Toyota Vellfire 2024 Review

The luxury MPV market in Southeast Asia has always been highly competitive. Consumers value both space practicality and have high demands for comfort configurations and brand reliability—the 2024 Toyota Vellfire 2.5 aims to meet these needs. As an Executive-level model, it continues Toyota's reputation for durability while upgrading intelligent configurations and riding experience. This time, we got the actual car to focus on testing its daily driving and riding performance, space utilization, and whether its configurations truly match its positioning. Let's see if it can hold its ground in its class.

From the exterior, the 2024 Vellfire 2.5 retains the classic MPV silhouette but appears more refined in detail. The car's dimensions are 5005×1850×1895mm, with a wheelbase of 3000mm, presenting a stable and imposing stance. The front face features a large trapezoidal grille adorned with horizontal chrome strips, offering high recognition; the sharp design of the LED headlights on both sides integrates with the grille, achieving a cohesive visual effect. The side profile boasts smooth lines, and the 19-inch multi-spoke wheels (tire size 225/55R19) enhance the vehicle's refined look. The lower part of the front door has a "Vellfire" badge, and the rear features a horizontal chrome strip connecting the LED taillights on both sides, with the Toyota logo embedded at the center of the tailgate, creating a simple and elegant overall design.

Inside the cabin, the interior predominantly uses dark tones, paired with silver trims and soft-touch materials, giving a good sense of quality. The center console is equipped with a 14-inch touchscreen that operates smoothly and supports multimedia, navigation, and other functions; some physical buttons are retained below for easier blind operation while driving. The instrument cluster is fully digital, providing clear and intuitive information, with multiple display modes available. In terms of configuration, the front seats support 8-way electric adjustment (with memory and heating), and the front passenger seat offers 4-way electric adjustment (also with memory and heating). The second row features Ottoman independent captain chairs, with adjustable backrest angles and leg rests, along with heating functions, offering a high level of comfort. The third-row seats support 50:50 and 60:40 split folding, which can expand the trunk space when folded. The vehicle is also equipped with 360-degree panoramic imaging, ACC adaptive cruise control, lane-changing assistance, and other configurations, offering great convenience for daily use.

In terms of space performance, the 3000mm wheelbase ensures ample seating space. A 175cm tall passenger sitting in the front row has about two fist-widths of headroom; when the second-row seats are fully pushed back, the legroom exceeds three fist-widths, and the headroom is one and a half fist-widths, allowing for comfortable use of the leg rest. The third-row seats are suitable for short trips for adults, with about one fist-width of legroom and one fist-width of headroom. Regarding storage capacity, the front-row central armrest box has a relatively large capacity, and the door storage bins can hold two bottles of water. The second-row seats are equipped with cupholders and storage pockets on both sides, while the third row also has cupholders. The trunk can hold three 20-inch suitcases in its regular configuration, and folding the third-row seats creates space for larger items. Additionally, the interior is equipped with 220V/230V power outlets, multiple USB ports, and rear air conditioning vents, ensuring maximum practicality.

Powertrain, the 2024 Vellfire 2.5 is equipped with a 2.5L naturally aspirated engine, with a maximum power of 134kW (182PS)/6000rpm and a maximum torque of 235N·m/4100rpm, paired with a CVT transmission. During actual driving, the start is smooth, throttle response is linear, and acceleration at low and medium speeds is sufficient, making it suitable for city commuting; at high speeds, when the speed exceeds 100km/h, further acceleration feels somewhat gentle, requiring a deeper press of the gas pedal for overtaking. There are three driving modes to choose from: Eco, Normal, and Sport. In Sport mode, throttle response is more sensitive, though overall power output leans towards comfort.

In terms of handling and suspension, the combination of front MacPherson independent suspension and rear double-wishbone independent suspension is tuned for comfort. When passing over speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension effectively filters out vibrations, and the body experiences minimal jolting. During high-speed cornering, body roll is kept within a reasonable range, providing good stability. The steering wheel offers moderate resistance and precise control, making daily driving effortless. In terms of fuel consumption, the official combined fuel consumption is 9L/100km. Our tests showed urban fuel consumption (traffic + ring road) of about 10.5L/100km, and highway consumption of about 7.8L/100km, which meets the expectations for a 2.5L MPV.

For safety features, it comes standard with 6 airbags (front driver and passenger, front side airbags, front and rear head curtain airbags, and knee airbags), ABS, vehicle stability control, lane departure warning, active braking, forward collision warning, as well as reminders for all seatbelt usage and ISO FIX child seat anchors, ensuring safety. In terms of driver assistance features, ACC adaptive cruise control, 360-degree panoramic cameras, and front and rear parking sensors help reduce driving difficulty.

Regarding ride comfort, the sound insulation performs well, and wind noise and tire noise are kept within acceptable limits during highway travel; engine noise becomes noticeable when the RPM exceeds 3000, but since daily driving rarely requires such high RPMs, the impact is negligible. The seat padding is soft yet supportive, so long durations of sitting are not fatiguing. The independent second-row seats have leg rests and adjustable backrests, allowing passengers to find the most comfortable seating position.

In conclusion, the core advantages of the 2024 Toyota Vellfire 2.5 lie in its spacious interior, rich features (especially the second-row comfort settings), high reliability, and comprehensive safety features. Compared to competitors like the Honda Odyssey, the Vellfire offers better second-row comfort and brand positioning. Although the power output is not overly strong, it is entirely adequate for family or business daily use. This vehicle is ideal for consumers who value ride comfort, practicality, and brand reliability, such as families (especially those with multiple children) or users needing a vehicle for business reception. Overall, the 2024 Vellfire 2.5 is a well-balanced and comfortable luxury MPV, capable of serving both family and business needs effectively.