alphard and Vellfire are often positioned as luxury vehicles. In several Southeast Asian countries the model is assembled locally; in Malaysia, for example, UMW Toyota has assembled the Vellfire in a 2.5-liter form. Because Toyota never marketed the Alphard or Vellfire in the United States, there is no US-market Vellfire.
The Fourth Generation
A new generation, coded AH40, replaced the AH30 in 2023, with the Vellfire receiving its own “V” emblem to distinguish it further from the Alphard. The fourth-generation model moved toward hybrid-heavy powertrains and continued the model’s role as Toyota’s flagship MPV line in Japan and Asia.
Interior and Features
The Vellfire’s interior is oriented toward passenger comfort, with a tall, boxy cabin and sliding rear doors. Higher grades offer second-row captain’s chairs, rear entertainment screens, ambient lighting and power-operated seats, alongside tri-zone climate control. Japanese and Asian buyers frequently use the model as an executive shuttle, which is why Toyota positions both the Alphard and the Vellfire near the top of its non-Lexus range.
Safety and Driver Assistance
The AH30-generation Vellfire offered a suite of Toyota driver-assistance features, including radar cruise control, a panoramic view monitor for parking, blind-spot monitoring and collision-mitigation braking on higher grades. These systems are consistent with the model’s role as a premium family and executive vehicle.
Rivals and Market Position
In its home and regional markets the Vellfire competes with large premium MPVs such as the Nissan Elgrand and Honda Odyssey, as well as with sport-utility vehicles used for family transport. Toyota’s decision to keep the Alphard and Vellfire out of the United States means the model has never had a direct US counterpart, where buyers instead choose between minivans such as the Sienna and three-row SUVs.
Why the Vellfire Matters
The Vellfire illustrates how Toyota tailors its line-up to individual regions. In Japan, Southeast Asia and the Gulf, large luxury MPVs occupy a position that in North America is filled by premium SUVs. The Alphard and Vellfire have been successful enough that the same platform was used for the Lexus LM, showing how Toyota reuses a single architecture across its Toyota and Lexus brands.
Generations at a Glance
- First generation (AH10): Alphard only, 2002–2008.
- Second generation (AH20): the Vellfire name is introduced, 2008–2015.
- Third generation (AH30): 2015–2023, including the 2019 model year.
- Fourth generation (AH40): from 2023.
Release and Availability
The 2019 Vellfire is not a single launch but the AH30 generation as sold in 2019, which began production in 2015 and was updated in October 2019. There is no separate US release date because Toyota has never sold the Alphard or Vellfire in North America.
