The Toyota Alphard, a perennial crowd favourite in Malaysia, with businessmen and politicians alike. You see VIPs making rounds in one to Istana Negara when meeting the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, at valet parking in swanky hotels, or even at elite golf clubs. It is indeed, a status symbol, in a box.

Even in its third generation (AH30) now, the Alphard continues to be the chariot of choice for many. The good news is, prices of used AH30 Alphards are actually at very attainable levels now. Want one, don't you? Let's dive in to what you need to know. 

Which variant is the best Toyota Alphard?

UMW Toyota (UMWT) officially launched the third-generation (AH30) Toyota Alphard in Malaysia in 2016, bringing in two variants, the Alphard 3.5 priced at RM 408,327 and Alphard 3.5 Executive Lounge asking for RM 505,626.

Only one powertrain option can be had, which is the 2GR-FE 3.5-litre V6 (271 PS, 340 Nm) paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. 

A facelift was unveiled in 2018, with the same Alphard 3.5 (RM 429,800) and Alphard 3.5 Executive Lounge variants (RM 540,800).

The facelift Alphards brought updates to the exterior, interior and additional equipment. The 2GR-FKS 3.5-litre V6 replaced the 2GR-FE, now making 300 PS and 361 Nm . The transmission gained two extra ratios from the pre-facelift, making it a 8-speed automatic.

In 2020, UMWT gave the Alphard (and removed the 3.5 Executive Lounge variant) Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) ADAS suite, which includes:

• Pre-collision System (PCS)
• Lane Departure Alert (LDA)
• Lane Tracing Assist (LTA)
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)

Despite UMWT offering officially-imported Alphards, grey importers continued to bring in Alphards from Japan by the dozens. There are many trims and options to choose from, you can even have the smaller 2AR-FE 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder engine (180 PS, 235 Nm) paired to a CVT transmission.

It's fairly easy to tell a grey import Alphard from a UMWT one, the key is in the registration cards. Chassis number for grey imports start with AGH30 (2.5) or GGH30 (3.5), whereas UMWT units have a chassis number start with JTNGK.

If you want an AH30 Alphard for a relatively low price, then explore grey import units. Prices start from RM 150k for a pre-facelift 2015 unit, and can go up to RM 470k for a facelifted 2020 one, at which point buying an official UMWT unit makes more sense. 

Conversely, used UMWT units can still fetch prices starting from RM 245k for a pre-facelift (2017) to around RM 320k (2018) for a facelift unit. 

While we would recommend official UMWT units for peace of mind, there is the small matter of the considerable price difference even in secondary prices compared to grey imports.

Of course, UMWT units get factory-backed warranty and all, but Alphards are fairly common in our country and isn't rocket science to maintain or repair (more on that later). 

Should you decide to get a grey import Alphard, do bear in mind though, to be extra careful with mileage tampering, accident history and oh, your major controls and infotainment will be in Japanese. Best to pay for a Japanese auction report.

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

Why should I buy one?

Well, one of the reasons why the Alphard is so loved by Malaysians is because it's the easiest way to look like you've made it in life. In other words, to tell people that you're rich, buy an Alphard. How else would you explain the scores of Toyota Alphards queuing up to fetch kids from expensive international schools?

Of course, it's not fair to just level the Alphard to just an affluent image. For something that has such a boxy form factor, the Alphard does carry off pretty handsome looks.... viewed from some angles. The grille and headlamps combine to present an appearance of grandeur (vs the Vellfire, which comes of 'sportier').

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

Below are some specifications for the officially-imported UMWT units.

However, one must step inside for the full Toyota Alphard experience. First thing you'd notice is how easy and dignified it is to enter and exit an Alphard, compared to a regular luxury sedan. It feels natural and ergonomic. No contortions, no awkward bending over. This is especially useful for elderly family members.

Starting from the front quarters, the dashboard and driver's cockpit area are well-appointed, ergonomically laid out, and finished with high-quality materials. We're not too sure about the wood trim inserts though.

The box-like shape from outside translates to acres of lounging room in the cabin. It's pretty lavish here, with supple leather upholstery all round, Ottoman-style 2nd-row seats (front passenger as well) and twin moon roofs combining to give the Alphard a premium ambience. 

Beyond its glitzy looks, the Alphard's appeal lies in the fact that it makes mincemeat out of any journey, be it the daily commute or outstation trips. It's supremely hushed inside and relaxing inside.

While the Alphard is massively comfortable, the suspension tuning can be a tad too wallowy. Great for a smooth cruise, potentially nauseating on undulating roads. To keep things plain sailing, Alphard drivers also need to mindful to drive it like the tall, big box on wheels that it is. 

Sure, a Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7 Series trumps it in ultimate, magic-carpet comfort, but remember, the Teutonic heavyweights rely on air suspension, while the Alphard runs traditional passive dampers.

Short of a Lexus LM 350 (which is on a different price bracket altogether), you'd struggle to find a better way to transport seven persons than the Alphard. 

Trade in User's Car Form

Also read: Regular Malaysians won’t understand - Nearly 20 orders collected for RM 1.1 mil Lexus LM 350

Only the rich can afford to maintain and repair this, right?

Being vehicles with relatively large engines, it won't be exactly cheap and cheerful to maintain and upkeep. Seeing that the drivetrain and tyre sizes for both pre-facelift and facelift are largely the same, the costs are broadly similar, road taxes notwithstanding.

As for common issues, WapCar.my spoke to Ray Wong from Ray Car Care to get a better idea of what afflicts the AH30.

With the 2GR-FE or the 2GR-FKS 3.5-litre V6s, Ray says there's not much that troubles these engines. Likewise, the 6AT and 8AT transmissions on the V6 models are also pretty robust. Just do your regular maintenance on schedule and these combos will give many years of problem-free service.

Ray also mentions that the he has come across the steering rack noise that afflicts the previous-generation (AH20) Alphard in the AH30 as well, albeit with less frequency, as the current generation of cars are relatively new.

Should the worst happen, budget around RM 5,000 for a brand new steering rack, or you can try your luck sourcing for a half cut unit (price is on a 'willing seller, willing buyer' basis).

For grey import Alphards that are equipped with the 2AR-FE 2.5 litre engine, Ray says they are an improvement over the previous generation's 2AZ-FE 2.4-litre, and is free from the worn counter balance shaft issue that plagued the 2AZ-FE.

His customers have clocked close to 100,000 kms with this engine and so far, there are no issues whatsoever. However, just like the previous AH20 generation, the CVT transmission requires a bit more attention as it is a bit more sensitive to Malaysian driving conditions.

Timely fluid changes are essential to keep the transmission running in tip-top condition, Ray recommends changing the CVT fluid every 20,000 km (RM 250). It is relatively inexpensive to do so and keeps the CVT transmission healthy. 

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

Conclusion

If you think about it, there's not many vehicles that has the unique appeal of the Toyota Alphard (its Vellfire sibling doesn't count, obviously). It brings with it a classy, upmarket image, seats seven in supreme comfort, and possesses Lexus-like level of quality and ambience?

How many seven-seater MPVs can boast of having such accomplished attributes? Yep, not many. With rumours of the Toyota Vellfire not receiving a successor, the Alphard will soon stand alone in this market space. 

Also read: Sayonara, Toyota Vellfire. You’ll be missed by Malaysian politicians, celebrities, and businessmen

I used to be one of those people that didn't 'get' the Toyota Alphard as a product, but now, I appreciate it for what it is: a wafty, serene and elegant operator. And yes, buy one and see what you're missing out on.