FOR a long time in Australia, the Toyota Tarago has been one of the most familiar and fondly remembered nameplates in the industry, serving as a dependable hauler for large families over its 36-year production run.

However, the Tarago’s time in the sun has come to an end, with the venerable model put out to pasture and replaced by the all-new, HiAce-based Granvia.

The Granvia has increased in size, luxury and price over the Tarago, with Toyota giving its people-mover a clear shift upmarket. Can it carry the torch for the Japanese brand, creating a beloved legacy of its own with Australian buyers?