Chrysler Grand Voyager TouringIt's easy in these days of parsimonious mpg and fragrant emissions to assume everyone is seeking the quickest route to a cramped but fuel-sipping city car. Not so. There are those whose business demands Monday to Friday load-carrying capacity and others with a family not accommodated in a five-seat hatchback.As the father of four, I encountered constant transport problems never quite solved with the purchase of a string of nausea-inducing Peugeot 505 and Citroen CX estates.I was delighted, therefore, to encounter my first MPV, people carrier, SUV, call it what you will. I knew it was the answer to family travel.That first sighting came in 1984 in a supermarket car park in St Louis, Missouri, and the car was the first real people carrier, the Chrysler Voyager. Its shopping momma owner glared at me suspiciously, finding me peering in through its windows.Twenty-five years on, the Voyager and Grand Voyager are the world’s best selling MPV, with over 12 million owned worldwide. Fully loaded models boast leather trimmed upholstery, dual screen rear DVD entertainment system and Uconnect GPS satellite navigation including a phone with voice recognition. Exterior equipment includes xenon headlamps, chrome mesh grille and LED daytime running lights.Prices start at £25,995, while a 25th Anniversary Grand Voyager available earlier this year cost £33,600. The Voyager features the easy-to-use Stow ‘n Go seating system, which allows the second and third row of seats to fold flat into the floor. Powered by a 2.8 diesel engine, it provides acceleration from 0-62 mph in 12.8 seconds with a top speed of 115mph. With an extra-urban fuel consumption figure of 38.7 mpg and a combined figure of 30.4mpg it provides fuel for thought to customers still harbouring doubts over not down-sizing.There is a three year/60,000-mile mechanical warranty, seven-year anti-corrosion warranty and one year European roadside assistance. Our test drives showed seven could sit in supreme comfort in the three rows of seats and enjoy the finest sound available. Mum and dad in the front seats can listen to music, gran and grandpa can watch Gone with the Wind in the middle row and the kids can play computer games in the back row, all using wireless headphones.Otherwise, of course you can load up the very large boot with luggage for seven, store the kids’ junk in the clever under-floor storage lockers - on their own as big as a Peugeot 308 boot - and take off on holiday. Grand Voyager buyers number 51,000 in the UK and it has little competition thanks to having room for the luggage as well as seven people. It’s user-friendly and the fantastic seat arrangement is without peer. It can be rapidly changed from luxury coach to van in seconds, with four seater and large luggage capacity in between. The remote controlled electric sliding doors are a dream and make it so easy for a parent struggling with kids and shopping. The third row of seats can be tipped up to provide a rear-facing viewing bench ideal for the races, gymkhanas or any other event.The previous Grand Voyager was well equipped but the new car introduced last year comes with an extra 30 features including three-zone air conditioning, power sliding doors, first and second row heated seats, side curtain air bags, high intensity headlamps, second-row power windows, tyre pressure monitoring and a standard six-speed automatic gearbox.The new car is a tremendous improvement over the old with a much more contemporary yet practical appearance and improved ride, handling and performance. Having said that, this is no sports car and it is at its best when driven gently. Trying to keep up with hot hatches makes it rather raucous, with considerable roll on corners. However, the brakes are excellent, the steering nicely weighted and the car is quiet enough at motorway speeds. The Grand Voyager includes all the safety features you would expect, including six airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability programme, brake assist, brake/park interlock, belt alert, door alert, enhanced accident response system, three point inertia reel safety belts for all seats, and hazard light flashing when the sliding doors are operated.Its great virtues are room and comfort, and 25 years of Voyager are worthy of celebration. Body style: People carrierSize: 5.14m x 1.95m, height 1.82mPerformance (2.8 CRD): 0-62mph in 12.8 secondsMaximum speed: 115mphCombined fuel consumption: 30.4mpgCO2 emissions: 247g/kmMike Bacon - October 09
Chrysler Grand Voyager Touring
It's easy in these days of parsimonious mpg and
fragrant emissions to assume everyone is seeking the
quickest route to a cramped but fuel-sipping city car.
Not so. There are those whose business demands
Monday to Friday load-carrying capacity and others
with a family not accommodated in a five-seat
hatchback.
As the father of four, I encountered constant transport
problems never quite solved with the purchase of a
string of nausea-inducing Peugeot 505 and Citroen CX
estates.
I was delighted, therefore,
to encounter my first
MPV, people carrier, SUV,
call it what you will. I
knew it was the answer to
family travel.
That first sighting came in
1984 in a supermarket car
park in St Louis, Missouri,
and the car was the first
real people carrier, the
Chrysler Voyager. Its
shopping momma owner
glared at me suspiciously,
finding me peering in
through its windows.
Twenty-five years on, the
Voyager and Grand Voyager are the world’s best selling
MPV, with over 12 million owned worldwide.
Fully loaded models boast leather trimmed upholstery,
dual screen rear DVD entertainment system and
Uconnect GPS satellite navigation including a phone
with voice recognition. Exterior equipment includes
xenon headlamps, chrome mesh grille and LED
daytime running lights.
Prices start at £25,995, while a 25th Anniversary Grand
Voyager available earlier this year cost £33,600. The
Voyager features the easy-to-use Stow ‘n Go seating
system, which allows the second and third row of seats
to fold flat into the floor.
Powered by a 2.8 diesel engine, it provides
acceleration from 0-62 mph in 12.8 seconds with a top
speed of 115mph. With an extra-urban fuel
consumption figure of 38.7 mpg and a combined figure
of 30.4mpg it provides fuel for thought to customers still
harbouring doubts over not down-sizing.
There is a three year/60,000-mile mechanical warranty,
seven-year anti-corrosion warranty and one year
European roadside assistance.
Our test drives showed seven could sit in supreme
comfort in the three rows of seats and enjoy the finest
sound available. Mum and dad in the front seats can
listen to music, gran and grandpa can watch Gone with
the Wind in the middle row and the kids can play
computer games in the back row, all using wireless
headphones.
Otherwise, of course you can load up the very large
boot with luggage for seven, store the kids’ junk in the
clever under-floor storage lockers - on their own as big
as a Peugeot 308 boot - and take off on holiday.
Grand Voyager buyers number 51,000 in the UK and it
has little competition thanks to having room for the
luggage as well as seven people. It’s user-friendly and
the fantastic seat arrangement is without peer. It can be
rapidly changed from luxury coach to van in seconds,
with four seater and large luggage capacity in between.
The remote controlled electric sliding doors are a dream
and make it so easy for a parent struggling with kids
and shopping. The third row of seats can be tipped up
to provide a rear-facing viewing bench ideal for the
races, gymkhanas or any other event.
The previous Grand
Voyager was well
equipped but the new car
introduced last year
comes with an extra 30
features including three-
zone air conditioning,
power sliding doors, first
and second row heated
seats, side curtain air
bags, high intensity
headlamps, second-row
power windows, tyre
pressure monitoring and
a standard six-speed
automatic gearbox.
The new car is a
tremendous
improvement over the old with a much more
contemporary yet practical appearance and improved
ride, handling and performance.
Having said that, this is no sports car and it is at its best
when driven gently. Trying to keep up with hot hatches
makes it rather raucous, with considerable roll on
corners. However, the brakes are excellent, the steering
nicely weighted and the car is quiet enough at
motorway speeds.
The Grand Voyager includes all the safety features you
would expect, including six airbags, anti-lock brakes,
electronic stability programme, brake assist, brake/park
interlock, belt alert, door alert, enhanced accident
response system, three point inertia reel safety belts for
all seats, and hazard light flashing when the sliding
doors are operated.
Its great virtues are room and comfort, and 25 years of
Voyager are worthy of celebration.
Body style: People carrier
Size: 5.14m x 1.95m, height 1.82m
Performance (2.8 CRD): 0-62mph in 12.8 seconds
Maximum speed: 115mph
Combined fuel consumption: 30.4mpg
CO2 emissions: 247g/km
Mike Bacon - October 09
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