Toyota Granvia review: Tarago replacement goes upmarket

Toyota stopped selling the much loved Toyota Tarago last year and has replaced it with a new family-hauler and there are some huge differences.

The Toyota Tarago was one of the most loved family cars in Australia before it met its demise in 2019, but Toyota have brought out its replacement and there are some big changes. Here’s everything you need to know about the Toyota Granvia.

The Granvia replaced the Tarago as Toyota’s people-mover.

1. IT’S A BIG UNIT

The Granvia is based on the HiAce delivery van so it’s essentially a big box on wheels. That means acres of space on the inside. Where other seven and eight-seaters require a certain amount of gymnastics to reach the rear pews, the Granvia has huge doors on both sides for access and you can walk through to each seat as you would on a light plane. Headroom is generous and all three rear rows can comfortably accommodate adults on a long journey. Unfortunately, the Granvia can’t accommodate their luggage. With eight seats in place, the rear load area is an awkwardly shaped, skinny area that won’t accommodate more than a couple of soft overnight bags. If you want to carry eight people and their luggage on vacation, you’ll need to invest in a box trailer. The Granvia can tow up to 1500kg.

The Granvia is huge and is based on a van rather than a car,

2. CARPARKS ARE A CHALLENGE

The Granvia’s size means tight spaces are a little taxing to negotiate. The large turning circle means you’ll find yourself struggling to do a three-point turn on a narrow street and the height and length dictate vigilance in undercover carparks. Front and rear parking sensors and a camera with guidelines help the cause. The tailgate opens upwards so you have to allow for additional space behind and above you. That door isn’t the most user-friendly piece of engineering, either. It’s heavy to close and comes up with some force when you open it.

The Granvia is a roomy and comfy place for the whole family.

3. IT’S A COMFY CRUISER

We covered more than 2000km in the Granvia, loaded with people and gear, and can report the seats are supremely comfortable and supportive on long drives. After a nine-hour stint, driver and passengers reported no aches or pains. Thanks to dedicated aircon vents for each row, passengers can control their personal comfort, while the big windows gave the cabin lots of light and great outward vision. One small complaint: unlike its predecessor, the Tarago, you can’t crack a rear window for a bit of fresh air. The LED headlights were effective, automatically activating high-beam when needed and dimming for oncoming traffic.

4. ENTERTAINMENT IS WELL COVERED

Connectivity is key when you’re transporting a family over a long distance. The Granvia has this covered with a USB port in the front and six aft. The seven-inch colour screen doesn’t have the wow factor you might expect at this price (more than $70,000 on the road for the standard model with eight-seat option) but it has smartphone mirroring and digital radio. The audio quality is pretty good for such a cavernous interior. The VX gets upgraded 12-speaker sound.

5. IT’S SAFE AND SOUND ON THE ROAD

For a big, top-heavy vehicle, the Granvia feels solid and predictable on the open road. The
2.8-litre turbo diesel — as in the Prado and HiLux — has ample pulling power and Toyota has done a good job of quelling the telltale diesel clatter at lower speeds. It has enough grunt for overtaking and the six-speed auto is smooth shifting and decisive. The 70L fuel tank gives good touring range but with a full load on board we couldn’t match the claimed 8.0L/100km. Safety is covered, with blind spot monitor, lane keeping with steering assistance, active cruise and autonomous emergency braking.

Originally published as Toyota Granvia review: Tarago replacement goes upmarket