At a glance, the Toyota Alphard (and its Vellfire sibling) may look like breadboxes on wheels, but that’s far from the truth, as these luxury MPVs are popular amongst used and recond car buyers.

After all, a quick check on several car listing sites indicate that there are a huge number of the Alphard and Vellfire for sale.

One main reason why the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire shot up in popularity is because not many cars can match their spaciousness and ease of entry and exit – thanks to its sliding doors that allow you to step in and out of the MPV like it’s a massive room, rather than a car.

In fact, with prices starting from the RM 40k mark, a used Toyota Alphard does seem like a pretty good bargain for the amount of car you’re getting, but is it the case?

Let’s take a closer look.

As with any used car, the general rule of thumb applies – no two used cars are identical, it’s highly recommended to buy directly from the owner, walk away from units sold without a full service history (which points at a possible tampered odometer), and exercise the usual due diligence to avoid badly-wrecked or flood-damaged cars.

Official imported units sold by UMW Toyota Motor and those that come with a full service history are preferred. More on that later.

It is also worth keeping in mind that a cheap Toyota Alphard won’t necessarily equal to cheap repairs/maintenance. Granted, cheap or expensive maintenance is highly subjective, but the rule is if you can’t afford to maintain a brand-new Toyota Alphard, you still can’t afford to maintain a used one.

The value of a used Toyota Alphard will depreciate over time, but the prices of spare parts will remain.

Which model to buy?

Given that the mechanicals of the first- and second-generation models are practically identical, it boils down to how far you can stretch your budget for one.

The 2.4-litre variants are fine if you’re primarily travelling alone (or you have a chauffeur), but if you frequently carry your family around, then the 3.0-litre or 3.5-litre variants make more sense as it offers more power at the expense of higher road tax.

Road tax for the 2.4-litre variant comes in at RM 729, while the 3.0-litre variant's road tax comes in at RM 1,630. Lastly, the road tax for the 3.5-litre variant is RM 2,369.

For comparison purposes, the 2.4-litre engine in the Alphard is good for 160 PS and 195 Nm, while the larger 3.0-litre engine does 220 PS and 310 Nm. If road tax isn’t a concern to you, then the 3.5-litre unit is a good option, as it pushes out 280 PS and 330 Nm.

Older models that date back to 2002 are also a decent purchase, so long as the particular unit you’re looking at has been properly maintained.

Prices start from the RM 40k mark for a first-generation (AH10) example, while the second-generation model (AH20) is priced from the RM 75k mark.

It’s also a good idea to avoid modified examples, as we will explain in detail further down.

What are the common problems?

In order to find out more about the Toyota Alphard’s common problems, we spoke to Kenny who runs Kegani Racing Services.

The most common problem found on the Toyota Alphard, regardless of its generation, is its power steering rack.

You’ll know that the steering rack has developed this problem when it starts making knocking noises when going through rough roads, though it can also occur when the vehicle is stationary (just steer from right to left or left to right).

Fixing the Alphard's steering noise could cost up to RM 5,000, so keep that in mind.

Although larger wheels on the Alphard do help it look nicer, it could potentially wear down suspension components prematurely, as well as causing issues with the bushes.

The other issue to look out is the counter balance shaft issue. Unique to the 2.4-litre variants, a worn counter balance shaft could cause the engine to consume engine oil in the long run. According to Kenny, a counter balance shaft replacement job costs less than RM 2,000.

Apart from the other two issues, another common problem with the Toyota Alphard is the power sliding door kickback issue. Kenny mentioned that this kickback problem typically costs between RM 1,000 to RM 2,000 to fix, per side.

Grey import units also lack an automatic transmission fluid (ATF) cooler, which is vital for our driving conditions and hot weather. It's a good idea to look out for jerky transmissions, as it could indicate that the transmission may be in need of a fix.

What other things you should know?

As mentioned in our earlier article, it is a much better option to purchase directly from the owner, as this lessens the probability of having a tampered mileage.

On top of that, it’s also a good idea to make sure that the particular Alphard (or Vellfire) you’re looking at comes with full service records. Earlier-generation models are recommended to service at every 5,000 km to 7,000 km, while later models can be serviced at every 10,000 km interval.

The stock brakes in the Alphard may not be sufficient, especially with a full load on board. As such, for those who wants better stopping power should look at investing in a better braking system (pads, rotors, brake lines).

While the market is flooded with a huge number of Toyota Alphards and Vellfires, we recommend potential buyers to look at official imported units instead, as units sold by UMW Toyota Motor come with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty and aftersales support. It’s a hassle-free, peace-of-mind purchase.

But if you have your sights set on a reconditioned unit, make sure to get a copy of the Japanese vehicle auction sheet before buying, and you’ll need to live with the Japanese car controls.

With the ongoing Takata airbag inflator recall, it's also a good idea to check with UMW Toyota Motor to see if your particular unit is affected by the recall. It doesn't matter if your Alphard/Vellfire is a recond unit, as they cater to both officially import and grey import units. More details can be found here.

Kegani Racing Services is located at 7, Jalan Serindit 2, Bandar Puchong Jaya, 47100 Puchong, Selangor. Contact details can be found here.