My brother's Alphard has been delivered, so how does it feel to have a Porsche-driving brother in it?

Alphard on the highway

Let's move the location to the highway to see how it behaves on the freeway.At speeds in the travel lane, it is outstandingly comfortable.Comfort is excellent, especially on the Hanshin Expressway in heavy traffic conditions.

The car is called "You need to relax more."Please be more lazy.I get the feeling that he is saying.

With a Porsche, you'd always have both hands firmly on the wheel under all circumstances, butYou'll notice that the Alphard has a driving style where you're holding your hand lightly on the bottom part of the steering wheel.I am surprised at this. I was surprised at this.

I would never normally have such a driving style, but for some reason, the Alphard seems to have the power to make me do so.

On the way home.The traffic was quite congested on the highway, but I didn't feel stressed at all.I thought it was a really great ride with a very comfortable travel space.

Straight line stability is quite good, even if you pick up the pace a little in the overtaking laneI think it is. The car drives straight, and there is no need to fine-tune the steering at all. Tire noise is kept to a minimum and the car is very comfortable. Even if you take a high-speed curve at a high speed, the car handles it without any difficulty.Oh, it runs surprisingly well.I think that's the impression I have.

But a calm analysis of theFirmness of the body and ground contact of the tires are scarce.It is not the type of car that runs hard. It is not the type of car that drives crisply. But why does it feel so stable? When I think about it, I realize that it is becauseI think it feels stable to humans because it successfully blocks noise from outside the car and information transmitted to the steering wheel.I think.

The engine power at high speeds is sufficient and will not be a problem for normal driving. However, in situations such as when leading the overtaking lane on the 120 km/h section of the New Tokyo-Nagoya Expressway, the car seems to decelerate aerodynamically unless the driver consciously keeps pressing down on the accelerator pedal.

Also, there is something else that bothered me about the high speed.It's the brakes. Frankly, I think it's puer.If I am going to stop an object of this weight, I need more powerful brakes. Even when I stepped on the brakes, the deceleration was slow to start up, giving the impression that I was driving with brakes with pads that had little friction.

If you are not aIt's a little scary to imagine a situation like an accident happening right in front of you at high speed and you have to avoid it while braking full speed.Because this is a car that carries a large number of family members and friends, more cost should be spent on the brakes.

Rear seat of Alphard

So far I have talked about driving from the driver's point of view, but since this is an Alphard, I thought I would also introduce the rear seats. This executive lounge is.The second row of seats will be two-person luxury seats, which are really great.

Legroom is more than adequate. There is an ottoman, and the seats are large enough to accommodate an adult male. The recliner can be folded down quite a bit, not quite the business class of an airplane, but more than enough to accommodate an adult male passenger.It is more comfortable than the green car of the Shinkansen.

Televisions are also equipped on the ceiling.Seat ventilation and heating are naturally provided.The seat position can be moved freely with the switch at hand. The cup holders are well positioned and this is really comfortable. If I ever buy an Alphard, I definitely want to sit in the back. The equipment makes me think so.

By the way, you can sit in the third row at all.There is plenty of room in the second row in the standard position, which is more comfortable than the back seat of a compact car.I think so.

Sohyo (General Council of Trade Unions of Japan)

I've test driven it around town, on the winding roads, and on the highway.Alphard is the best vehicle for the Japanese road environmentI think that is why Toyota has focused on the speed range of the standard Japanese road environment and tuned the car to fit. Toyota seems to have focused on the speed range of the standard Japanese road environment and tuned the car to the exact specifications.Not "fun" comfort, but "hospitality" comfortIt is a car that has been developed to the point where it can be called a "car of the future".

There is one thing I felt when I drove the Alphard this time. That is.a short time agoTest drive a Mercedes GLSWhen I did this, I think what I was expecting from the GLS was the ride comfort of this Alphard.I think. I now realize that I was expecting a relaxed, quiet, high quality, and luxurious feel at low speeds.

This time, the Alphard offers such a high quality and luxurious ride. I'm not exaggerating.In the Japanese city speed range, it is probably better than the S-class.

If you are not aA car that is easy to drive, comfortable, and enjoyable for rear seat passengers.Then, this Alphard would be one of the strongest cars. Alphard. Nowadays, I understand why it is selling so well.