MANILA, Philippines — Much like Hollywood, many Filipinos still choose to make an entrance in a long and luxurious sedan. There’s nothing quite like the suspense it builds as it pulls up, the door opens, and as the feet slowly ease out onto the ground, the low roofline obscures the face of the VIP inside. Then, as he or she leans forward, they come into view, rising gracefully for the cameras at the red carpet.

Arriving in a van to a premiers or special events has never quite caught on. Though I suspect with this particular van, it just might work.

The Alphard is Toyota’s top passenger vehicle. It’s named after the brightest star in the Hydra constel-lation and is, without a doubt also the brightest star in Toyota’s van line-up.

Similar to the Previa, it’s a front-wheel drive passenger van, though that may very well be where the sim-ilarities end.

Designed to be dignified, the Alphard makes its presence felt with angular styling that distinguishes it from the Previa. A tall and wide grille intimidates while large combination headlamps sit on either side. The steeply raked windshield hints at speed while the windows of the passenger cabin are inspired by a modern yacht. Behind, the roofline ends with a streamlined spoiler, the tail lights stretch across the tailgate and a long sculpted fender hints at limousines from the late 40’s and 50’s.

Inside, the vehicle entices even more. The modern dashboard is shaped like a bird in flight. Wood panelling separates the two tones of the interior. The rest of the interior is cream with just a strip of wood running halfway through

Over in the driver’s side, brushed aluminium rings accent the dials. A center LCD reveals trip information. Closer to the driver, the modern wheel, derived from the Prius, includes the wood treatment with remote controls for the audio. Towards the center, the stack is dominated by a large LCD screen with DVD play-back and all the standard functions of a stereo, connected to eight speakers all around the car.

Climate control is dual zone in front. Rear passengers have their own set of controls and display. And in between the seats is a movable center storage box with several compartments.

Of course, the Alphard itself is designed to be a limousine. That being the case, the best seats in the house are over in the rear. The two captain’s chairs in the second row are built like La-Z-boys. The leather executive seats recline electronically and also include a power ottoman.

To keep your feet off the ground, a footrest drops down from the seat in front. The large windows on their row can be brought up and down. In between the seats is a wood grain side table with cupholders that can be folded when not in use.

Above them, they’ll find a panoramic power moonroof. It can be closed with a shade or opened completely in good weather. An LED strip runs on either side it, gently illuminating the cabin at night with adjustable brightness.

Over in the third row are another couple of seats on rails. And unlike offerings from other brands, these seats fold as well. They simply need to be positioned to meet marker arrows on the wheel well, then can be folded and stowed to the side to allow more luggage space.

Entry and egress is easy with power sliding doors and a tailgate activated by buttons in front or on the key fob itself.

With everyone aboard, just a press of the “engine start” button, with the smart key still in your pocket, gets things going. Burbling under the hood is the same 3.5 liter V6 you find in the top-of-the-line Camry. It’s connected to a 6-speed automatic with manual mode and also includes the “eco” lamp to promote efficient driving. It’s held aloft with MacPherson struts in front and in behind, with disc brakes on all fours to bring it to a quick stop.

As such, chauffeurs more accustomed to taking the boss’s Camry should have no trouble adjusting at all. It drives every bit like the sedan with the exception of having a higher vantage point. Despite its size, the Alphard accelerates like a sports car, yet with a much quieter muted growl.

The shifts are silky smooth and feels comfortable cruising even at 120 km/h. It’s a long vehicle but certainly doesn’t feel that way when tackling off-ramps from the highway. Parking is made easy thanks to sensors on all four-corners hooked up to the surround sound system that help you better judge for obstacles.

For safety, it has ABS with EBD and three point safety-belts for all passengers. Up to seven airbags can deploy in a crash while all doors and windows come with auto-jam protection.

As for efficiency, it’s on par with the Camry, scoring 8 km/L in the city and 10 km/L in the highway.

Finally, it scores admirably in the art of arrival. The power sliding doors open slowly and gracefully, first revealing the VIP’s feet as it slowly slides towards the torso. Then to the head, assuming the passenger is enjoying the reclineable captain’s chairs, until it reveals the celebrity in all of his or her glory as he steps down from the vehicle into solid ground. No need to slam the door and steal anyone’s thunder. The door slides back, closes lightly as vacuums pull it tightly in.

It’s an excellent way to arrive, if you ask me, with a luxurious ride that keeps Oscar worthy hair-do’s and gowns unruffled and sliding doors that provide all the suspense and drama any sedan can offer.