Toyota Granvia Review

Fast-forward to modern times, though, and the Tarago no longer features in the Toyota lineup, with the company pointing those in need of a people-mover instead to the Granvia, which is based on the cargo-ferrying and extremely capable Toyota HiAce.

The problem for Toyota, though, is that competition in the people-mover market has accelerated massively since its previous king was on top. Rivals like the Kia Carnival, Hyundai iMax, Volkswagen Multivan and Honda Odyssey have set the bar extremely high in recent years, so with that in mind, does the Granvia perform well enough to establish itself as an attractive offering for the Australian market? Let’s find out. 

Starting Price: $65,150 before on-road costs 

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Toyota Granvia - STANDARD (6 SEATS) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Toyota Granvia car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Toyota Granvia lineup kicks off from $65,150 for the entry-level Granvia six-seater, with the eight-seat configuration priced from $67,150. Moving up to the higher-spec Granvia VX comes with a price tag of $76,650 for both the six and eight-seat options. Keep in mind that these prices do not include on-road costs. 

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What Features Does the Toyota Granvia Have?

Toyota’s entry-level Toyota Granvia comes riding on a set of 17-inch alloy wheels, and is packaged with features like LED head and tail lights, as well as LED fog lights and daytime running lamps, keyless entry and start, 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation and a six-speaker audio system, fabric upholstery, sunshade curtains, climate control air conditioning, 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster, digital rear-view mirror, leather-wrapped steering wheel full-sized spare tyre, as well as a rear-view camera with front and rear-mounted parking sensors and adaptive cruise control. 

Moving to the higher-spec Granvia VX adds a surround-view camera, a set of powered sliding doors, leather upholstery for three-rows of seating, woodgrain finish for the interior, adjustable driver’s seat, heated seats for the first two rows, 12-speaker Pioneer sound system and captain’s chairs for the second row (eight seater) plus second and third rows for the six-seat variant. 

Range Features: 

• 17-inch alloy wheels 

• LED head and tail lights, fog lights and daytime running lamps 

• Climate control 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Digital rear-view mirror 

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel 

• 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Satellite navigation 

• Reversing camera with front and rear-mounted parking sensors 

• Keyless entry 

• Powered sliding doors (VX variant) 

• Surround-view camera (VX variant) 

• 12-speaker Pioneer audio system (VX variant) 

• Heated seats (VX variant) 

• Quilted leather upholstery (VX variant) 

Toyota Granvia Colours

Is the Toyota Granvia Comfortable to Drive?

While the Toyota Granvia might be based on the Hiace, a well-known commercial vehicle, there’s nothing to suggest its cargo-focussed, robust platform hurts the ride quality once you’re up and moving. The Granvia is an extremely comfortable people-mover, which is made even more impressive when you take a step back and consider its size. Toyota has fitted the Granvia with suspension that offers a comfortable ride quality while minimising the amount of body-roll that you’ll experience while throwing it into some corners faster than you probably should. In that regard, it’s a forgiving vehicle to drive, which makes it accessible to everyday drivers that might not be experienced driving something the size of a small bus. 

The 2.8-litre turbo-diesel unit produces 130kW and 450Nm of torque which is available from low-down in the rev range, offering a hearty push up to speed without a fuss. That torque, in particular, makes the Granvia easy to drive around the city, although its sheer size means that navigating car parks and tight turns can prove a little nerve-racking. Making those turns is made easier by Toyota’s power steering system which makes the wheel extremely light during low-speed turns, again, making the job of piloting for new-comers even friendlier. To make things even better, Toyota has equipped the Granvia with a digital rear-view mirror that gives the driver a clear picture of what’s behind them, as the rear of the cabin is particularly difficult to get an unobstructed view out of. 

As an overall package, the Granvia feels far more sophisticated than its platform would suggest. It manages to offer a ride quality that exceeded our expectations, and would likely prove the perfect vehicle to shuttle eight people on short city journeys and even long-distance holiday road trips in comfort. 

Is the Granvia Practical and Spacious? 

As a vehicle designed specifically for ferrying large amounts of people - and their cargo -  around, it should come as no surprise to hear that the Granvia is extremely capable when it comes to accommodating a family. It’s based on the freight-focussed Hiace, which means your family benefits from a huge amount of space on offer inside the cabin. The design for the driver and front passenger is more sophisticated than you might expect from a people-mover, with a huge amount of storage on offer for loose items and water bottles and a massive centre console to make the practicality deal even sweeter. 

This continues as you move to the rear of the cabin, with Toyota packaging the Granvia with ten cupholders and six USB outlets to keep the kids happy and connected on longer journeys. The Granvia’s layout depends on whether you’re opting for the six or eight-seat variant, fitted with extremely comfortable captain’s chairs and flexible seating that can adjust to your family’s needs. This is no doubt one of the best things about the Granvia as a practical offering, with a huge amount of different options to squeeze in the maximum number of people, or adjust to accommodate bulky objects when needed. VX variants receive leather-wrapped seats, while the entry-level models are fitted with cloth seats, but still receive folding arm-rests to help get your family comfortable. 

Opting for six seats means you’ve got a huge amount of cargo storage on offer when the rear seats are folded down, while the eight seat configuration leaves just a small amount of space for cargo in the boot. Overall, though, the Granvia offers an extremely comfortable cabin, and although legroom becomes less impressive in the rear-most seats of the eight-seat configuration, it’s perfectly suited to young children for longer journeys. 

Is the Toyota Granvia Safe? 

The Toyota Granvia has been awarded ANCAP’s maximum five star safety rating, scoring 94% for adult occupant protection and 88% for child occupant protection. As standard, the entry-level Granvia comes packaged with autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist and lane departure warnings, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, traffic sign recognition, nine airbags, and the reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors. Opting for the VX variant adds Toyota’s surround-view camera system which is helpful to identify any objects or people in the vehicle’s blindspots. 

Is it Fuel Efficient?

The Toyota Granvia has been rated at 8.0L per 100km on a combined cycle, which is actually pretty impressive for a vehicle of this size, but it doesn’t lead the pack of people-movers in terms of fuel economy. Rivals like the Kia Carnival are rated at 6.5L per 100km on a combined cycle, while offering similar power figures, for example. Overall, with a family loaded up in the rear of the cabin, fuel economy will likely climb into the double-digits, depending on your driving style and where you plan on driving. 

Our Verdict: Is the Toyota Granvia Worth it? 

With the Granvia, it seems as though Toyota is trying to target two separate demographics with one package. It’s refined enough to serve as a corporate transport vehicle, yet flexible enough to adapt to the needs of your family and transform into a well-equipped family-ferrying machine. In that sense, the fact that the Granvia can adapt to the needs of families and the high-class transport arena should be taken as a sign of its all-round quality and competency as a people-mover. 

As an overall package, the Granvia doesn’t excel over its competitors, but it’s not embarrassed by them, either. It’s one of the few vehicles on the market that can accommodate eight people in comfort, style and safety, so with that in mind, it’s well-deserving of a spot on your shortlist. Speaking of which, if you’re in the market for a new car, you can get a free quote and see how much OnlineAuto can save you on your next car, or call us on 1300 719 925 

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year, unlimited KM warranty

2. Available as a six or eight-seater 

3. ISOFIX child seat mounts available in second and third rows 

4. Fuel economy 8.0L per 100km 

5. Five Star ANCAP Safety Rating 

Pros 

• Feature-packed, particularly with safety equipment 

• Cabin flexibility 

• Extremely comfortable seats 

Cons

• Cramped fourth-row seats 

• Limited cargo storage in boot 

• 10,000km service intervals 

OnlineAuto Rating: 7.5/10

Toyota Granvia Competition