Toyota Granvia 2019 Review

For 36 years the Toyota Tarago ably served Australian families in need of a little extra space; and while the people-mover fad may well be over, Toyota reckons its new Granvia can bring about a change of sorts for those in need of something that isn’t an SUV.

The crew at Toyota Australia say the Granvia is a “stylish, premium people-mover that delivers vast improvements in ride comfort, handling, safety and interior refinement and features”. It’s a heck of a tag line.

But in being based on the HiAce light commercial van, we can’t help but feel the Granvia is more HiAce Commuter DeLuxe and less a Tarago substitute.

Semantics aside, the Granvia is actually a pretty good thing. Comfortable? Yes. Handling? More or less… Safety? You gotcha. In fact, the Granvia should achieve a five-star ANCAP safety rating if the HiAce is anything to go by.

But ‘interior refinement and features’? Personally, I think they’re a little underdone; especially if you remember the ultra-plush Tarago Ultima V6.

Now I’m not saying the Tarago represented the best in value for money. In the early days, and compared to its contemporaries, it was bloody expensive; and if I’m completely honest, so is the all-new Graniva.

Toyota Australia already went on the defensive over the price hikes for its all-new HiAce, and if we look at the price of the Granvia against its nearest rivals, it might need to do the same with its people-mover derivative.

The 2019 Toyota Granvia is priced from $62,990 plus on-road costs in basic six-seat trim, the eight-seat variant (as tested) asking $2000 more. Step up to the range-topping Granvia VX and that number is $74,990 in six- or eight-seat guise. Ouch.

Looking at the Granvia’s rivals we find the also-commercial-van-based Hyundai iMax starting at $43,990 (plus ORCs) and the Volkswagen Caravelle from $52,90 (plus ORCs). The SUV-based Kia Carnival – Australia’s best-selling people-mover – begins at $42,490 while the Honda Odyssey is a bargain at $37,990.

You could also take a punt on the Chinese-made LDV G10 from $27,358 but keep in mind it only offers a three-star ANCAP safety rating.

The outgoing Tarago began at $45,490.

The list price for the Granvia includes equipment such as 17-inch alloy wheels, dusk-sensing LED lights all round, dual sliding doors, reclining seats, rain-sensing wipers, and a 60:40 split bench in the rear (fourth row).

All variants score Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (though I couldn’t get it to work), tri-zone climate control and keyless entry/start. Digital radio, satellite-navigation and Bluetooth connectivity are also included.

Safety equipment extends to nine airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, high-speed active cruise control, lane departure alert, road sign assist and auto high-beam. Blind spot monitoring, a reversing camera, rear cross-traffic alert and front/rear parking sensors are also fitted.

Stepping up to the Granvia VX and the equipment list grows to include a powered driver’s seat, leather-accented upholstery, rear sun blinds, a dehumidifier, gaudy fake woodgrain spanning the dashboard and tilt/reach steering wheel, dual electric sliding doors and a 12-speaker Pioneer sound system.

Toyota offers a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty on the Granvia which is further backed by $240 capped-price servicing for the first six scheduled services. Service intervals are set at a short six months or 10,000km (whichever comes first).

Think what you will of the Granvia’s external styling, but inside the cabin there’s a very familiar décor.

There’s a hint of Prado here and a touch of HiAce there, and if you forget the fact you’re driving what’s essentially a small bus, the feel behind the wheel is actually quite SUV-like. Seriously!

The high-set driving position is easy to acquaint oneself with, the ergonomics affording the driver comfortable control over the steering wheel and pedals.

All secondary controls are easy to reach (and understand), though some of the HVAC and infotainment buttons are a stretch for vertically-challenged drivers like yours truly.

In spite of its light commercial origins the Granvia is a quiet beast on the open road, and despite its slab sides it isn’t easily upset by cross winds or passing semi-trailers.

It cruises confidently at the speed limit and gets there with very little fuss, the six-speed auto a smooth companion to the gutsy 130kW/450Nm 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine.

The Granvia rides on a car-like strut front, multi-link rear suspension set-up and is halted by four-wheel disc brakes. The wonderfully feelsome steering is hydraulically assisted and provides a turning circle of just 12.0m. Considering the Granvia measures 5300mm in length, that’s actually pretty good.

Other key measures see the Granvia hit the tape at 1970mm wide and 1990mm high – or just tall enough to squeeze in most underground car parks. The wheelbase is 3210mm and the lightest variant is 2605kg (add 55kg for the eight-seater). The Granvia has a 70-litre fuel tank.

Of course there’s no discounting the Granvia’s size when it comes to car-like handling. A wagon on stilts this is not. It’s a big vehicle and it handles accordingly. Compared to vans of old it’s no bad thing.

But when you drive it back to back with your favourite seven-seat SUV the Granvia certainly feels its size. In short, you won’t be carving corners on the way to pick the kids up…

You also won’t be able to get the kids bags in because (like a lot of seven-seat SUVs, admittedly), there’s simply no room for luggage with all the seats in place.

Sure, this mightn’t be as pronounced in six-seat variants, but in the eight-seat Granvia tested, the cargo compartment was small to say the least (Toyota doesn’t list a figure for cargo space in litres).

In my view, this means it isn’t a logical fit for family buyers. Or at least it isn’t if they plan on carrying anything but people.

Given Toyota already offers the HiAce-based Commuter and Commuter GL, the seven-seat Kluger and Fortuner SUVs, and seven-seat Prado and LandCruiser 4WDs, the arrival of yet another mega-people hauler seems a little superfluous.

Aussie buyers aren’t exactly keen on people-movers, as the sales figures show (just 8096 have been sold so far this year), and with the outgoing Tarago managing fewer than 400 sales in 2019, the Granvia’s popularity isn’t great.

As a people-mover in its own right it’s a pretty decent thing and I certainly had little to criticise in my brief time with the car. But in SUV-mad Australia and with the high expectations its pricing invites, I’m just not sure the Granvia is the right fit for Aussie buyers.

How much does the 2019 Toyota Granvia cost?
Price: $62,990-$74,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 130kW/450Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.0L/100km (ADR Combined); 11.8L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 211g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: TBC