2023 Toyota Alphard (AH40) launched in Malaysia; from RM 538k, 2.4T, VIP seats, improved TSS
Sanjay · Oct 23, 2023 09:00 AM
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This is it, after a quick tease over the weekend, the all-new 2023 Toyota Alphard (AH40) has just been launched in Malaysia! This time around only one variant of the luxury 7-seater MPV is one sale here, the Alphard 2.4T Executive Lounge, fully-imported (CBU Japan), and priced from RM 538,000 without insurance.
Exterior: Bigger dimensions, fancier looks
It's a fresh take on the one-box form, and one that's slightly grown in size compared to the outgoing model. Here's how they compare, and we'll highlight the difference in the Interior section:
Styling is dictated by the 'Forceful x IMPACT LUXURY' language, and part of that impact comes from that wide grille up front: trimmed in dark chrome, it also contains embedded LED daytime running lights within them.
Tri-LED headlamps with sequential signal lights and cornering lights adorn the front, and for those low-visibility moments there's LED fog lamps as well.
Round the back there's a distinctive new set of taillamps, looks pretty swish especially when lit and with all the details in full display.
Clockwise from top left: Precious Leo Blond, Precious Metal, Platinum White Pearl, Black
19-inch dual-tone wheels round off the looks. Customers will get three colour options – this is Precious Leo Blond, while the other colours are Platinum White Pearl, Precious Metal, and simply, Black.
Interior: Two colour choices, VIP seats
Plush would be the descriptor of choice for the Alphard's inner quarters, equally comfortable for both the driver or for the one who enjoys the ride at the back.
We'll start up front. The driver gets an 8-way powered seat with memory, while the front passenger gets a 4-way adjustable unit; both of them getting heating and ventilation systems too. All seats are wrapped in genuine Nappa Leather.
Behind the Uzuramoku wood-veneered leather steering wheel (with a heater, for those extended Genting nights) is a 12.3-inch fully-digital instrument binnacle that corresponds to a heads-up display (HUD) as well. Next to that is a 14-inch infotainment screen, with both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity
Sidenote about Uzuramoku that's recreated in the Alphard: it loosely translates to 'quail feather pattern', and is specific to the very ancient yakusugi trees that are found mainly in Japanese highlands. These trees are renowned for their patterns and age, often spanning thousands of years.
Shift-by-wire shifter
You'll notice a distinct lack of buttons within, but at least there's some for the air-cond controls bookending the mega panel in the middle. Speaking of air-cond, there's auto air-conditioning all around; replete with Nanoe X air purification system.
Entertainment comes from a JBL 15-speaker setup, while there's 64-colour ambient lighting as well.
The headline news is undoubtedly the rear quarters of the Alphard. Executive Lounge VIP seats (Captain seats, in other words) with fully-electric adjustments including a one-touch Relax Power Recline mode, as well as massage and Ottoman functions are the name of the game here.
Third row
Comfort is enunciated by increasing the space between front- and second-row seats, and between the second- and third-row seats by 5 mm and 100 mm respectively. This wasn't easy to do at all; with engineers tweaking driving position and second-row seat construction, at intervals of 0.1mm.
Opulence means one-touch-controls for the boss at the back
Ahead of the seats are two (very cool) remote controls for fiddling with the seat positions, their heating/ventilation, air-conditioning, sunshade, and even lighting. If that's not nearly enough screens, then there's a 14-inch display hanging off the roof as well, for your kids' Cocomelon.
It has a digital rear view screen that feeds what's happening behind through a camera; can be switched to traditional mirror with the push of a button
There's one 240W AC plug point within, and 7 USB-C ports: 2 in front, 1 in the centre console box, 2 for the second row, and 2 more at the third. Last but not least, the interior is also customisable – buyers can take their pick between a Beige or Black cabin.
Powertrain: 2.4L turbo, more powerful yet more efficient
The Alphard is entirely new, and one of the starting points of that is its fresh 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine (T24A-FTS) making 278 PS and 430 Nm. Also serving in cars like the Lexus NX and RX, this is linked to a Direct Shift 8-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels (FWD).
Aside from the cheaper road tax, the new engine is also much torquier (the ol' six-banger made 361 Nm), yet lighter on fuel – Toyota claims for it to only sip 9.0 litres/100 km; better than the old engine's 9.4 litres/100 km.
Underpinning all that is the TNGA-K platform, and it also has clever engineering to make it the cushier twin between this and the Vellfire. Let us explain...
Chassis: TNGA-K, much-improved comfort
The rear suspension crossmember of the Alphard
Round the lower rear part of the car there's new straight rockers and a V-shaped brace. Then there's structural and high-rigidity adhesives at places where torsion commonly happens in, which translates to that less body deformation, and all this claims to make up to 50% better rigidity than the old cars.
Specific to the Alphard too are shock absorbers that mechanically adjust damping force based on the frequency of vibrations from the road surface. Note that these are mechanical dampers (not adaptive that you can switch to Sport or Comfort mode) that respond to vibrations from the road surface.
It also benefits from memory foam in the backrests and armrest, as well as rubber bushings at attachment points within the cushion frames. Toyota says these measures improve vibration reduction by up to 30% compared to the last-gen models.
TL;DR? It's less jiggly than the old car, with less road vibrations coming into the cabin. Net positive for you because less of both means more comfort.
Safety: TSS 3.0, 6 airbags
UMW Toyota Motor also offers a rear dashcam to complement the fitted front one
Besides the requisite 6 airbags and active safety kit, the AH40 Toyota Alphard comes with the full list of Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 items, as below:
Pre-collision system (PCS, now enhanced with intersection support)
TSS 3.0 is enhanced by an upgraded front camera that feeds higher-resolution image and wider angles, working together with an improved radar sensor for a further and wider field of view.
Aftersales and deliveries
Order books for the 2023 Toyota Alphard are open, and deliveries should commence soon. As with anything else UMW Toyota Motor sells, the Alphard is backed by a 5-year, unlimited mileage warranty.
With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.
