As the world's largest automobile market, China does not have a rich variety of models. Toyota Alpha is one such car that was "turned away". In fact, it has built a deep reputation in southern China, where many Toyota Alphas run between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and the exposure rate is hardly inferior to that of a civilian nanny car like the Odyssey. In Hong Kong, where the threshold for buying a car is extremely high, Alpha has become the number one selling car, and owning an Alpha "nanny car" is the standard for wealthy families, so it is naturally accompanied by rich stars who appear in the news and Hong Kong dramas.
 
Although many people complain that Alpha in the domestic market is too expensive than abroad, after the new generation of Alpha was launched in 2015, the price increased by 200,000 yuan for a long time, and the supply exceeded demand. The market has shown the invincible status of this luxury MPV.
 
The first generation of the Alpha, which was not produced until 2002, was powered by two engines, 2.4 litres and 3.0 litres, both with an optional all-wheel drive system. The 2010 Beijing Auto Show unveiled the left-hand drive version of the Alpha, and the right-hand drive market models are different, this officially imported Alpha in addition to the biggest change to the left drive, but also abandoned the optional four-wheel drive system, despite this it is still received by the wealthy class of fanatical pursuit, even today, the purchase of the Alpha still has to pay a price increase of about 200,000 yuan.
 
In 2012, the 2.4L Alpha replaced the 4-speed automatic manual transmission, and replaced it with the same CVT continuously variable transmission and 6-speed automatic manual transmission as in the foreign market, which improved fuel economy and handling experience while also increasing the cost of car manufacturing. However, GAC Toyota has said that if the market conditions of the Alpha market are good, it will be domestically produced. If domestic production is realized, the technical difficulty and manufacturing cost will be reduced.
 
The current 3.5-liter Alpha's powertrain is directly transplanted to the Lexus RX350, and everything is done in an understatement, and the calmness at idle has reached the crown level. Affected by its 2-ton dead weight, the Alpha's acceleration to 100 km/h naturally lags behind the Highlander with the same powertrain, but the smoothness of acceleration is top-notch, and in practice, a 3.5-liter engine is enough for the driver to overtake with confidence. Alpha also has a version designed for sports and remodeling enthusiasts called Vellfire, which has a rather sporty shape, but it is not sold in China.
 
Toyota's car-making technology is a god-like existence in the industry. Alpha's chassis and powertrain have been proven in Toyota Previa and Lexus RX, and the quality and safety of these cars have reached the textbook level without any suspense.
 
The most impressive thing about the new generation of Alpha is its samurai-armored front face, a strange design that may only be understood in the context of Japanese manga culture. The loading capacity and ride comfort of the new Alpha are still undoubted, don't be fooled by the "low" price of the Japanese version of the Alpha, with a heated steering wheel, 16-color adjustable LED ambient lighting, electric slide doors, and a rear entertainment system, the "Asia-Pacific version" of the Alpha is definitely worthy of the price of its top-of-the-line luxury car.
Toyota Alpha evaluation report