The Toyota Voxy nameplate may be a new one to most Malaysians, but the model has been a hit in Japan.
Due to extremely long waiting periods for brand-new cars, many car buyers are resorting to recond cars such as the Toyota Voxy, which also explains the rising number of this 7-seater MPV here in Malaysia.
Overview – Better looking alternative to the Nissan Serena
The third-generation Voxy, codenamed ZRR80, is offered as a 7- or 8-seater. Think of the Toyota Voxy as a smaller Toyota Alphard. In markets where the Voxy is sold (Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan), it competes directly against similarly-sized rivals such as the Nissan Serena and Honda StepWGN.
And like the Alphard and Vellfire duo, the Voxy is also sold with several names, including the Esquire and Noah. The Esquire and Noah are mechanically identical to the Voxy, with the key difference being a different exterior design.
Toyota Esquire shown
In Japan, the ZRR80 Voxy is offered with two powertrain options. The first is a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre 3ZR-FE petrol engine (152 PS, 193 Nm), while the second is a petrol-electric hybrid, featuring a 1.8-litre 2ZR-FXE, allowing for a combined system output of 136 PS.
Recond units brought into Malaysia feature the 2.0-litre petrol engine; hybrid variants aren’t imported.
Which variant to get?
In Japan, the Voxy is sold with several variants in Japan, namely X, V, ZS, and ZS G’s, while the Noah is offered with the X, G, Si, and Si G’s variants. The Esquire is only available in two variants, Xi and Gi. Spread that across 7- and 8-seater variants, on top of 2WD and 4WD variants, you’re looking at no less than 40 different variants of the Voxy, Noah, and Esquire.
However, just like Alphard and Vellfire duo, the Voxy and its sibling models can be optioned and customized right from the dealer, meaning that no two units of the Voxy are identical.
That said, we would highly recommend looking for units fitted with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) ADAS suite, available on post-2016 models.
Another deciding factor to purchase a recond Toyota Voxy over a brand-new Nissan Serena, at least in the Malaysian context, is the availability of the Welcab variant.
Without going too in-depth, Toyota’s Welcab-branded variants feature a wheelchair-friendly front passenger seat, and access ramp at the rear, aiding passengers with limited mobility.
Prices of recond the Toyota Noah start from the RM 110k mark, while prices of the Toyota Esquire start from the RM 139k. As for the Toyota Voxy, prices start from the RM 115k mark.
Common issues?
Being a Toyota, the Toyota Voxy is relatively problem-free. Owners of the Voxy (as well as its sibling models) have little complaint about the 7-seater MPV, though there are certain parts to look out for.
One such part is the air-conditioning servo motor. Symptoms of this include one side of the front air-conditioning vents blowing hot air on one side and cold air on another side. Often times, Voxy owners said that it is possible to reset the air-conditioning system, but the long-term solution is to replace the air-conditioning servo motor which costs about RM 800.
Another potential issue to look out for is the torque converter in the CVT, which usually plagues earlier 2014 to 2015 models. Toyota did issue a recall for this issues for its customers in Japan, but as a recond car, clearly this free fix doesn't cover Malaysian owners, so do verify its VIN if it has a recall pending.
As such, for those plagued by CVT issues, many Voxy owners just recommend fixing it under the recond shop’s warranty. Seeing that the Voxy shares its CVT transmission with other Toyota models like the Wish and Harrier, sourcing for such a part isn’t too difficult.
For Voxy units that have surpassed the 150k km mileage, the coil plug might be on the way out. Replacing the coil plugs is easy, as this is a common part shared with other Toyota models and costs RM 300 each.
Similar to other Toyota models, the steering rack of the Voxy could develop issues over time. It costs roughly RM 1,500 to repair the steering rack here.
Conclusion
Despite technically being a used car, there’s a lot going for when purchasing a recond Toyota Voxy. Not only you can stand out from the sea of Serenas, the Voxy is also relatively problem-free.
While the Nissan Serena is a brand-new MPV, the locally-assembled (CKD) version lacks the Welcab features that some Voxy units feature. The Welcab feature is a boon for families with elderly folks that have mobility issues.
Also, buying recond cars like the Toyota Voxy carry a higher risk than a brand-new Serena. Onus is on the buyer to watch out for tampered mileage, accident or flood-damaged units that are no longer road-worthy in Japan. If in doubt, you should do your homework by purchasing the auction sheet for the particular unit you're interested in; do not trust the copy provided by the seller.
Started from the IT industry but somehow managed to find his way into the automotive industry. If he’s not gaming, he’s constantly tinkering with his daily/weekend car.
