Toyota Alphard and Vellfire: Executive Lounge vs 3.5 VL — and Importing to the UK and Caribbean
The Toyota Alphard and its twin, the Vellfire, have quietly become two of the world's favourite luxury MPVs. Both are built in Japan, both are right-hand drive, and both come with a grade list long enough to confuse anyone shopping from overseas. Two badges come up again and again: Executive Lounge on the Alphard, and 3.5 VL on the Vellfire.
If you are sourcing through a Japan-based exporter such as GULJI TRADERS, this guide explains what each grade actually gives you, and what an import to the UK or the Caribbean involves.
Same car underneath, different personality
Since 2008 the Alphard and Vellfire have shared a platform, engines and cabin dimensions. The Alphard wears a formal, chrome-heavy front end; the Vellfire gets stacked twin headlamps and a more aggressive look. Mechanically they are siblings, so choose on styling and on the individual car's specification rather than on the badge.
Executive Lounge: the rear-seat flagship
Executive Lounge is the comfort-first designation, and it appears on both Alphard and Vellfire. Expect powered captain's chairs in the second row with ottomans and extended recline, heating and ventilation, sunshades, rear entertainment screens and trim aimed squarely at chauffeur work.
Four-seat layouts also exist under names such as Royal Lounge, with a heavily partitioned rear cabin. Verify which layout a car actually has before bidding, because they are very different vehicles to live with.
Vellfire 3.5 VL: the V6 range-topper
The VL badge on the Vellfire has broadly been the 3.5-litre V6 grade. That 2GR-family V6 produces around 280 PS, paired with a six-speed automatic in earlier cars and an eight-speed in later ones. VL cars are usually generously equipped with leather, twin power sliding doors, captain's chairs and tri-zone climate control, but they typically sit a step below the full lounge package.
Grade hierarchies shift between generations, so always confirm the individual car's spec sheet rather than assuming from the badge.
Which to pick? For chauffeur work and long-distance passengers, Executive Lounge. For a strong motorway cruiser with simpler mechanicals, the 3.5 VL. For running costs, the 2.5-litre hybrid beats both.
Generations and engines at a glance
- 2008–2015 (AH20): 2.4-litre four and 3.5-litre V6, with a hybrid joining later.
- 2015–2023 (AH30): 2.5-litre petrol, 2.5-litre hybrid, and the 3.5-litre V6, which gained an eight-speed automatic in later years.
- 2023 onwards (AH40): hybrid-focused line-up using 2.5-litre and 2.4-litre turbo hybrid powertrains. The V6 was retired, so V6 buyers shop in the 2008–2023 pool.
Importing to the UK
The good news: Japan is right-hand drive, so nothing needs converting.
- Duty and VAT. Cars from Japan normally attract 10% duty under the UK Global Tariff, but a vehicle of Japanese origin may qualify for 0% under the UK–Japan trade agreement if it meets the rules of origin and you hold the correct origin documentation. VAT is charged at 20% on the landed value, including shipping and insurance.
- NOVA. HMRC must be notified of the vehicle's arrival, usually within 14 days.
- Approval. Most Japanese-market models have no UK or EU type approval, so Individual Vehicle Approval is normally required before registration. Depending on age and specification, a simpler approval category may apply.
- Practical fixes. A rear fog lamp is a common addition for the MOT, speedometers may need converting to mph, and Japanese radios tune the 76–90 MHz band, so UK FM stations need a band expander or a new head unit.
- Registration and running costs. Then it is DVLA registration, plates, MOT and insurance. If you drive in London's ULEZ or other clean air zones, check the emissions status first — many JDM imports are recorded without a Euro emissions figure.
Importing to the Caribbean
Most Commonwealth Caribbean markets — Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, St Lucia, Antigua and Grenada — drive on the left, so a Japanese Alphard or Vellfire slots straight in. Left-hand-drive territories such as the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Suriname are a different matter.
Confirm these before you bid:
- Age limits. Several territories restrict used imports by age, commonly somewhere between five and ten years.
- Pre-shipment inspection. Many countries require a certificate from an approved inspector such as JEVIC before loading.
- Landed cost. Import duty, VAT or GST and environmental levies add up quickly, so model the full cost rather than just the auction price.
- Climate. Check air conditioning, cooling system and underbody condition. Alphard A/C is strong, but a tired system is costly to rebuild.
Local demand is strongest for the luxury grades, with Executive Lounge and Vellfire VL cars popular for executive hire, airport transfers and event transport.
Buying from Japan: grades and paperwork
Japanese auctions grade cars roughly from 1 to 5, with 4 and 4.5 typical for clean used examples and 5 for near-new. Repaired cars are flagged as R or RA. Before committing, ask for the translated auction sheet, interior grade, mileage evidence and photos of the underside, sliding doors and rear seats.
A Japan-based exporter can source at auction, arrange inspection, prepare export documents and book shipping. RoRo is cheaper, container is safer. Typical UK arrival ports include Southampton, Tilbury, Bristol and Felixstowe; Caribbean routes commonly land at Kingston, Port of Spain, Bridgetown and Georgetown.
Get the grade, the paperwork and the landed cost right, and an imported Alphard or Vellfire is one of the most versatile vehicles you can put on the road.
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