Following the launch of the Lexus LM luxury minivan
at the Shanghai Auto Show, Toyota has now unveiled another posh people carrier. It’s called the Toyota Granvia
and it’s based on the all-new HiAce platform. The eight-seater luxury MPV will
arrive in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2019 and will target high-end
hospitality, corporate and family buyers.
The Granvia’s highlights include premium seating for
eight, a full suite of Toyota Safety Sense features and four-link coil-sprung
rear suspension for “superlative ride comfort and stable handling.”
The new posh minivan will offer a single powertrain
choice — a turbo diesel engine with as-yet-undisclosed displacement and
outputs. Toyota says the new power plant is refined and fuel efficient but does
not get into details.
The Granvia will be available in two grades and will
feature amenities such as leather-accented upholstery, power sliding rear side
doors, as well as electrically-adjustable driver’s and second-row captain’s
seats. It will also offer Toyota’s latest generation multimedia system with four
USB ports and a total of 12 speakers.
Safety-wise, both trim levels feature nine airbags,
active cruise control, and pre-collision safety system (PCS) with pedestrian
and daytime cyclist detection, among other driver-assistance features.
“Whether you are in need of a five-star hotel
shuttle, corporate transport for senior executives or just a large luxury
family wagon, the new Granvia fits the bill,” said Toyota Australia Vice
President Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley. In Australia, the Granvia will
effectively replace the Tarago which will be discontinued at the end of 2019.
