2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class vs Toyota Alphard Comparison
The in India caters to a very specific niche. The market demand for a luxurious MPV is mostly from tour-operators and fancy hotels, but the company thinks the demand from individual buyers could increase in the future.
For now, the decided to join the battle? It does have the Alphard, a 6/7-seater MPV which is directly imported by many hoteliers in the country - popular because it combines luxurious amenities with proven Toyota reliability and low maintenance costs. In the unlikely case, where Toyota does launch the Alphard in India, how would it compare? We take a look at the Alphard sold in Thailand and see what's what.
Size
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class Expression | 2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class Exclusive | Toyota Alphard 2.5 Vellfire (Thailand Market) | Toyota Alphard 2.5 Hybrid (Thailand Market) | Toyota Alphard 3.6 VIP (Thailand Market) | |
| Length | 5370mm | 5140mm | 4945mm | ||
| Width | 2249mm | 1850mm | |||
| Height | 1880mm | 1895mm | |||
| Wheelbase | 3430mm | 3200mm | 3000mm | ||
| Wheel Size | 16-inch | 17-inch | 18-inch | 17-inch | 18-inch |
The V-Class takes the crown here, being longer - both in terms of overall length and wheelbase. The Alphard may be slightly better to drive in the crowded city streets, though it may not feel as spacious as the Merc even with the 10mm taller roof.
Engine and Transmission
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class Expression | 2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class Exclusive | Toyota Alphard 2.5 Vellfire (Thailand Market) | Toyota Alphard 2.5 Hybrid (Thailand Market) | Toyota Alphard 3.6 VIP (Thailand Market) | |
| Displacement | 2.1-litre, 4-cylinder, turbo-diesel | 3.0-litre, 4-cylinder, petrol | 3.0-litre, 4-cylinder, petrol + 650V electric motor | 3.5-litre, V6, petrol | |
| Power | 163PS @ 3,800rpm | 180PS @ 6,000rpm | 197PS | 296PS @ 6,600rpm | |
| Torque | 380Nm @ 1,400-2,400rpm | 235Nm @ 4,100rpm | 270Nm | 361Nm @ 4,600-4,700rpm | |
| Transmission | 7-speed Automatic | CVT | E-CVT | 8-speed AT | |
| Drive | Front | Front | AWD | Front | |
The Mercedes-Benz V-Class has a slight advantage here, being powered by a theoretically frugal diesel engine. The Alphard, in all markets, is available with petrol/hybrid powertrains only. While Toyota does have large diesel engines already available in India, they may not be compatible with the Alphard's platform - or would require modifications which do not make sense. The Hybrid variant could be the best bet, offering decent pulling power and being frugal.
Features
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class Expression | 2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class Exclusive | Toyota Alphard 2.5 Vellfire (Thailand Market) | Toyota Alphard 2.5 Hybrid (Thailand Market) | Toyota Alphard 3.6 VIP (Thailand Market) | |
| LED Headlamps | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Sunroof | No | No | Twin Moonroofs | ||
| Sliding Doors | Yes, Manual | Yes, Electric | Yes, Electric | ||
| Climate Control | Two-Zone | Two-Zone | Three Zone | ||
| Seats | 6- and 7-seater, powered 1st-row seats | 6-seater, powered 1st-row seats, 180-degree swivelling 2nd-row captain seats | 7-seater, powered 1st and 2nd-row seats | ||
| Infotainment Screen | Yes | Yes | 7-inch touchscreen | 7-inch touchscreen | 8-inch touchscreen, 9-inch roof mounted with Blu-Ray player |
| Ambient Lighting | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| Speakers | 7, Mercedes-Benz | 15, Burmeister | 8, Toyota | 17, JBL | |
| IRVM Rear-View Display | No | No | Yes | ||
| 360-Degree Camera | No | Yes | No | ||
| Hatch Window | Fixed | Openable | Fixed | ||
| Table Package | No | Yes | No | ||
| Adjustable Suspension | No | Yes | No | ||
| Wireless Phone Charger | No | No | Yes | ||
This is not a fair comparison (different markets, different price points, different specs), but the Alphard does have some features which the V-Class is not offered with. This includes twin-moonroofs which would improve the interior ambience and score brownie points in a sunroof-crazed country like India. The V-Class hits back with configurable 2nd-row seats, for that boardroom like seating, and a 'Table-Package' which adds usable dining tables for all passengers
Safety
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class Expression | 2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class Exclusive | Toyota Alphard 2.5 Vellfire (Thailand Market) | Toyota Alphard 2.5 Hybrid (Thailand Market) | Toyota Alphard 3.6 VIP (Thailand Market) | |
| 3-Point Seatbelts | All Seats | All Seats | |||
| Airbags | 2 Front, 4 Curtain | 2 Front, 8 Curtain | 2 Front, 2 Front Side, 4 Curtain, Driver Knee | ||
| Park Assist | No | Yes | No | ||
| Blind Spot Assist | No | No | Yes | ||
Safety is a high priority for both the MPVS, V-Class skimps on curtain airbags on the C- and D-pillar in the Expression variant. The Alphard gets blind spot warning as standard, which is very helpful when driving long MPVs - and is a big miss for the Mercedes. The V-Class hits back with a 360-degree camera (only in the Exclusive variant).
Price
| 2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class Expression | 2019 Mercedes-Benz V-Class Exclusive | Toyota Alphard 2.5 Vellfire (Thailand Market) | Toyota Alphard 2.5 Hybrid (Thailand Market) | Toyota Alphard 3.6 VIP (Thailand Market) |
| Rs 68.40 lakh | Rs 81.90 lakh | Rs 84.51 lakh | Rs 87.44 lakh | Rs 1.21 crore |
As you can see, the comparison between the V-Class and the Alphard seems lopsided, because the Toyota is priced much higher. But the prices are for different markets, taxes levied and transportation charges are different - and comparing them would be unfair. The Toyota Alphard will not be cheap, even if the company does launch it here - what price point do you think it would become popular at?
Let us know in the comments section below.
By Team Zigwheels January 29, 2019 at 02:38PM
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