“Chrysler’s
new Grand
Voyager is better in
numerous ways. And
with room for seven
in its well-specified
interior, it’s not hard
to see why Grand
Voyager customers
keep coming back for
more...”
CHRYSLER'S ALL-NEW GRAND VOYAGER MPV IS NOT ONLY A SEVEN-SEATER
PEOPLE CARRIER but, says Chrysler, the safest and most luxurious Grand Voyager
yet. Equally good news for customers is that the starting price for the revised
range remains the same — £25,995 — and represents
an 8.2 per cent increase in added value over the cheapest outgoing Grand Voyager.
In the past, the Grand Voyager has not been rated highly in the Euro NCAP
ratings for passenger safety — just 1.5 stars out of a possible five
stars for adult occupancy, zero stars for pedestrian safety but four stars
for child occupant safety. In fairness, the outgoing Grand Voyager was only
tested for safety ratings near the end of its pro-duction life. When it was
designed and first introduced, the Euro NCAP system was only in its infancy.
Chrysler UK has said: "We take Euro NCAP very seriously and the other new
cars recently introduced by our Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge brands have achieved
better ratings. The new Grand Voyager has yet to be tested but we expect it
will also achieve considerably improved ratings. We cannot guess at this stage
what they will be. However, the new Grand Voyager is longer and much of that
added length has been taken up by improved crash protection front and rear
and the vehicle has even more airbags than before."
In the USA, the Grand Voyager MPV is classed as a 'Mini Van' and 12 million
of them have been sold worldwide since it was launched in 1983. The vehicle
came to the UK in 1997 and UK customers have to date bought 51,000 of them.
The Grand Voyager is Chrysler's best-selling model range in the UK, accounting
for around 5,000 sales a year, predominately to retail customers although
they are also favoured by the business hire-and-reward and chauffeur markets.
The Grand Voyager sells in the large MPV sector — which has seen sales
decline in recent years — as opposed to mid-sized MPVs, where sales have
increased as customers downsize because of increased running costs that are
due to higher fuel prices and higher taxation. The Grand Voyager has around
a 15 per cent share of the large MPV sector in the UK and sells against such
models as the Volkswagen Caravelle, Mercedes Viano, Renault Grand Espace and
Ford Galaxy.
Value for money is one of the Grand Voyager's main selling points and against
similar specification models. The cheapest LX version offers 23.3 per cent
better like-for-like specification over the Caravelle, 13 per cent over the
Viano and 4.2 per cent over the Grand Espace.
The Galaxy is 3.8 per cent cheaper. Like-for-like price comparisons for other
more expensive Grand Voyager variants against rival models
show similar advantages.
The new Chrysler Grand Voyager seven seat, five-door large MPV is big —
over 5 metres long, 1.8 metres high, 1.95 metres wide and weighs over 2.7
tonnes.
The principal reasons customers buy the Grand Voyager is that they have a
real need for seven seats, whether they are a large family or a family with
children who have lots of friends, or businesses who offer chauffeur or Private
Hire services. The other main reason to buy the Grand Voyager over its competitors
is the very high level of specific-ation that even the standard models offer
at a relatively-competitive price in this segment.
New Grand Voyager prices start at £25,995 and rise to £32,995. Three of the
four variants use a revised 2.8-litre CRD four-cylinder turbo-diesel VM Motori-supplied
engine with increased power of 161bhp and 265lb ft of torque from 1,600rpm.
There are three levels of specification: LX, Touring and Limited, with the
majority of buyers going for the 2.8 CRD Limited variant costing £32,995.
All versions use a new six-speed automatic transmission which replaces the
old four-speed unit.
All models offer seven seats as standard, arranged with two seats at the front,
two individual seats in the middle row and three seats at the rear. There
is also luggage space to meet the needs of a large family: the cargo capacity
ranges from 756 to 3,296 litres — depending on which seats are in use
or whether they are folded away out of sight into the floor using Chrysler's
excellent, and unique, Stow 'n' Go system. Chrysler is also introducing, for
Limited versions, a new Swivel 'n' Go seating system that allows the middle
row of two individual seats to be turned through 180 degrees to face the rear.
These Captain's-type seats also come with a floor-mounted table that can be
used by the three rear row passengers and the two central passengers —
very user-friendly for big families or business users on the move.
Access to the passenger compartment is through electrically-operated sliding
side doors and there is a large full-height tailgate at the rear for ease
of loading.
Altogether there are over thirty new features in the all-new Grand Voyager
models, ranging from the latest technology multi-media sys-tems to heated
first and second row seats, a rear-view interior con-versation mirror, a removable
torch, electric windows in the sliding side doors, directional LED reading
lamps and automatic three-zone climate control for all passengers. Passenger
safety is well catered for, with traction control, anti-lock braking, electronic
stability control, tyre-pressure monitoring, front and all-row side curtain
airbags as well as Isofix child seat fixings. Stain and odour resistant cloth
upholstery is used when the leather trim is not chosen.
Dual DVD entertainment and DVD navigation systems are optional but about 60
per cent of Grand Voyager customers add these extras.
The Grand Voyager is physically huge and the list of features it offers is
also huge — although the price doesn't reflect the size or the high equipment
levels. Over £30,000 is not cheap but, in the context of what the vehicle
offers, it is unquestionably good value for money for people who genuinely
need seven seats.
All is not so positive though. Both the diesel and petrol engines have high
CO2 emission levels, so all models fall into Band G of Vehicle Excise Duty
which will mean an annual fee of £400 from 1 April this year. The Grand Voyager
will also be subject to the £25 per day London Con-gestion Charge when it
comes into force.
On the driving and performance front, this vehicle has the design and construction
architecture of a van as opposed to a passenger car —
in the States they are classed as a Mini Van. The latest design looks slab-sided
and not as aerodynamic as the outgoing model. However, the body colours and
privacy glass (where fitted), alloy wheels and chrome-work together do their
best to give this vehicle a prestigious look.
Do not expect car-like handling. It just isn't that sort of vehicle —
it is a people-mover, a family taxi. The main-selling 2.8-litre turbodiesel
engine can be noisy and harsh when pushed, but the use of a new six-speed
automatic transmission smoothes out gear changes and makes the vehicle reasonably
responsive in town and relaxed for motorway journeys. Power output is 161bhp
and there is 265lb ft of torque from 1,600rpm, so this heavyweight doesn't
feel underpowered. Top speed is 115mph and 0-62mph is covered in a respectable
12.8 seconds. The average fuel economy is claimed to be 30.4mpg and my test
vehicle returned 28.2mpg in fairly typical UK driving conditions.
The Chrysler Grand Voyager has a faithful following of customers in the UK
who have the real need for transporting up to seven people. For them, expensive
CO2 emission levels and £25-a-day Congestion Charge will be necessary evils.
The only other main complaint is that it's some-thing of a bulky heavyweight
to drive. However, more than compen-sating for this is the space and the huge
array of fixtures and fittings supplied as standard for an attractive price
relative to the high equip-ment levels.
More good news is the improved safety equipment and the likelihood
of a higher NCAP passenger safety rating than the outgoing model. Another
important feature — easily overlooked — is that not only
is there roomy seating for seven, but there is load space to match.
Add in the improved automatic transmission and the more upmarket interior
trim and it's not hard to see why Grand Voyager customers keep coming back
for more. — David Miles
 Chrysler Grand Voyager 2.8 CRD Limited | £32,995 Maximum speed: 115mph | 0-62mph: 12.8 seconds Overall test MPG: 28.2mpg | Power: 161bhp | Torque: 265lb ft CO2 247g/km |
