Alphard on the Highway

Moving to the highway, I checked how it behaves at higher speeds. At typical cruising speeds in the driving lane, it’s exceptionally comfortable. Especially in heavy traffic on the Hanshin Expressway, the comfort is outstanding.

The car feels like it’s saying, “Relax more” and “Take it easy.”

With a Porsche, you always hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands no matter what, but with the Alphard, you find yourself lightly resting your hand at the bottom of the wheel without realizing it. I was surprised myself.

I never drive like that normally, but somehow the Alphard makes you want to.

On the way home, there was heavy traffic on the highway, but I felt no stress at all. It’s a very comfortable space to travel in, truly a wonderful vehicle.

Even when picking up the pace in the passing lane, its straight-line stability is quite good. It drives straight without needing constant steering corrections. Tire noise is well suppressed, making it very comfortable. Even if you enter a high-speed curve a bit fast, it handles it easily, and my impression was, “Oh, it actually drives quite well.”

However, on closer analysis, the body’s solidity and tire contact feel are lacking. It’s not a car that drives sharply. But why does it still feel stable? I think it’s because it skillfully blocks outside noise and steering feedback, making us feel stable.

The engine power at high speeds is sufficient and won’t cause problems in normal driving. However, on sections like the Shin-Tomei Expressway’s 120 km/h zone, leading in the passing lane requires consciously keeping the accelerator pressed, as the car tends to slow down aerodynamically.

One other thing that bothered me on the highway was the brakes. Honestly, they feel weak. For stopping such a heavy vehicle, I’d want higher-performance brakes. The initial response to braking is slow, and it feels like driving with low-friction pads.

If you imagine a situation where an accident suddenly happens ahead and you have to brake hard while swerving, it’s a bit scary. Since this car carries many family members or friends, I wish more cost was put into the brakes.

The Alphard’s Rear Seats

So far, I’ve talked about driving from the driver’s perspective, but since this is an Alphard, I want to introduce the rear seats as well. This Executive Lounge grade has luxurious two-person seats in the second row, which are truly wonderful.

There’s more than enough legroom. The ottoman and large seats provide plenty of space even for adult men. The recline angle is quite deep, and while it’s not quite business class on a plane, it’s more comfortable than the Green Car on the Shinkansen.

The second-row seats are excellent.

There’s a TV mounted on the ceiling, and seat ventilation and heating are naturally included. You can freely adjust the seat position with switches at hand. The cup holder placement is also great, making it truly comfortable. If I ever buy an Alphard, I definitely want to sit in the back. The features make you want to.

By the way, the third row is also quite usable. Even with the second row set in a standard position, there’s plenty of room, and it might be more comfortable than the rear seats of a compact car.

Controls on the armrest

Plenty of legroom; ottoman makes it comfortable.

Table in the second row

Rear seat monitor

Third-row seats

Overall Impression

I tested it in town, on winding roads, and on the highway, and I think the Alphard is the best vehicle for Japanese road conditions. Toyota seems to have tuned it perfectly for typical Japanese road speeds. It’s not about “fun” comfort but rather “hospitality” comfort—a car that pursues that to the fullest.

After riding the Alphard, I realized something: when I recently test drove the Mercedes GLS, what I really expected was the ride quality of this Alphard. I now think I was hoping for that relaxed, refined, luxurious feel at low speeds.

This Alphard delivers that level of refinement and luxury. Not an exaggeration—I think it’s even better than an S-Class at typical Japanese city speeds.

If driving performance is secondary and you want a car that’s simply easy, comfortable, and enjoyable for rear-seat passengers, the Alphard is definitely one of the strongest contenders. These days, I really understand why it’s so popular.