Every era needs its pioneers. Every vehicle category has its star. In the three-decade story of the MPV segment in Vietnam, each period has had outstanding figures that defined entire eras. This is not just a story about cars, but an unofficial representation of Vietnam’s social, economic, and cultural currents through each development phase.
The 1990s: The Toyota Hiace “Shark” Comes Ashore, Becomes Legend
In the early 1990s, when the country had just opened up, Vietnam’s automotive market was still virgin territory, with three-wheeled cyclos still permitted on the roads. In this context, the Toyota Hiace appeared like the lead shark coming ashore – powerful, adaptable, full of survival instincts.
The Hiace was the symbol of its era. With its elongated body, convenient sliding doors, diesel engine, and versatile people-and-cargo carrying capability, the Hiace became the “Swiss Army knife” of transportation. Employee shuttles, school buses for students, temple trips for monks and devotees, intercity coaches, ambulances, delivery vehicles for Aha move – by the end of its lifecycle, the Toyota Hiace had written the first chapter of the MPV story.
What was special about the Hiace wasn’t its design or technology – but its adaptability. Morning cargo hauler, afternoon passenger transport, evening “mobile home” for night hunting trips. In Vietnamese hands, the Hiace was reborn in countless modified versions, serving as startup street vendor vehicles, and even mobile barbershops inside Hiaces weren’t uncommon.
The 2000s: The Rise of V-Class and Supporting Characters
The Mercedes V-Class appeared in 2015 as the king of the premium MPV segment. If the Hiace was the “pioneer,” the melon-colored Zace continued serving millions of routes up and down the country, and the Innova became popular among 7-seater taxis, the V-Class was the “standard setter” for what a luxury MPV should look like.
Carrying Mercedes DNA – luxury and class – the V-Class virtually monopolized the premium MPV segment when it became the status symbol, the VIP shuttle vehicle for 99.99% of high-end travel businesses. If you recall, you’ll see at least one black V-Class permanently parked in 5-star hotel parking lots from South to North, East to West.
Before the V-Class king appeared, two noteworthy warriors (now fallen) were the compact Mazda Premacy and the extremely unconventional Mitsubishi Grandis. The Grandis had a spaceship-like design that challenged traditional aesthetic standards. Today, you can still occasionally spot a few black spaceships with valid registration rolling gently through Saigon’s streets.
From 2020: The Golden Age of Chairman Toyota Alphard
After 2015, Vietnam marked an explosive growth in SUVs. However, the MPV battle never stopped heating up.
Toyota Innova – The Inheritor
The Innova appeared as the perfect heir to the spirit left by the Hiace and Zace, but with a completely new appearance. If the Hiace was a “rough shark” and the Zace “gentle as Buddha,” the Innova was both family-friendly and met commercial needs. Without explanation needed, the Innova became the #1 choice for 7-seater MPVs for 10 unchanged years. Looking at the Innova’s popularity, Mitsubishi executives quietly plotted a coup.
Mitsubishi Xpander – The Revolutionary
The Xpander was perhaps the most surprising name of this decade when it launched on an auspicious date: August 8, 2018. With its crossover-MPV styling, compact size, spacious interior, and especially its soft pricing like 550 million VND noodle soup (compared to Innova’s 750 million), the Xpander created an unexpectedly successful revolution. For the first time in its life, Mitsubishi tasted sweet success after over 20 years of bitter struggles in Vietnam.
Hyundai Custin – The Young General
Not until 2023, when recognizing the pandemic had passed and the market had matured, did the Custin follow Hyundai’s general mobilization order to enter the Vietnamese market, filling the MPV gap they were missing. With youthful styling, beautiful interior, convenient sliding doors, turbo engine, and numerous interior amenities, the Custin gradually challenged Innova’s dominance by presenting a new-generation Oppa image.
Toyota Alphard – Supreme Chairman
All bow down! The Toyota Alphard is the true chairman of the MPV segment. The Alphard story began in 2002 in its homeland Japan, when Toyota decided to create a masterpiece defining the Luxury Van concept. The name “Alphard” was taken from the brightest star in the Hydra constellation – a metaphor that couldn’t be clearer about the ambition to become the “guiding star” of the segment.
Tanaka (Japan): When deciding to buy a premium MPV like the Alphard as transportation, this means you’re making an official declaration to your buddies: ending youthful love affairs with all types of JDM ☺
Few people know the story behind Alphard’s distinctive styling. While most MPVs of that era pursued soft, rounded designs, Toyota chose a completely opposite direction. The Alphard was designed with many square, angular lines, creating a dignified, moving appearance that instills proud confidence like a charging bull.
This bold decision stemmed from the “Forceful x IMPACT LUXURY” design philosophy. Toyota designers wanted to create a vehicle that transcended transportation value, becoming a four-wheeled declaration of the owner’s status. They thoroughly studied the psychology of shape recognition and realized that square, upright lines create feelings of safety and authority compared to soft curves.
Hisataka and Satoshi, the duo responsible for Alphard’s exterior design, shared their thoughts: “When developing and refining the 4th generation Alphard’s styling, the keywords spinning in our heads included flagship, dignity, elegance, dynamism, and bull. Assembling these scattered concepts into a coherent whole caused us real suffering. But ultimately, all suffering was worthily rewarded when the Alphard materialized, chosen by VIPs across Asia, even some European big bosses.”
The massive grille sprawling across the front (unlike Lexus spindles, also unlike BMW kidneys) – Alphard’s most controversial feature – was also carefully calculated: how many cuts needed to create the right number of squares. Not to mention, the steel crease running along the body creates sightlines with what depth to bring dynamic form under multiple angles of day and night light reflection.
The Toyota Alphard officially debuted at Vietnam Motor Show 2017, taking orders the same year. At the end of 2023, Alphard released a facelift version, adding hybrid engine options, continuing to set standards for the Luxury MPV concept.
Toyota Alphard gasoline: 4.5 billion VND
- Dimensions: 5,010 x 1,850 x 1,950 mm
- 2.4L turbocharged engine, 8-speed automatic transmission
- Adaptive LED headlights, interior lights, ceiling lights
- 15-speaker JBL surround sound system
- Two Ottoman business-class seats with integrated massage
Price Summary of Current MPVs (Pre-Registration)
Over three decades, 20 models (out of over 400 total car names and styles) in Vietnam’s MPV segment have undergone a miraculous journey – from simple commercial vehicles and emergency ambulances to high-tech masterpieces. Each era had its pioneers, each line had its star. All said and done, the Toyota Hiace remains an eternal legend, deeply embedded in the memories of Vietnam’s generation 7X road users.
The MPV journey continues with the successive appearances of Vice Chairman GAC M8 and BYD M6 EV. The MPV battle has never been more heated, but competitors never stop promoting: registration fee incentives, fuel voucher gifts.
- Stargazer: 489 million
- Avanza: 558 million
- MG G50: 559 million
- Xpander: 560 million
- Honda BR-V: 629 million
- GAC M6 Pro: 699 million
- Toyota Innova: 755 million
- BYD M6 electric: 756 million
- Hyundai Custin: 800 million
- Innova Cross: 825 million
- Kia Carnival: 1.3 billion
- Peugeot Traveller: 1.5 billion
- GAC M8 GT Master: 1.7 billion
- Volkswagen Viloran: 2 billion
- Toyota Alphard: 4.5 billion
- Lexus LM: guess the price ☺
Above, Suốt Ngày XE has quickly compiled pre-registration prices of current MPVs to help you gradually make decisions. Whatever the case, we should know happiness with our numbers and current vehicles, to stop testing the limits of human capacity.