Chrysler Voyager Reviews

Moving large families has always been a problem, until the advent of peoplemovers. The problem was that the first peoplemovers were based on light commercial vans, and as a result lacked the refinement expected of a regular sedan.That was until the development of purpose built peoplemovers, like the Chrysler Voyager, specifically designed for family use.The Voyager came here from America, where it was conceived in the early 1980s, via Austria where our right-hand drive versions were built.It was the most successful peoplemover back home, but by the time it arrived here there were a couple of others, the Toyota Tarago in particular, already on sale and setting the benchmark.Big families have always faced a transport dilemma. If their numbers exceeded the five a normal family four-door would swallow they either had to have a couple of cars, or leave some unlucky family members at home when they travelled.The van was the first solution. Early on some dads simply bolted a few extra seats in a delivery van and created their own peoplemovers, then later bought the rather rudimentary offerings of companies that converted vans already in their catalogues, before finally they were liberated by a new generation of vehicles purposely developed for moving people in larger numbers.The Voyager brought an American solution to the problem when it arrived here in 1987. It had been the most successful peoplemover in its home market, but would face some tough well respected competition here.The Toyota Tarago was the benchmark at the time, the Honda Odyssey was an acclaimed newcomer, and there were others like the Mazda MPV and Mitsubishi Starwagon to keep the American invader honest.A common thread running through all was their safety, performance and comfort, all of which were approaching the level carmakers were delivering in their sedan ranges.The Voyager’s success in its home land lay in its flexibility, which made it attractive across a broad range of buyers, from the young to the young at heart. Young singles found it perfect for transporting their friends and their sporting gear, young families found it perfect for transporting their offspring and all the paraphernalia that went along with family life, while older buyers found it perfect for touring with plenty of space for luggage or camping gear.Two versions landed here in the first Voyager wave, the short 2878 mm wheelbase SE and a longer 3030 mm wheelbase LE version. Both could carry up to seven adults in a flexible seating arrangement that could be adapted to the need of the day.The driver and front seat passenger had comfy bucket seats, the three rear most passengers were seated on a broad bench. In between you could have a pair of buckets or a two-seater bench, making up the total of seven.Being a conventional semi-bonneted configuration instead of the cab-over-engine style of most earlier converted vans it was easier to climb into the cockpit. It was just as easy to climb in the rear seats, through sliding doors on each side.Once inside it was possible then to move back and forth through the length of the cabin to get access to luggage on the move or settle squabbles that inevitably flare up when kids are confined in a relatively small space for extended periods.There was also another side to the Voyager that added even further to its flexibility; the rear two rows of seating could be removed by simply unclipping them and rolling them out. They were on wheels, which made handling them quite easy, and they could be stored in the garage when not needed.It was great when you needed to move furniture, pick up supplies at the local handyman store, or whatever it was you needed to shift.For small business people or tradies it meant the Voyager could be used as a van during working hours, and quickly converted to family use when the whistle blew.Chrysler’s designers were so intent on designing a vehicle in which people would spend considerable chunks of their lives they went to some length to make the cabin comfortable with everything you could need on the move.The seats were comfortable, it had power windows and mirrors, central locking, a tilt adjustable steering column, air-conditioning, cruise control, and an AM/FM radio/cassette sound system. There were lights everywhere, a host of cubby holes for convenient storage, and a dozen cup holders. No one would go thirsty in a Voyager.In packaging terms the Voyager was tops, but you found fairly ancient foundations when you scratched below the surface. There you found a combination of MacPherson Strut front suspension and a leaf spring beam rear axle, front disc brakes with rear drums, and an overhead valve V6 engine with just two valves per cylinder.It certainly wasn’t high tech like some of its rivals were, but that didn’t necessarily mean it wouldn’t perform in service.The V6 engine was a 3.3-litre slugger with fuel-injection in a sea of four-cylinder rivals. Peak power was put at 116 kW at 4700 revs, top torque 275 Nm at 3250 revs.A smooth four-speed auto trans represented the only trans choice, and a sensible one at that.American build quality always comes with a question mark. Jeep quality isn’t the greatest, and the Voyager was built by the same company, albeit in Austria.Unlike the early Jeeps rust doesn’t appear to be a problem with the Voyager with its galvanised body. Paint quality also appears quite good, as it should be to stand up to the tough conditions in the US.Mechanically the auto gearbox can give problems around the 150,000 km mark, but the rest of the drive train appears relatively bulletproof.Underneath the suspension is straight forward, look at replacing wheel bearings at 100,000 kays, but otherwise there shouldn’t be much trouble.Like early Jeeps the interior plastic trim parts are inclined to break, and fall apart, so be prepared to bits and pieces to fail.Safety was an issue with peoplemovers. Often built on van platforms they weren’t nimble, and didn’t brake or steer particularly well, but that changed with vehicles like the Voyager which were more like cars in their on-road behaviour.Being a semi-bonneted configuration meant you were protected by front crumple zones in a crash, while airbags provided added protection when things went seriously awry.The seat belts also featured pretensioners to limit injury in a serious crash.Drum rear brakes was a throwback to an older time, but the presence of ABS was a positive.Pamela Kriesl says her family’s 1997/98 Voyager is a lemon, but still says there is no other peoplemover that matches it. It pulled to the left from the moment she took delivery of it, it was difficult to get into reverse gear, and the auto expired at 99,000 km. Add to that problems with the air-conditioning, the cruise control, the headlights, the plastic interior trim parts which she says are extremely brittle, and a large turning circle which makes it hard to park, and you’d reckon she’s right. Against that, however, she says it is beautiful to drive, the ride is wonderful, the power is fabulous, and the fuel economy is great. Despite the long list of problems she says she just loves it.• great flexible seating arrangement• loaded with features• good economy and performance from V6• comfortable ride• average build qualityLarge roomy transport for seven that can also carry a load of luggage.

Moving the masses was reflected in a significant milestone achieved by the American car maker in March when it chalked up its 11 millionth people mover sale.It invented this segment more than 20 years ago and in some markets the people mover segment dominates its business.Transactions in this class are a little slower in Australia.In the first quarter of 2005, 233 Voyagers were sold.The Voyager is not the cheapest player in the market especially against the likes of the budget Kia Carnival or the competent four-cylinder Honda Odyssey.Mind you, Toyota's bottom spec Tarago commands a hefty price coming in at a little more than $50,000.These days the Voyager is smarter. It is armed with a stow 'n go system enabling the second and third rows of seats can be folded and stored underneath the floor.So in no time at all mum's taxi can be turned into dad's van.Together with the flexibility of a multi-purpose cabin, the Voyager also gains safety improvements.There are now side curtain airbags that offer protection for all three rows.This has helped the Voyager gain the maximum five-star rating for side impact collisions awarded by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the US.Bits and pieces freshened on the exterior of the Voyager include a new grille, quad projector headlamps, new body mouldings and wheel covers.Out on the road the 3.3-litre V6 is quiet and refined and has strong kickdown response.It rides well over bumps and lumps, offering plenty of cushioning for occupants.Complaints from some passengers suggest Chrysler could do with adding grab handles. Even at low speeds occupants were swaying around in their seats.This front-wheel-drive Voyager is biased towards under steer.Handling is otherwise sound and for a big, heavy vehicle it pulls up well under emergency braking.Without lugging any load on this test the car at times, particularly up gradients, felt heavy and bulky. One would think performance and fuel consumption would be put to the test when the Voyager was fully loaded.On this 900km test of mainly free-wheeling on the highway with about 100km running around the 'burbs, the Voyager sounded its low fuel warning chime and illuminated the fuel light at 450km.It was chewing close to 15litres/100km without doing the heavier work it's designed to do, hauling people and gear.Overall the Voyager wins brownie points for flexibility.On the downside you are paying a hefty initial price and while it comes with a three year/100,000km warranty that includes 24-hour Chrysler Car roadside assistance, day-to-day running costs might be worth perusing.

It has some real, useable luggage space behind the third row of seats.This is unusual because most of the large people movers have 500mm or less with the third seat in use, and it can be a struggle to fit in something the esky for a picnic.Also, for what is ostensibly a family wagon, it makes it pretty difficult to pack up and take the tribe on hols without taking a trailer or using an expensive, roof-mounted luggage pod.Even more impressive is Voyager's new "Stow n Go" system that allows both second and third row seats to be folded. tumbled and hidden completely out of sight beneath the cabin floor.With the seats upright, the storage bins below offer an additional 340 litres of storage space.In some people movers you can stow the third row under the floor, but Chrysler is the only company to offer the facility for both rows.As you can image, with both rows of seats tucked away, the Voyager has a huge flat load area suitable for carrying larger items like furniture.We were impressed last time we drove Voyager, particularly with the car's whisper quiet ride.Our test vehicle, the base model Grand Voyager (they're all Grand/long wheelbase models now) exhibits the same kind of refinement.The extra 288mm length (5096mm versus 4808mm) and the addition of Stow and Go takes the car to another level.However, Voyager is certainly not aimed at the budget end of the market, not with a starting price of $55,990.And the size of the car sometimes works against it, particularly when it comes to parking.The seven-seat Voyager is powered by a 3.3-litre petrol V6 that delivers 128kW of power and 278Nm of torque.Transmission is a traditional four-speed auto operated even more traditionally by a column mounted shift.Sorry Chrysler but this is just a bit too American for our tastes and can be fiddly to operate.It works well enough but most manufac- turers are now offering five cogs with their autos.The car also lacks a driver's footrest, probably a victim of the change from left to right hand drive.Chrysler needs to address both items plus Voyager's fuel consumption could be an issue.Claimed fuel use is 13.3L/100km, but in real world driving it gets more like 15.7L which is excessive.On the safety front Voyager scores a maximum five-star safety rating from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis- tration.Standard equipment includes three-row sup- plemental side curtain airbags, advanced multi- stage front air bags, ABS and three-zone airconditioning. 

This North American people mover has set a few standards in its time; after 20 years in the business and more than 10 million sold around the world, the Voyager remains one of the best.It is not the cheapest option for shifting people and luggage, these days the Grand Voyager starts at $55,990. But this is a substantial vehicle with style and seven seats.For the new season the Voyager takes on side curtain airbags to cover all three rows of seats. There also is some cosmetic work around the outside, chiefly with a new grille and headlights giving the big wagon the latest Chrysler family face.The new bits arrive on top of an impressive list of equipment from front airbags and ABS to tri-zone airconditioning and a sliding side door and tailgate which open with power assistance.Here Chrysler Australia offers three trim levels of the long-wheelbase Voyager – SE, LX and Limited. The top of the range wagon – at $69,990 – carries leather and a superb 10-speaker sound system.Past the standard Grand Voyager Limited there is an all-wheel-drive Limited version at $71,990.All these Grand vans sit on a 3030mm wheelbase and run to 5096mm in the body; the advantage here is reasonable luggage space behind the third row, unlike some rivals which leave vestigial room for gear when all seven seats are used.The Voyager is 1749mm high, good for access and head room through to the back row of seats.In fact the interior of these Limiteds is quite tidy. Big analogue instruments have a classic, simple-to-read style, buttons and bells fall readily to hand while the interior's fit and finish, certainly on the Limited version, reflects the price tag and Austrian build.Accommodation in all seven seats is excellent, centre armrests for the front four seats a welcome bonus.But for the driver there are Americanisms to be accommodated.The indicator and wiper stalk is mounted on the left-hand side of the steering column, although that's not unusual.Then the change lever for the four-speed automatic sprouts from the right-hand side of the column. This may not be a problem after a day or two behind the wheel of the Voyager, there is some symmetry to parking, using the right hand to shift the transmission into park and the left hand to pull on the floor-mounted handbrake lever.But then there's the limited room in the Voyager's driver footwell, there's not a deal of space to rest the left foot with too much intrusion from the centre console coming in from the left. The saving grace is the high and upright, albeit quite comfortable, seating position which allows a driver's foot to sit flat.On the move, the Grand Voyager is quiet and flexible. The 3.3 litre V6 produces 128kW at 5100rpm and 278Nm of torque at 4000rpm, enough to have the Voyager sailing along with the traffic around the town or down the highway.The V6 runs about its business with a smoothness not always found in this market niche; the auto transmission is quick and easy and some two tonne of machine is on its way.The Voyager handles like a big front-wheel-drive wagon, it does not need to be pushed around quite as hard as the family Commodore.Yet this big Chrysler has a decent amount of balance and roadholding for a fair lump of machine. Only the steering lets the side down a tad; it is woolly, too light and non-communicative at the straight-ahead.The Voyager steers fine, it just takes that little extra before it bites.The Chrysler Voyager may not be a volume seller, some 8813 have been sold across Australia since it arrived in July 1996, but it does fly the flag for the company's image and engineering.

Moving large families was always a problem until the advent of people movers.  However, the first people movers were based on light commercial vans, and lacked the refinement of a regular sedan.  That was until the development of purpose-built people movers, like the Chrysler Voyager, specifically designed for family use.MODEL WATCHThe Voyager arrived here in 1997. It had been the most successful people mover in its home market, but would face some tough, well-respected competition here.  The Toyota Tarago was the benchmark, the Honda Odyssey was an acclaimed newcomer, and there were others like the Mazda MPV and Mitsubishi Starwagon.Two versions landed here in the first Voyager wave, the 2878mm-wheelbase SE and a 3030mm-wheelbase LE version. Both could carry up to seven adults in a flexible seating arrangement.The driver and front-seat passenger had comfy bucket seats, while the three rearmost passengers were seated on a broad bench. In between you could have a pair of buckets or a two-seater bench, making up seven seats.Being a semi-bonnetted configuration instead of the cab-over-engine style of most earlier converted vans, it was easy to climb into the cockpit, with access to the rear seats through sliding doors on the sides.Once inside, it was possible to move through the length of the cabin to get access to luggage or settle squabbles with the kids.  There was also another side to the Voyager, adding further to its flexibility: the rear two rows of seating could be removed by unclipping and rolling them out. They were on wheels and could be stored until needed.For people in small business or tradies it meant the Voyager could be used as a van during working hours, and converted for family use when the whistle blew.  Chrysler's designers were intent on designing a comfortable vehicle.The seats were well cushioned, it had power windows and mirrors, central locking, a tilt-adjustable steering column, air-conditioning, cruise control, and an AM/FM radio/cassette sound system. There were lights everywhere, a host of cubby holes and a dozen cup holders.Underneath, you found fairly ancient foundations. There was a combination of MacPherson Strut front suspension and a leaf-spring beam rear axle, front disc brakes with rear drums, and an overhead-valve V6 engine with just two valves per cylinder.The V6 engine was a 3.3-litre slugger with fuel injection in a sea of four-cylinder rivals. Peak power was put at 116kW at 4700 revs, top torque 275Nm at 3250 revs. A smooth four-speed auto transmission was the sole choice.IN THE SHOPRust doesn't appear to be a problem for the Voyager's galvanised body. Paint quality appears good.  Mechanically, the auto gearbox can give problems around 150,000km. The suspension is straightforward, and you should look at replacing wheel bearings around 100,000km.As with early Jeeps, the interior plastic trim parts are inclined to break. The bonnet crumple zones, airbags and seat belt pretensioners all spelled safety.  Drum rear brakes were a throwback to an older time, but the ABS was a positive.OWNER'S VIEWPamela Kriesl says her family's 1997-98 Voyager is a lemon, but says no other people mover matches it. It pulled to the left from delivery, it was difficult to get into reverse, and the auto expired at 99,000km. Add to that problems with the airconditioning, cruise control, headlights, and plastic interior trim parts and a large turning circle. Yet she says it's great to drive, the ride is wonderful, the power fabulous, and fuel economy is great.RATING12/20 Large roomy transport for seven that can also carry a load of luggageGreat flexible seating arrangementGood economy and performance from V6 Loaded with featuresComfortable ride Average build quality