Toyota Vellfire

The Toyota Vellfire is a luxury MPV that you can get for the same price as a conventional flagship German SUV. But while the price might be similar, the entire packaging of the Vellfire and its sheer focus on space and comfort just makes it an entirely different experience. How? Let’s find out:

• The Toyota Vellfire is a stylish looking MPV that commands a lot of attention with its sharp styling elements.

• The front styling is super aggressive with a 6-slat grille design and wide airdams that highlight the width of the car.

• I like the styling of the sleek LED DRLs and the 3-lens LED headlight setup, both of which blend well with the grille.

• The Vellfire looks massive when viewed from the side profile with a long roofline and tall overhangs.

• With a low ground clearance and 19-inch alloy wheels that sit well with the wheel arches, I also really like the sporty stance of the Vellfire.

• While there are a lot of cuts and creases in the body, the zig-zag windowline styling and subtle use of chrome elements uplift the design of the Vellfire.

• The aggressive styling theme continues at the rear with sharp pointed LED tail lights and a rather chunky and edgy bumper design.

• Overall, the Vellfire is probably one of the most bold-looking MPVs in the market with a road presence much greater than its actual size.

• The 2025 Toyota Vellfire is available in three colours: Black, Precious Metal (Grey), and Platinum White Pearl.

Design & Quality

• Step inside the Toyota Vellfire and you’ll be surrounded by really soft leather on almost all the touchpoints you can find.

• There are three themes that you can choose from: Sunset Brown, Neutral Beige, and Black. 

• I think the Sunset Brown theme goes really well with the design. The Neutral Beige theme will get dirty too soon, and the all-black theme might be a little claustrophobic.

• The dashboard seems to be clearly split into three parts with a clean design on the passenger side.

• The centre is dominated by the 14-inch infotainment system, which has been layered over the main dashboard.

• The overall quality is so rich that even the grab handles are finished in leather.

• There are no complaints in material fit and finish, but if I had to nitpick, the feel of the AC vents could’ve been a little better. They could’ve used a better grade of plastic. 

Driving position

• Your chauffeur will be happy to spend time in the Vellfire’s front seats.

• With power adjustment for both the seat and steering, finding a comfortable driving position is easy.

• It even has memory settings, so you won’t have to reset your driving position if there are multiple users in the family.

• Visibility is surprisingly great with huge cut outs in the A-pillar, which offer a great view outside.

• What will surprise many is how big the windshield is and how far the driver and front passenger sit from it!

Passenger comfort

• The Toyota Vellfire is the real-deal when it comes to passenger comfort!

• The rear only gets captain seats with powered ottoman function, no bench seats. 

• Not only are they extremely comfortable, they feel better than a lounge chair with their heated/ventilated and massaging functionality.

• Everything from the window sunblinds to the glass roof and doors can be controlled by buttons on the roofliner or via the individual tablets.

• The front passenger seat can be adjusted from the middle row to liberate a full relaxed seating position using the Ottoman seats.

• Getting in and out of the car is easy, and so is the access to the third row.

• Even the third row of the Vellfire offers usable seats for adults with knee and footroom to spare. They even get individual armrests in the middle and recline options for additional comfort.

• Toyota claims that the Vellfire is a 7-seater, but fitting three people in the last row will definitely be an uncomfortable squeeze.

Storage spaces

• Toyota has gone overboard with the number of storage spaces in the Vellfire. And that’s a good thing.

• All four doors get 1-litre bottle holders. There are two cupholders in the central console hidden under a fold away panel, two pop out cupholders on either side and a small glovebox.

• Storage underneath the central armrest is massive. It can easily store multiple 1-litre bottles and can be accessed from either side.

• The Ottoman seats have cupholders neatly tucked away in their side armrests along with two massive bottle holders down below.

• Other storage spaces include protruding hooks, 3x sunglass holders on the roof and a huge storage compartment below the rear central AC vents.

• Third row passengers also get cupholders and some open spaces to store their devices.

Features

• The 2025 Toyota Vellfire is so feature loaded, that you can literally control everything with the touch of a button or screen. The creature comfort aspect of this car is off the charts!

• The main 14-inch infotainment system has a basic user interface which is pretty straightforward to use. The graphics are a little boring but the resolution and response times are on point.

• It gets wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay too.

• The digital driver’s display is fully customisable. It relays a lot of information, including the feed from the in-built navigation system.

• All heated and ventilated seats function as intended. Even the steering wheel can be heated in the Vellfire!

• The 15-speaker JBL sound system has a premium audio experience with crisp highs.

• I missed having a full glass roof in the Vellfire. Instead, you get two small rectangular glass roofs in the centre, which get a powered curtain control.

• The powered rear Ottoman seats are super comfortable. I like the fact that I can control everything via the remote on the seats as well.

• The Vellfire gets massaging seats (back and base) for the middle passengers, which add to the comfort on long journeys.

• You also get a 14-inch drop down TV, which can be used for entertainment purposes via an HDMI or phone cast.

• The Toyota Vellfire is equipped with 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, traction control, vehicle stability control, and ADAS features like adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist.

• It also gets a 360-degree camera, but the quality and execution is only acceptable. The resolution could’ve been crisper and the camera could’ve been angled better as well.

• The Toyota Vellfire had secured a 4-star crash test rating from the Japan NCAP in 2024.

• The Vellfire doesn’t get a lot of boot space with all the three rows up. It is only enough for a couple of laptop bags.

• However, you can either just manually tumble or tumble and fold the third row away for a massive stowage area, which can gobble up multiple sets of suitcases.

• For added convenience, you get powered second row controls in the boot as well in case you want to free up more space.

• The Toyota Vellfire gets a single 2.5-litre NA petrol engine, paired with a self-charging hybrid powertrain.

• The Vellfire’s powertrain is best suited to a relaxed driving style, where you will be able to enjoy its refinement and smoothness.

• I like the quietness of the hybrid powertrain, as the car can drive in EV-only mode at lower speeds if there’s enough charge in the battery.

• The performance isn’t slow by any means. For a car this big, the performance is adequate for all city journeys and relaxed highway commutes.

• It cruises at triple digit speeds comfortably, but overtakes at those speeds do take some time, especially with a full load.

• The CVT transmission is smooth and jerk-free in regular usage.

• But when you push the throttle hard, it does behave like a typical CVT where the engine speed rises much before you see an actual increase in speed.

• You can expect a fuel efficiency of around 14kmpl-16kmpl with the Vellfire, depending on your usage.

• The Vellfire’s ride quality is comfortable for the most part, but it has two sides to it.

• At lower speeds, the stiff suspension doesn’t absorb bumps and potholes too well as they get transferred inside the cabin. It isn’t uncomfortable, but you do feel the bumps.

• But as you increase the speed, the Vellfire’s ride becomes a lot more comfortable.

• Its highway high speed stability is good and it absorbs any sudden undulations or the incessant expansion joints over new expressways really well.

• I was impressed by the Vellfire’s ground clearance, as the car didn’t scrape even once around the city. It even tackled steep inclines rather well.

• While it remains stable around a fast corner, it is best to take corners at a calm pace only.

• The 2025 Toyota Vellfire is available in two variants: Hi and VIP - Executive Lounge

Toyota Vellfire Hi

• Gets almost all the features as the top-spec variant. 

• Majorly misses out on larger Ottoman seats and better entertainment package.

Toyota Vellfire VIP - Executive Lounge

• Offers bigger Ottoman seats with added convenience of a foldable tray.

• Better entertainment package with a head-up display, a 14-inch TV for the rear passengers and dual sunroof.

CarDekho Recommends:

• The base Hi variant of the Vellfire is a good enough package in itself. Despite the smaller seats and a few feature misses, it still offers one of the best rear seat experiences for the price.

• But if you want the most premium experience that the Vellfire has to offer, then you can opt for the top-spec variant. The price premium isn’t justified for the feature additions, but then, the overall feel of the car is unmatched.

Spending around Rs 1.5 crore on a Toyota might seem a lot, but that’s what you get with the Vellfire – a LOT! Not only does it equal the more conventional SUVs in terms of the luxury, and the glitz and glamour quotient, it surpasses everyone with its rear seat space and comfort. It is so good that after a tiring day at work, the Vellfire feels like coming back to your comfortable home, before you reach your actual home. 

Other cars to consider instead of the Toyota Vellfire

Lexus LM

Reasons to consider

• More premium

• Gets a ultra spacious 4-seater version

Reasons to ignore

• Much more expensive for not much more equipment or luxury