Toyota Axes Granvia – The People Mover Nobody Wanted

Toyota Australia has put the Granvia out to pasture, citing shifting market trends and looming regulatory hurdles. The plush people-mover, which struggled to find its footing in an SUV-obsessed world, will be discontinued immediately, with final deliveries wrapping up in March.

Toyota’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley, explained that dwindling demand, coupled with the technical complexity of updating the Granvia to comply with the upcoming ADR 98/00 standard, forced Toyota’s hand.

“We initially planned to upgrade the Granvia to meet the new standard, but upon reviewing sales, market conditions, production complexity and future regulations, we decided not to proceed and to instead retire the nameplate,” Mr Hanley said.

To put things into perspective, the people-mover segment accounts for a mere one per cent of the total market, while high-riding SUVs continue their iron grip on Australian driveways. Despite its cushy interior and the grunt of a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel, the Granvia never quite became the go-to chariot for high-end families, corporate types, or five-star hotel shuttles. Since its 2019 debut, fewer than 1000 Australians took one home.

Above: This Week’s VIDEO Review –2025 Honda Civic e:HEV REVIEW – Alan Zurvas

#honda, #2025hondaciviceHev, #gaycarboys, #alanzurvas

ABOVE: Toyota Granvia

For those who did fall for its charms, Toyota is working with its dealers to soften the blow. The company has assured customers that parts and servicing will remain available for the foreseeable future, easing concerns about long-term ownership.

The Granvia was initially marketed as a luxurious successor to the much-loved Tarago, boasting premium seating for up to eight occupants and advanced safety features. However, its van-like proportions and hefty price tag made it a tough sell in a country where utes and SUVs reign supreme. Its nearest competitors, such as the Kia Carnival, outshone it in both practicality and sales figures.

As SUVs devour everything in their path, the Granvia’s demise is yet another nail in the people-mover coffin. Once upon a time, minivans ruled the school pickup zones, but in today’s world, if your family hauler isn’t lifted and adorned with black plastic cladding, it might as well be invisible. The Kluger and Prado are still standing strong, leaving the Granvia to join the Tarago in the great car park in the sky.

Farewell, Granvia. We hardly knew ye.

Other GayCarBoys Stories: