RM 70k for a 12-year-old 2nd-gen Toyota Alphard (AH20), budget to repair?

Boxy, imposing, luxurious. These are the various words that have been used to describe a Toyota Alphard. Be it the first (AH10), second (AH20) or third (AH30) generation, Alphards are a fairly common sight in Malaysia.

Don't believe us? Do a quick visual survey of all the upscale, swanky neighbourhoods nearest to you. There will most likely be a Toyota Alphard gracing the garage of many a home. 

Perhaps you're looking to buy one? Well, you've come to the right place. Today, let's dive into all you need to know about purchasing a used second-generation (AH20) Toyota Alphard.

Which Toyota Alphard variant is the best?

The second-generation Toyota Alphard (AH20) was launched in 2008. However, at that time in Malaysia, there were no officially-imported versions. In a good way, that meant buyers had plenty of specification and trim choices when shopping for one, albeit minus a factory-backed warranty.

Whatever the specification and trim, the AH20 Alphards had two engine and two transmission options, the first one being a 2.4-litre, 4-cylinder engine (170 PS, 224 Nm) paired to a CVT transmission, and the second a 3.5-litre, V6 (275 PS, 340 Nm) paired to a 6-speed automatic.

A facelift followed in 2011, and in 2014 UMW Toyota (UMWT) launched the Alphard officially in Malaysia. The UMWT units came in 2 options: 2.4G (RM 338,000 when new) and 3.5G (RM 398,000 when new).

While grey-import Alphards came in many flavours and options, the UMWT units came with standard features as listed in the table below. 

The powertrain options from the pre-facelift were carried over to the facelift models. All this while grey-import units continued to be brought in to Malaysia.

Nowadays, you can snag a pre-facelift AH20 Toyota Alphard for as low as RM 70k. What's more remarkable is, at that asking price, you can pick between the 2AZ-FE 2.4-litre engine or the 2GR-FE 3.5-litre engine. Of course, this would be a grey import unit.

If you fancy a officially-imported used AH20 Alphard, budget around RM 105k for a 2014 2.4G variant, while a 2014 3.5G will set you back around RM 120k. 

Interestingly, the chassis number for grey-import (starts with ANH20) and UMWT (starts with JTE) AH20 Alphards are different, so that's a big telltale if you're looking to find a used official UMWT unit.

Our recommendation would be to stump up RM 70k for a pre-facelift grey import, preferably a 2.4G (also called the 240G), which already has amenities like powered sliding rear doors, powered tailgate, AFS lighting system, and powered front seats.

With the 2.4-litre engine option, you still get adequate power to move 7 people, whilst enjoying lower road tax and fuel consumption (driver-dependent, of course) costs. Let's face it, you don't really need the extra grunt from the 3.5-litre (who goes drag racing in an Alphard?).

Understandably, buying a grey import can be risky (no two recond units are alike). Hence, do your homework when looking for one. Seeing that most grey-import AH20 Alphards hail from Japan, it's good to obtain the auction report of the unit you're looking at.

For a small fee, you can purchase said auction report from websites like recond.my that details the actual condition of the car. All you need is the VIN number of the car you want to check.

Even if recond dealer offers to show you an auction report, it's best to just pay and obtain it yourself, as these documents can be digitally-edited. Worst still, if the dealer doesn't want to furnish you with the VIN number, walk away. 

This is especially important to check for mileage tampering, accident history and general condition of the unit you're looking at.

It's also important to note that with grey imports, your car's infotainment (something the aftermarket can solve) and major controls (steering buttons, instrument switches) will most likely be in Japanese.

Why buy an Alphard?

For starters, many in Malaysia consider the Toyota Alphard to be a status symbol, regardless of which generation. It is even the carriage of choice for Malaysian VIPs (albeit the current AH30 generation). 

Also read: Support Malaysian products, so why is the Toyota Alphard our gov's ‘official car’?

So, if you have a family to ferry, and want to look like you've made it in life, a Toyota Alphard in your garage will help enhance that image. Yes, it is good for your business image.

The AH20 Alphard's interior is also quite well-appointed. In general, the material selection and colour choices feel like it's geared to keep the cabin feeling airy, and that's fine. We're not too sure about the brown wood inserts and overly beige interior panels though. 

Stick to the darker-coloured wood inserts and the ambience of luxury is well-executed and most will find little to complain. 

Moreover, the Alphard's form factor gives it a really spacious interior for occupants to lounge in. It doesn't matter which row of seats you're in, there's plenty of head and legroom for all occupants. 

In the driving experience department, well.... this is a Toyota Alphard, so its brief is to shuttle occupants in maximum comfort and minimal fuss. That, the Alphard serves up in spades. Both the 2.4- and 3.5-litre engines deliver grunt in the smoothest and most unobstrusive way.

Paired to their respective CVT and 6AT transmissions, journeys in the Alphard is akin to flying business class on an airplane (what's that?), if not quite first class. 

Is is costly to maintain and fix one?

Given the Alphard's luxury positioning and engine size, it's never going to be as affordable to upkeep as say, a Honda HR-V. However, it's still a Toyota, meaning that maintenance is not exactly astronomical, especially if you opt for the 2.4-litre variants, as recommended earlier. 

Also read: Used 6-year-old Honda HR-V for RM 60k, what are the common problems?

Kang from MD Auto says both the CVT and 6AT transmissions are generally reliable, as long as they're driven as intended and fluid changes are done on time. 

For the 2.4-litre models, Kang also recommends changing the CVT transmission fluids every 20,000 km (below RM 250) as the transmission is a bit more sensitive to Malaysian driving conditions compared to the 6AT in the 3.5-litre Alphards. 

Going one step further, Kang says installing a CVT oil cooler (RM 990) will help prolong the transmission's life and help it withstand Malaysian driving conditions better. 

Any common issues with these Alphards?

When it comes to common issues, the general consensus is that AH20 Alphards are pretty robust and reliable. However, there are a few things worth paying attention to. 

Kenny Lee, of Kegani Racing Services has very kindly provided us with some insights to what ails an Alphard. Kenny mentions that the most common issue that plagues the AH20 Alphard is the power steering rack.

Symptoms of a faulty steering rack can include knocking noises when going through rough roads, though it can also occur when the vehicle is stationary (by just dry-steering the car). To fix this issue, the budget up to RM 5,000. 

Next on the list is a counter balance shaft issue that is specific to the 2AZ-FE 2.4-litre engine. Symptoms of a worn counter balance shaft will be excessive consumption of engine oil in the long run. According to Kenny, this issue will require a RM 2,000 budget.

With Alphards having powered sliding doors, Kenny says this could be a point of failure over time too. Once the sliding doors start malfunctioning, the telltale sign would be the sliding doors kicking back. Per side, this could cost between RM 1,000 to RM 2,000.

One more thing to be mindful of is the Takata airbag inflator recall. It doesn't matter if your Alphard is a grey import or a UMWT unit, as the recall extends to both. Just remember to check on this matter when shortlisting the units you're looking at. More details can be found here.

All in all, it's a good idea to do a pre-purchase inspection on the unit that you've decided on, before taking the plunge. 

Also read: Why is it so hard to buy a Toyota Alphard / Vellfire that’s not in white or black colour?

Conclusion

It's not difficult to see why the AH20 Toyota Alphard, or any generation of Alphard for that matter, being so enduringly popular in Malaysia. It ferries seven in utmost comfort, looks right at home in a country club or hotel lobby, and is pretty stout mechanically.

The Toyota Alphard seems to be a staple for VIPs to towkays alike. While many have tried to follow the same recipe (Nissan Elgrand, Honda Elysion), none seem to be able to replicate the Alphard's success, in Malaysia at least.