2009 Chrysler Grand Voyager Reviews

SUVs look tough and deliver a command driving position - unless everyone else is also sitting up high-and-mighty in a hulking off-roader - but they really don't have the people or carrying capacity you might expect.Even seven-seater SUVs are usually cramped in the back row and you should try fitting a family's luggage needs in the rear when all the seats are occupied.People movers aren't trendy, and they aren't attractive, but there are times when a big box on wheels really is the best solution.Volkswagen got the people movement going with the Kombi, then Chrysler switched the action to the USA before Toyota revolutionised things with the Tarago - named after a NSW country town outside Canberra.These days there are people movers to suit most families and budgets, and these are the obvious contenders:Chrysler Grand VoyagerA fading star that suffers from an ageing design and poor cabin quality, as well as pricetag that means it's a premium contender in a class where there is much better value.Price: from $57,500Seats: 7Engine: 2.8 litre turbodiesel 120kW/360NmTransmission: 6-sp auto FWDThirst: 8.4L/100km; 111g/km CO2Citroen C4 Picasso One of Europe's best people movers drives well and has some great design touches, including a front windscreen that rolls up to the roof. Hurt in Australia by the questions over anything with a Citroen badge.Price: from $39,490Seats: 7Engine: 2.0 litre turbodiesel 100kW/270NmTransmission: 6-sp auto FWDThirst: 5.3L/100km; 137g/km CO2Honda OdysseyIt's getting old but it still does the job, and the price is nice. The Odyssey is not as big as some, and the performance suffers when you load it up, but it is still a smart choice.Price: from $37,100Seats: 7Engine: 2.4L petrol, 132kW/218NmTransmission: 5-speed automatic, FWDThirst: 8.9L/100km, 212g/km CO2Kia Grand Carnival The top choice with the Carsguide crew, thanks to everything from a big body to an available turbodiesel engine and electric sliding doors on the top model. Value is great and there is a big spread of models.Price: from $38,990Seats: 8Engine: 2.2L turbodiesel 143kW/429Nm or 3.5L V6 petrol 202kW/336NmTransmission: 6-spd auto FWDThirst: 8.1L/100km (diesel),  10.9L/100km (petrol)Mercedes-Benz Viano It's the Rolls-Royce of minivans, in Australia at least, lifting the working class Vito van to new highs of comfort and class. Too boxy for some people, but the badge provides plenty of compensation.Price: from $78,990Seats: 6-8Engine: 3.0L turbodiesel 165kW/440NmTransmission: 5-spd auto RWDThirst: 8.6L/100km; 226g/km CO2Toyota Tarago The people mover that time - and Toyota - forgot. Once the best of the breed, particularly in the days of the `giant egg' model, but now just a boring box that's too expensive and doesn't come with a diesel engine.Price: from $48,990Seats: 7-8Engine: 2.4L 4-cyl petrol, 125kW/224Nm or 3.5L V6 petrol 202kW/340NmTransmission: CVT auto, FWDThirst: 8.9L/100km, 207g/km CO2 or 10.3L/100km; 243g/km CO2

Peoplemovers are not the sexiest vehicles on the road; space is the priority for those who buy them and the Chrysler Grand Voyager delivers more space than most in the class.Early peoplemovers were little more than converted commercial vans and didn't offer much more than the space their owners craved, but thankfully those days are long gone and today's peoplemovers are purpose-designed for the task and offer a decent amount of safety, comfort and refinement as well as the ability to accommodate seven or so adults.MODEL WATCHBorn in the USA, as it was, it's not surprising that the Voyager was bigger and brassier than pretty much every other peoplemover on the market back in the late 1990s when it first landed on these shores. It was the market leader by a long way in its home market and Chrysler hoped it would win over local mums and dads who had large broods to move. It came in two wheelbase lengths, the standard 2878 mm Voyager version, and the longer 3030 mm Grand Voyager variant.The long wheelbase Grand Voyager was too big, or too expensive, for many families whose needs could be satisfied with a vehicle or more modest dimensions, but it was perfect for those with the need to move seven adults in comfort and style.For those inside, the Grand Voyager's seven seats gave a commanding view with comfortable captain's chairs for those in the front and middle rows, while those in the third row were squeezed into a bench seat. The seating arrangement was flexible with seats that could be moved, or even removed depending on the need of the moment. If needed the middle and rear rows could be removed to make it into a makeshift commercial van with heaps of space for goods, sports or camping gear, or with just the rear row taken out it could be turned into a big five-seater station wagon with plenty of space for luggage at the rear.While most of its rivals offered four-cylinder engines the Grand Voyager differed by offering the power of a 3.3-litre V6. When working at its peak the transverse-mounted V6 gave 128 kW at 5100 revs and 287 Nm at 4000 revs, giving the big Voyager a decent amount of pulling power. A four-speed auto was the only transmission available and drive was sent through the front wheels on most models sold. There was also an all-wheel drive version available.Inside, there were a number of telltale signs that the Voyager was a left-hand drive vehicle converted to right-hand drive rather than one designed with right-hand drive in mind from the start. Things like the positioning of the hand brake lever and transmission shifter were better suited to a driver seated on the left, and there wasn't a lot of room for the driver's left foot in the footwell. All small but potentially annoying things.The Grand Voyager was offered in three levels, the entry SE, and mid- range LX and the Limited. All were well equipped with lots of standard features, like dual-zone air conditioning, cruise, power windows and mirrors, remote central locking, and CD sound.IN THE SHOPThe Grand Voyager is generally sound with no major concerns with the engine, gearbox, or chassis. It's the small things that tend to bring it undone, the things that suggest the build quality isn't as good as it should be.While the Grand Voyager was designed in the US it was built in Austria, but the shift to Europe doesn't seem to have made much difference to the quality of the car coming off the assembly line. Owners tend to complain about things like the interior fittings falling off and breaking. They're the sorts of issues that annoy owners. Apart from that, look for oil leaks around the engine and auto transmission, the water pump can be troublesome, and the Voyager is heavy on brakes.ON THE ROADWhile the Grand Voyager had a relatively large engine for the class, with good power and torque, it was still weighed down by its bulk and the performance could best be described as lacklustre. Its bulk was always evident on the road; the driver needed to be constantly alert to its size to make sure they stuck in their lane and didn't cut corners. But despite its bulk it did ride and handle well, something not all peoplemovers could claim. Convenience was a plus with sliding doors on both sides, although parents needed to be conscious of traffic when exiting through the door on the driver's side.IN A CRASHThe Grand Voyager boasted standard ABS anti-skid brakes and dual front airbags from launch; later models had front side and curtain airbags. The Voyager didn't perform terribly well in European crash tests and only rated two stars by NCAP, however that was a variant with a drivetrain not available here in Australia.AT THE PUMPA big vehicle with a big engine; it's not the ideal recipe for fuel economy. Be prepared to spend big at the pump with an average of 14-15 L/100km around town.LOOK FORLarge sizeRoomy cabinFlexible seating arrangementModest performanceThirsty V6.THE BOTTOM LINE: A versatile, big vehicle able to transport seven adults in comfort and style.RATING: 70/100

If anyone knows how to build a people mover it should be Chrysler. After all, the company claims to have invented the mini-van segment back in 1983. The latest descendent of that model is the new Grand Voyager, which is about to go on sale locally. It is the biggest overhaul of the model since the American people mover arrived here in 1997.“This is the ultimate vehicle for families and people on the go,” says Chrysler Australia managing director Gerry Jenkins. “It offers the flexibility of seven seats and room for heaps of gear without sacrificing fuel economy. The all-new Grand Voyager is the new standard.”That is a bold statement for the under-pressure brand. Chrysler has failed to live up to expectations with its new models.Only the 300C remains strong and accounts for more than half of the brand's sales to February.The good news is the Grand Voyager is a very solid performer. It offers vastly improved exterior style, excellent interior space and some clever seating.The most notable change for the new model is the styling. The people mover has been given a complete makeover in a bid to make it look more like the 300C. The design team was led by Trevor Creed, the man responsible for the popular sedan. The new model is longer and wider and has a squarer look with sharper lines. The improved design carries over to the interior. Although the quality still lags behind European and local standards it is better than previous American models. Hard plastics and unsupportive seats remain the biggest complaints.But what it lacks in quality it makes up for in quantity. The Grand Voyager will seat seven people comfortably unlike some of its people mover rivals. Unlike its competitors which adopt a two-three-two seating layout, the Grand Voyager uses a two-two-three system.Because the second row only accommodates two seats it lets the company fit larger units. Chrysler has two clever seating options available for the second row. The first is Stow 'n Go that sees the seats fold down into underfloor storage bins to give more cargo space. The other option is Swivel 'n Go that sees the two chairs rotate through 180 degrees to let passengers travel backwards.The third-row rear seats are also packed with clever features. They can be stowed away to turn the car into a two-seater or can be folded backwards to provide “stadium seating” so you can really sit in comfort.The seats are just part of a comprehensive in-car entertainment system that can include three video screens and satellite navigation.Chrysler has also incorporated “trends in home lighting” by giving the car halo lights to give it a moody feel at night.Another plus is the rear-parking camera that is standard across the range.The three-model line-up is priced from $56,990 for the 3.8-litre V6 petrol LX. The mid-level Touring starts at $62,990 and the range-topping Limited is priced from $72,990. The 2.8-litre diesel adds $3000 across the range.Chrysler Australia expects 60 per cent of customers to go for the Limited model.While it's good news that the Grand Voyager has a diesel for the first time, it is not as sophisticated or smooth as its European rivals.Its saving grace is the strong fuel economy figures it returns which makes it the engine of choice. On our drive we used 8.8 litres per 100km on a long stretch of country driving and Chrysler claims it will use 12.3 litres per 100km in the city.But while it may not be an impressive engine, with 120kW of power and 360Nm of torque, the CRD is up to the task of moving the van that weighs over two tonnes.The V6 petrol engine produces 142kW and 305Nm and has a more responsive powerplant than the oil burner. But with a combined city fuel economy figure of 18.8 litres per 100km it can't match the CRD.In addition to adding the diesel, Chrysler has also upgraded the gearbox from a four-speed automatic to a six-speed.Australia receives the European suspension tune that is firmer and more responsive than the US settings. Despite this it's still a soft ride but it's very comfortable, especially on long trips. Even though you won't mistake the mini-van for a car it does hide its size well.Comfort is the key with the new car. The designers have tried to maximise interior space by “shrink-wrapping” it. That means the interior contours to the mechanical structure underneath which results in a more cluttered look but more importantly opens up a lot more usable space for the passengers.Competitors such as the Honda Odyssey and Citroen C4 Picasso are cheaper and are worth considering. Although they lack the interior space of the Grand Voyager they offer a far superior driving experience.But in the end you won't buy the Grand Voyager for its performance credentials, you buy it to comfortably carry a large family. And on those grounds it's a winner. SnapshotChrysler Grand VoyagerPrice: $56,990-$75,990Engine: 3.8L/V6 petrol 142kW/305Nm, 2.8L/4-cylinder turbodiesel 120kW/360NmTransmission: 6-speed autoEconomy: 12.3L/100km petrol, 9.3L/100km diesel claimed