How does the Vellfire Drive?
Driving time was very limited on the track, but here are a few impressions. The 2.5-litre petrol engine serves up 117 hp at 4,700 rpm and 198 Nm of torque from 2,800-4,000 rpm. There are two electric motors, one for each axle. The front motor produces 105 kW of power at 4,500 rpm and the rear motor churns out 50 kW at 4,608 rpm. Total combined power is rated at just shy of 200 hp. All four wheels are driven thanks to the electric motors and a CVT with six steps pre-set. The Vellfire pulls fairly well to 60 km/h considering it weighs of 2,280 kg and it starts out in EV mode to help maximize efficiency.
In fact, Toyota say that this series-parallel hybrid system allows both power sources to contribute to offering drive concurrently, but, on average, the EV motors do the heavy lifting for 60 per cent of the time. Visibility is great out of the driver’s seat thanks to the large windscreen and NVH levels were great, too, thanks in part to the vehicle’s electric capabilities and the acoustic glass treatment for the windows. Braking seemed adequate in these controlled conditions, although the steering wasn’t the most communicative. I really couldn’t test the ride on the Vellfire on the smooth tarmac of the test-track, so I’ll hold on sharing any opinions till we get the vehicle for a proper road test.
Final Thoughts on the Toyota Vellfire
The experience of being driven around in this vehicle is one I haven’t quite found anywhere else. Toyota claim an ARAI-rated 16.35 km/l efficiency figure for the Vellfire and offer top-notch safety equipment to keep its passengers safe too. The suite includes seven airbags, vehicle stability control, ABS with EBD and brake assist, and hill-start assist control. The Vellfire is priced at Rs 80 lakh (ex-showroom), but considering it is coming in as a CBU, that price-point will get a hefty load of tax tacked on to it. And that’s where the Vellfire suffers a bit. Because if you’re looking at shelling out that much money for a luxury van, you would want a few additional toys such as dedicated charging ports for the second row and, maybe, massage seats too.
Also Read: Toyota Vellfire Launched at Rs 80 Lakh
