Toyota vellfire vellfire Vellfire : Only Japanese manufacturers and designers can manage this. I guess uh you know make an MPV, add luxury and then uh turn this uh boxy silhouette into such a cool design which is part of our daily conversation even if it’s not selling in high numbers. This is Toyota vellfire vellfire’s Vellfire and in this article we’re going to drive this car and uh try to find out what makes this so cool. What kind of features do you get and how different is this from the cars we see from uh you know European designers or Korean designers.
So we’ll take a look at that as well. But uh before we start this article just a context uh Toyota vellfire vellfire has launched this car sometime back and this unit has already crossed 32,000 km. So we are going to drive this and talk about the drive quality, ride quality, comfort, luxury and unique features in this welfare.
Exterior Design & Japanese Styling Philosophy
The shape and silhouette of this Vellfire reminds me of this automotive uh design culture we have seen in Japanese car industry. Uh look at this uh line almost straight and almost straight line at the front as well. Uh this vellfire is uh around 5 m long and uh the culture or the term I was referring to was the K car.
If you remember those cars uh the length restriction was around 3.2 2 3.3 m and the cars could not go beyond that. the length could not be increased and that’s why the designers what they did they increased the height of the car and that’s why we are used to those boxy shapes all over the world now uh especially because of those K cars we are you know some of those boxy cars look really cute and similar kind of philosophy I can see in this car as well.
Massive Dimensions & Road Presence
As I mentioned the rear and the front almost straight and I am 63 wearing boots today and look at the height of this car so this is so tall for example example this feature. Look at this. There’s one extra step for the driver so you can understand the height of this uh car.
And now take a look at the front and down the face of this uh car which is again giving you uh you know a reference point almost up to my waist. This huge front wheel we don’t see in any car and uh so much of chrome and still it’s not looking over the top. Somehow it reminds me the way uh the headlamps are integrated with this chrome setup. This reminds me of uh those Japanese warrior masks. Maybe maybe I’m wrong. Do let me know in the comment section how do you uh see this face. But now let’s take a look inside.
Cabin Experience: Luxury in the Back Seat
So the drive and ride story of Welfare has to start from the rear seat. second row seat and uh this is the reason why you pay almost 1.5 cr for a car and uh what do you get? What kind of comfort you get? What kind of features do you see? And what kind of ride quality this car provides. So let’s start with the features.
Executive Lounge Variant Features
This is called executive lounge version variant and it has lots of uh unique or maybe exclusive features. uh for example I’ll start with this uh device because uh there are two devices uh so there are two seats and uh both the passengers can you know operate most of the features independently so that they don’t have to you know fight over controls for example this device this controls almost everything.
Sunshades & Panoramic Roof Control
Okay let’s start with the shades left I have uh you know selected this window and I’ll just open it so this uh sun shade is open okay so so basically uh both the rows uh second and third row Sun shades are open. This is pretty long. Uh not very broad. I think uh this feels narrow I guess for me. Uh this could have been uh a bit uh broader but overall the size is huge. You get a good view out of this uh window.
Then you also have this control of shade which is the roof. So you don’t have to worry about uh you know fighting for uh your piece of sunroof or sun shade because uh because you can operate these two panels separately for example left there it is. So this uh sun shade is open. I can close it. Similarly I can control the right one as well.
Infotainment & Seat Comfort
This infotainment screen which is around 15 in I guess and uh you can control the audio from uh this device only. Now let’s talk about the seats and uh this one is fitted with lots of extra features for example massage uh alignment adjustment sliding and then ottoman as well.
Second Row Comfort & Business-Class Experience
Now the space and feature which you get on this seat for example uh sliding function. Okay, this is the max. In case uh you want to use more space uh the rear third row maybe you can uh just uh the second row like this otherwise if you want more space uh I’ll push this back uh to the max and let’s see what kind of space do I get okay this is the space I get.
And then you have uh this leg support ottoman uh which you can adjust from this device and then let’s see reclining. Wow. So you can almost lie down. So I know this term is really uh cliched whenever we drive or review any luxury cars and we mention that this has a business class kind of experience. This space actually is typical business class space.
And then uh you can also switch on the massage function on these seats because this variant gets uh that massage function as well. And you have seat heating and cooling.
Ambient Lighting & Convenience Features
You can uh open this uh sun shade from this button. Side shade and then you have this option of changing the ambient light color as well. It’s very easy to use and uh the access is again uh very easy and you have uh climate control buttons over here on the roof.
While we’re discussing uh this uh business class experience, let’s uh talk about this feature as well. So look at this one small extra table for you and vanity mirror as well.
Third Row Practicality
So now the third row test and uh this one liver just pull it and uh you can slide the seat ahead and now I’ll see what kind of space do you get. So if you fold this uh second row completely then you have lots of space but that’s not practical obviously.
So this is the kind of space you get in the third row if you uh you know slide the second row to the max and you still have this uh what do you call boss mode in some of the uh brands that uh you can slide the front seat with just uh one uh press of a button but uh this space the kind of uh leg space and knee room is okay for average Indian height. passengers I think.
Uh but again this is comfortable for two passengers. So this gets three uh adjustable headrests but I think more comfortable for two passengers I guess. But uh with uh these uh adjustable headrests, you also get this uh seat belt for the third passengers which is tucked away on the roof nicely.
Front Cabin & Driver-Oriented Features
So the front row view now and uh this is not a sports car. So I won’t say that uh just because you spend 1.5 crores you should or you would enjoy this seat as well. But what uh features uh does the chauffeur driver gets uh here?
Dashboard & Driving Controls
For example, first thing first, uh you can close and open the doors from, you know, just single touch long press this button and uh you can see I can open and close the doors. And uh then you have this 14-in uh screen which has uh most of the functions.
Then you have engine uh start stop button over here which is uh convenient I think uh because lots of cars lots of products they they hide this button somewhere which is uh very uh cumbersome for uh me at least and uh then you have this 14-in screen and most of the features most of the controls are integrated into the screen only.
Camera System & Convenience Ports
You have um this button for the camera view as well which is pretty good. So the uh resolution is nice and the view which you get is uh very helpful especially for a car like this which is so huge and you can’t see the edges properly. So this camera is really helpful uh with a view angles and resolution as well.
Then you have two type-C charging ports and wireless charging pad and then this uh hidden uh spot for bottle holder or glass holder. The piano black finish even after I guess 32,000 km it’s not bad.
Driving Experience & Ride Quality
Engine Performance
Now guys, that part of the story which is not that important if you’re buying this kind of car but very important if you are paying that kind of money for a car and uh that is the driving comfort ride quality bit. So first thing first uh the engine bit and that is something which is not very performanceoriented because we know that this is based on the same platform like the Camry we drove some time back.
if you push it too hard, if you’re in a hurry, then the engine noise or the cabin noise is not matching with the kind of premiumness you feel inside. Look at this. So if you push it too hard then uh this sound this noise is something which is going to bother you.
Ride Quality
So this is ideal in cruising kind of speed city uh kind of speed limits. If you talk about uh 60 and 70 speed limit and you’re cruising you’re not pushing it too hard then it makes sense and it’s uh comfortable quiet cabin till the time you start pushing it.
The suspension is overall softish and uh and if you’re driving on uh the expressway on really smooth roads, you would uh find this really comfortable and smooth. But if you’re driving on a bad surface, patchy roads, erratic speed breakers, then you would feel that okay little bit of extra rigidity would have worked uh would have uh made this ride more uh consistent.
Ideal Buyer & Final Thoughts
Looking at all these aspects and features and performance and ride quality, who do you think is uh the idle customer of a Vellfire?
What I feel I think uh I can uh look at this car as a product for any urban executive class uh customer who is not into uh driving so much who’s not bothered uh about the performance uh so much style statement or a statement is more important for that customer and that customer who needs uh a comfortable and stylish entry at uh an urban event would make sense for that kind of customer.
What do you think uh about this car or the opinions or the review? Do let us know in the comment section. Till the next time, bye-bye. Drive safely, ride safety, and see you soon.