Toyota Vellfire

You don’t buy an MPV for its looks, but this Vellfire does feel come across as more of a luxury vehicle and less of a high end airport shuttle as the last one did. It’s massive — 5m long, 2m tall — and hard to miss even in a sea of luxury sedans and SUVs. There’s plenty of bling with chrome on the massive six-slat grille and bumpers and a dual-tone look to the 19-inch rims. 
 

The real story is inside. The middle row — accessed via powered sliding doors — is the star. Think thrones, not seats: massive, plush, multi-way adjustable, with heating, cooling, massage and legrests. It really is business class on the road. 

Even the third row is impressive, with space for three adults and reclining backrests. The luagge area is very flexible, though there’s no provision for a spare tyre.

Cabin quality has taken a leap, with better materials, leather, wood-effect trim, and more padding all around. Storage is generous, but the glovebox is oddly small.

The Vellfire is front-wheel-drive only in India and uses a 250hp hybrid setup. It’s great for easy driving but is not a performance machine by any stretch. The eCVT whines under hard acceleration, though it’s whisper-quiet in EV mode. 
 

Toyota claims a 19.28kpl mileage figure for the Vellfire. It’s a remarkable figure for a vehicle so large. The Vellfire’s strong hybrid tech that enables EV mode running for long stints is to credit here.

Ride quality is good but not Rs 1.5 crore-good. Bumps do creep in and there’s road noise too. Drivers will need to get used to the Vellfire's size. U-turns and tight parkings require careful maneuvering though the big Toyota is easy to pilot at higher speeds. 

The Vellfire for India comes generously equipped. The 14-inch touchscreen isn’t cutting-edge, but it's slick and packs wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Physical AC controls are a plus too. Safety includes six airbags, ADAS with lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitoring.

Middle row perks? Flip-out tray tables, vanity mirrors, powered sunblinds, dual sunroofs and a roof-mounted entertainment screen controlled via touchscreen armrest remotes. Even the third row gets powered sunshades and AC vents.

Starting at Rs1.22 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Vellfire isn’t your average Toyota. But nothing this side of Rs 2 crore can touch it for sheer rear seat comfort. If being chauffeured in utmost comfort is the goal, this is money well spent.

Of course, if you want even more exclusivity, there’s the LM — the Vellfire’s cousin from Lexus, yours for up to Rs 2.6 crore.