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| 2020 Toyota GranAce |
The first-ever Toyota GranAce is priced at a very expensive 6,200,000 Yen (around 62,000 Dollars) so with that kind of price tag, you can have two Voxys and a Pixis Epoch for the price of one GranAce with some extra change for some. Although it is the most expensive Toyota minibus offered in the lineup, there's no stopping the monster price tag from attracting potential high rollers and ASEAN smugglers into this new level of luxury.
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| 2020 Toyota GranAce |
Checking on the design, the GranAce's massive grille really shows its true colors as a luxury minivan that is as close as you can get to the Alphard, which is cheaper than the GranAce and better to live with. Unlike the HiAce Wagon, the GranAce utilizes a semi-bonnet form rather than a box type for health and safety purposes. Because of its new form, it's hard to distinguish if it's a van or a minivan but either way, it's worth fantasizing to have a minute of silence when you see one passing by the City of Dreams or Resorts World. It's the new van of choice for celebrities, you know.
The GranAce's biggest trump card is the interior and being bigger than the Alphard, the GranAce is no doubt one of the most luxurious vans offered on the market whether it is a six-seater or an eight-seater, there's so much to love about the GranAce's interior because the sweet spot's right in front of you and when you take a seat, you can really rest easy while you and your family are having a road trip to Tagaytay or the floating restaurant somewhere. It may be cramped on the driver's side and rear space is worth an issue in the case of Balikbayan Boxes but such problems won't be an issue to anyone who has a GranAce because the luxurious interior is what sums up best.
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| 2020 Toyota GranAce interior |
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| 2020 Toyota GranAce interior |
The GranAce's biggest trump card is the interior and being bigger than the Alphard, the GranAce is no doubt one of the most luxurious vans offered on the market whether it is a six-seater or an eight-seater, there's so much to love about the GranAce's interior because the sweet spot's right in front of you and when you take a seat, you can really rest easy while you and your family are having a road trip to Tagaytay or the floating restaurant somewhere. It may be cramped on the driver's side and rear space is worth an issue in the case of Balikbayan Boxes but such problems won't be an issue to anyone who has a GranAce because the luxurious interior is what sums up best.
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| 2020 Toyota GranAce |
Such sweet spot the GranAce delivers comes with a price and here, the only engine offered is a 1GD-FTV 2.8L 4-cylinder common rail diesel engine producing 177PS of power and 450Nm of torque while mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Fuel economy is a WLTP combined 10kmpl.
While the diesel engine is a bit of a letdown to some, the GranAce now drives better than the HiAce thanks to its TNGA platform and revised suspension settings. Although bulky for a rear-wheel drive van, it feels relatively comfortable and safer as good thanks to its Toyota Safety Sense 2.
So, would you have one rather than the Alphard? Well, the GranAce may be the most expensive Toyota van offered, but the interior is what sets them apart and you'll have fond memories about getting through its sweet spot when you're back home in the end, I want to sit in the GranAce more than the Alphard or the Hyundai Grand Starex and that is the bottom line.
Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation