Whilst most petrolheads consider elegant saloons to be the most luxurious cars on the market, many of the most refined models available to buy are large minivans and MPVs.
Models like the Toyota Alphard and Lexus LM may seem somewhat pedestrian at first glance, but offer a surprising amount of power and refinement as standard, with drivers happily paying up to £100,000 to own a particularly high-end example.
However, drivers do not need a fortune to get behind the wheel of a luxury minivan, with one Chinese car maker selling their model for about the same as city cars like the Vauxhall Corsa or Volkswagen Polo.
The Joylong iFly is an unusually-named seven-seat minivan that has been produced in China since 2014 and has a retail price of around £20,600 – less than half the price of a new Toyota Alphard Executive Lounge costs in Japan, where they are most widely sold.
As a result, the Chinese model could be the perfect alternative to a used model, despite still offering a roomy and refined driving style.
Compared to the real deal, the Joylong’s styling is somewhat dated, featuirng a rather thick set of headlights and a flat front bumper, which features air intakes and daytime running lights.
Nevertheless, the grille looks similar to that of a Mercedes-Benz, whereas the windows are shaped to mimick the previous generation Toyota Alphard, made from 2015 to 2023.
The two models even sport near identical alloy wheels, and both feature subtle chrome accents on the door handles and the tailgate.
Inside, the Joylong iFly has seven seats, with both the front and middle rows accommodating two passengers and the rear row featuring a bench wide enough for three occupants.
The Joylong comes equipped with features including keyless starting, adaptive headlights, all-round parking sensors, and power-adjusted heated seats, with passengers in the middle row even having fold-out footrests.
Unlike the Toyota Alphard, which uses a cutting-edge hybrid powertrain, iFly is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that makes 233bhp and is mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Whilst the Joylong iFly represents incredible value for money, it is unlikely that buyers in the UK will be able to get their hands on one anytime soon.
Nevertheless, the major Chinese car company Xpeng are set to bring their all-electric X9 MPV to the UK in the coming months, which is due to compete against the Volkswagen ID.Buzz.
Featuring particularly bold styling, the Xpeng X9 will have enough room for seven occupants and a range of around 436 miles per charge, according to China’s CLTC test cycle.
