2025 Toyota Vellfire: The Japanese land yacht
When it comes to the exterior of the Vellfire, it does not convey much drama compared to what awaits when the rear doors are open. Inside, you will be introduced to a lounge on wheels
In Dhaka or Chattogram, two of the most densely populated cities of the world; citizens with larger families have always had a need for mass transport, hence the popularity of microbuses, minivans and MPVs (multi-purpose vehicles). MPVs such as Noah, Esquire and Hiace are arguably some of the most popular Toyotas in both the local city streets and the inter city highways.
However, for this issue of Wheels, we are going to discuss one such MPV which has been one of Toyota's finest offerings, particularly as a luxurious family hauler — the Toyota Vellfire. The third generation, with its hybrid integration that led to a significantly lower custom duty, was a popular model among the elite class for the lavish experience it offered for its price.
However, in 2023, Toyota launched the fourth generation of Vellfire; and this week, we are going to discuss the latest model in the lineup.
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When it comes to the exterior of the Vellfire, it does not contain much drama compared to what awaits when the rear doors are open. The design language is more mature than the rather angular, maximalist approach of the last generation. This generation welcomes minimalism with a muted, more streamlined approach to the body styling, while still retaining a rather boxy design from earlier models.
The excessive chrome is gone from the front fascia, now just sits a dihedral black grille, sandwiching DRLs and sequential indicators in between thin HID holographic headlights, and a Toyota logo. The land barge, sitting at an absurd five meters long, has an e-four hybrid engine system.
As soon as you climb inside the Vellfire it's understood that for this generation, Toyota did not skimp on materials when it comes to passenger comfort. Slide the door open and you will be introduced to a lounge on wheels. The middle row seats are the ones that got the most focus as they are XXL captain seats. The leather quality is rather premium and would only match any typical premium European model or a Lexus.
The front seats are big and comfortable but not as what rests in the middle. The front passenger seat is also completely adjustable but narrower in dimensions compared to the middle row.
The steering wheel comes with a mix of leather and wooden materials, matching the trim along the dash. The center console has a solid hint of minimalism with the new Crown SUV (known to have one of the most minimal interiors in any Toyota) like gear selector and strategic use of lines to make the interior even more minimal. The 14-inch infotainment system features both AndroidAuto and Apple CarPlay and is connected to a 15-speaker JBL sound system. A second 14-inch infotainment hangs from the ceiling for the middle-row and rear passengers.
Back to the middle row seats again, there are tons of features built in them including fully adjustmentable headrest, plush leather cushioning, as well as a small table which is hidden inside the armrest. This table is crafted from mahogany and also features the seat positioning panel. The most impressive thing about the middle row seat is the amount of leg space that is present in between. People of any tangible size can completely extend their feet with no problem.
When it comes to the third row, it does not feel like an afterthought — the section has its own AC vents and the seats also fold up to give extra cargo space as well. The windows at the back have sun shades as well, blocking the sun, as well as providing increased privacy.
Driving the Vellfire feels lofty, and one thing that might catch you off guard is the fact that you do not feel much of the weight once you get the van moving. It stays well planted when given gas. But what feels good is being driven around while you are sitting at the back on one of those ventilated captain seats.
If you want a short verdict, I nearly fell asleep during our testing (thankfully when being driven around!); the seats were that comfortable. The third also feels comfortable to sit on and although they are not the VIP seats in the middle row, they are super comfortable regardless. Interaction points are either smooth or soft, not a dent in comfort and quality.
The Toyota Vellfire, which is commonly available in Bangladesh, comes with a 2500cc inline-4 hybrid engine with e-four technology that delivers power to all four wheels. There are two electric motors on each axle, paired with an automatic transmission, which in total produces 155 kW and 194 Nm of torque. B
The Toyota Vellfire overall is a great car to have if you commute with extra people in general, and want to move in style without compromising comfort. The hybrid powertrain also makes it extremely efficient, with users claiming to even get 13 km/l on average and since it is a Toyota, reliability is one of their more prioritized sectors to deal with. Thus it can be said that the Vellfire ultimately is a bus for a bang.
Specifications:
Engine: 2500cc inline-4 hybrid
Transmission: CVT
Max Power: 155 kW
Max Torque: 194 Nm
Price: Starts at Tk1.55 crore (Approx)
