All-new 2022 Toyota Voxy and Noah launched in Japan to step over the Stepwgn’s party

• Riding on TNGA-C platform with a choice of petrol or hybrid
• At least 20 variants offered from RM 98k
• Is it game over for the Honda Stepwgn?

It looks like January 2022 is the month for boxy Japanese MPVs with Toyota launching the all-new fourth-generation of its twin MPVs, the Toyota Voxy and Noah. This is just only a week after Honda unveiled the all-new sixth-gen Stepwgn.

Note the different words used to describe both the Voxy/Noah and the Stepwgn’s debut. Honda would only reveal more details like the prices, variants, and power figures later in the year while Toyota has revealed a literal smorgasbord of details for its twin boxcars.

Buyers are literally spoiled for choice with Toyota offering at least 20 variants in total that comprise of 7- and 8-seaters as well as the wheelchair-friendly Welcab series.

Also read: Toyota Sienta Welcab launched in Indonesia – first outside Japan?

Both the Voxy and Noah are similar in equipment and powertrains with only cosmetic differences on the exterior. The all-new Voxy looks friendlier than its mini-Vellfire-looking predecessor but it still gives off a distinct sporty look.

The Toyota logo ‘floats’ between the upper bar which houses the LED DRLs and the grille which is where the main headlamps are located. This front design is similar to the Hyundai Staria in arrangement but the Voxy feels a lot more menacing than the Daft Punk-inspired Korean.

Also read: This over Alphard/Vellfire? Priced from RM 359k, Hyundai Staria launched in Malaysia

Meanwhile, the all-new Noah sports a more conventional design with the main highlight being the massive U-shape front grille. There are two different faces for the Noah which are the standard and the Aero.

The Aero essentially replaces the Esquire, the forgotten triplet of the Noah/Voxy. What sets it apart from the standard Noah is the chrome grille as well as a wider and lower stance. Mini-Alphard, much?

Also read: The Suzuki Spacia Custom is a little Kei car that pretends to be an Alphard

Just like the rest of the Toyota family, the all-new Voxy/Noah is built on the TNGA platform. To be precise, it’s built on the TNGA-C platform which it shares with the Toyota Corolla and Corolla Cross.

Practicality is king when it comes to these tall, boxy MPVs and the all-new Voxy/Noah is 70 mm higher than the previous generation. It also comes with every Japanese family’s favourite feature – power sliding doors.

Also read: Poor door choices are what killed off the Toyota Wish and Honda Stream

However, enhancing better entry and exit for the rear is an automatic retractable step located on the passenger side. Aiding ingress into the MPVs are hand grips that are positioned on both sides of the B-pillars as well as optional hands-free dual powered sliding doors.

There are two powertrains offered for the Voxy/Noah which are a 2.0-litre Dynamic Force petrol engine (170 PS/202 Nm) and a series parallel hybrid system that combines a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder (98 PS/142 Nm) with an AC motor located on the front (95 PS/185 Nm).

Both the petrol and hybrid powertrains come with either front- or four-wheel-drive. Besides, the 4WD hybrid variants have an additional electric motor (41 PS/84 Nm) placed on the rear axle.

Petrol variants are mated to a direct-shift CVT automatic with 10 virtual gears while hybrid variants are paired to an eCVT gearbox.

As mentioned earlier in the article, the Voxy/Noah comes with 7- or 8-seater arrangements. The 7-seater sees the middle row being occupied by a pair of captain chairs while a bench fills up the middle row of the 8-seater variants.

Unlike the Stepwgn, the last row of seats on the Toyota twins does not fold into the floor but is rather folded to the side like an Innova. Still, with the rearmost seats folded, the pair of captain seats can be moved all the way to the rear to provide ample legroom.

As this is a modern Toyota family vehicle, safety features are abundant on the all-new Voxy/Noah. Aside from the usual AEB, LKA, DRCC, and the regular alphabet soup of acronyms, the MPVs are also equipped with some Lexus and even Tesla levels of safety equipment.

Also read: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems ADAS, more harm than good?

One of them is the Toyota Teammate ADAS suite which comprises of Advanced Drive and Advanced Park. Advanced Drive allows hands-free driving during heavy traffic by combining radar cruise control and lane tracing assist. This feature is only activated between 0 and 40 km/h makes its debut on the Voxy/Noah.

Also read: New 2020 Lexus LS debuts, now with AI-powered ADAS features

Next is Advanced Park which allows the MPV to park automatically in forward, reverse, and parallel parking situations. Now, that isn’t something to get excited for seeing some cars offer self-parking but the hybrid variants come with a remote-parking feature that can be accessed via an app.

Prices for the Toyota Voxy and Noah range from JPY 2,670,000 to 3,960,000 (~RM 98k-145k). We can sense recond dealers nationwide are getting ready to bring these smaller siblings to the equally boxed-out Alphard/Vellfire in droves. Granted, which would you choose between the pair of Toyotas and the Honda?

Also read: All-new 2022 Honda Stepwgn revealed in Japan as recond dealers rejoice in the background