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The Volkswagen Multivan might have everyone beat in the top-end people-mover segment right now, but there's a dark horse waiting in the wings ready to snatch its crown away.
People-movers are by no means Australia’s favourite type of vehicle, but there is a market for them, and as it turns out, our favourite premium model isn’t even sold on local soil.
Data seen by Drive shows that the most popular people-mover in Australia in 2024 was the Toyota Alphard, which has never been sold locally, with no plans afoot to change that.
So how is it here? Other than the traditional route of car makers importing vehicles en masse to sell new, there is another pathway – private importation via what’s known as the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles Register (SEVs).
In 2024, according to the Department of Infrastructure, which is responsible for the SEVs, Aussies privately imported 599 Toyota Alphards, making it the most bought people-mover over $70,000 that year.
Meanwhile, the Toyota Granvia, which is sold locally, was outgunned four to one, with just 117 finding homes in 2024.
However, on Friday, Toyota revealed it will no longer be selling the Granvia in Australia, with the model being discontinued.
Is the Toyota Alphard coming to Australia?
Toyota Australia said it has no immediate plans for the Alphard, but with the Granvia gone, there is certainly scope for the former to fill the gap.
Furthermore, in December 2023, Lexus introduced its LM people-mover to the Australian market – the luxury version of the Alphard – which has left the door wide open for Toyota to do the same.
In Japan last year, there were 79,374 Alphards sold, showing there is a huge appetite for this kind of vehicle in a right-hand-drive market.
While it’s unlikely importing the Alphard would seriously unsettle the people-mover segment – with the Kia Carnival virtually untouchable with an 83 per cent market share in 2024 and 10,080 sales, it could start to take away from the lower hanging fruit.
Second to the Carnival in the under $70,000 category is the Hyundai Staria, of which 1363 were sold in 2024, equating to an 11 per cent share, while over $70K the most popular was the Volkswagen Multivan with 543 sold.
Second to that? The Lexus LM with 298 vehicles registered.
The move from Tarago to Granvia undoubtedly impacted Toyota's popularity in the people-mover segment, given that the latter is based on the agricultural HiAce.
However, as previously noted by Drive in this Lexus LM review, with petrol-electric hybrid powertrain options, a plush interior, and futuristic styling, the Alphard could be a winner.
Ben Lippa, owner of J-Spec Imports, said the Granvia and Alphard are quite different vehicles, so the latter won’t necessarily fill the former’s shoes, but there was a place for it beneath the ultra-luxury and ultra-pricey Lexus LM.
“I think Toyota just left it to Lexus to do the luxury side, but there is a market for it here. I mostly import the model one step down from the top, the SR C Package,” he said.
There are used examples of the Alphard on sale, of course, locally, ranging from around $14,000 to $160,000 depending on age and variant.
Is the Toyota Alphard a car or a van?
The Toyota Alphard is a people-mover, so more of a car than a van, with the first generation going on sale in Japan in 2002.
Hybrid power was added a year later, before the model came in for a refresh in 2005.
A second generation followed in 2008, bringing with it the sportier Vellfire, which continues to be sold today.
In 2011 it was time for another facelift, before the third-generation Alphard arrived in 2015.
A third facelift was rolled out in 2018, with the latest update to the model coming with the fourth generation in 2023 for both the Alphard and the Vellfire.
The Alphard is sold in its home market of Japan, as well as Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, and South Korea.
What engine does a Toyota Alphard have?
In Japan, the latest Alphard is available with the choice of a 2.5-litre petrol engine (134kW/235Nm), which was carried over from the previous generation, or a 2.5-litre petrol hybrid (184kW combined).
The Vellfire has a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine (205kW/430Nm) alongside the 2.5-litre petrol hybrid engine, with the 3.5-litre V6 engine option discontinued from the line-up.
All versions use a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) apart from the turbo-petrol Vellfire, which uses an eight-speed torque converter automatic, with all-wheel drive available across the range.
Both the Alphard and Vellfire ride on Toyota's TNGA-K chassis shared by the current Camry, Kluger and Lexus RX.
How much is a Toyota Alphard?
The Alphard is priced from the equivalent of $AUD55,045 to $88,136 (at the time of writing) in Japan, while the Vellfire is priced between $AUD71,532 and $92,474.
In comparison, the related Lexus LM in Australia is sold for $179,952 drive-away for the 350h grade using a 2.5-litre hybrid or $245,352 for the 500h using a more powerful 2.4-litre hybrid.
Can a Toyota Alphard fit eight people?
All Alphards and Vellfires appear to be seven-seaters, with two front seats, two individual captain’s chair-style middle seats, and three seating positions across the third row.
The Lexus LM is either a seven-seater in 350h spec or a four-seater in 500h form.
A born-and-bred newshound, Kathryn has worked her way up through the ranks reporting for, and later editing, two renowned UK regional newspapers and websites, before moving on to join the digital newsdesk of one of the world’s most popular newspapers – The Sun. More recently, she’s done a short stint in PR in the not-for-profit sector, and led the news team at Wheels Media.
