Hong Kong's multipurpose vehicle scene is pretty much a two-horse race. One contender is Nissan's grandiose Elgrand, and the other is Toyota's carriage for the discerning peripatetic, the Alphard.
At first glance, the Alphard is almost indistinguishable from its rival - both are leviathan people-movers with industrial-sized cheese-grater grilles and an unsexy absence of curves on the outside. Neither is likely to win a beauty pageant, but there's more to the blinged-up Hiaces than you might think.
They're all about comfort, space and luxury - and the Alphard has these qualities in spades. With a spec list that's more Maybach than Meriva, the 2,000kg Alphard truly lives up to the 'fully-loaded' cliche.
Keyless entry and electric side doors usher you into a spacious cabin. The Alphard is a full six-seater, with two 'captain's chairs' taking much of the space. The aircraft-style seats are adjustable, reclinable and have pop-up ottoman foot and headrests, making them comfy, if not over-the-top.
Front passengers get a dash-mounted entertainment system for watching DVDs, so to get even comfier, flick a couple of switches and a 10-inch LCD monitor drops down while the three-zone climate control system (with pollen filter and air purifier) kicks in.
Sound from the entertainment system fills the interior via an eight-speaker audio system and twin 'moon roofs' give the cabin an airy feel. There are a dozen storage compartments in the Alphard's walk-through layout, and the rear seats have an easy-stow function to make space for extra luggage.
Funky LED ceiling lights add to the plane-like feel of the interior, as do retractable, armrest-mounted tables in the middle row of seats.
