What they said when the Chrysler Grand Voyager was new… (Jan 21 2002)
IN a competitive market it's always good to have an edge. And nowhere is that more true than among manufacturers who produce people movers.
Chrysler has ensured that it's flagship Voyager model, the Grand Voyager Limited, has a very distinctive edge with electrically operated opening side doors and automatic tail gate.
The first time you pull up in front of friends and they find the side door opening to let them in while you are still in the driving seat you can see they are impressed.
But this facility is more than just a gimmick. Imagine doing your shopping and arriving back at your Voyager with an armful of parcels. Assuming you have the key in your hand you can simply press the appropriate button on the key fob, allow the door to slide back and drop your packages in.
The automatic facility also means that if the car is muddy you don't even have to touch the door handles. Imagine a woman owner dressed to go out for the evening and having to lift a muddy tailgate in the winter. With the Limited edition Grand Voyager it is a scenario that can be avoided. The electric doors can also be operated from switches inside the vehicle.
On the road this a people mover which stands out. For starters the Grand Voyager is large even by MPV standards, but the Limited edition also has heavily tinted windows all round with the exception of the windscreen and the two front doors. They are so dark that, in the daylight, it is impossible to see into the main passenger area. The affect can be a little intimidating, especially if, as with my test vehicle, the Voyager is dark grey.
I had various comments from "look it's the Mafia" to "what pop stars have you got inside". Inside the vehicle, however, it is exceptionally light, thanks to new glass production techniques.
On the top-of-the-range models there are now three distinct zones for air conditioning, so the driver's area can be a different temperature to that of the centre row of seats which can be different again to the temperature in the rear seats.
MPVs have never been so luxurious. This seven-seater model, with a two-two-three seat configuration, offers an abundance of space. And being the Grand Voyage there is also a spacious luggage area.
The layout means that it is easy for passengers to "walk through" from one set of seats to another, which helps to give a feeling of freedom on long journeys. The second row of seats comes with armrests and even their own built-in cupholders and are more like the sort of comfortable armchairs you would get in a gentleman's club.
The 3.3-litre Limited comes with automatic gearbox operated by a column gear change. That ensures that more floor space is kept free for passenger movement. On the road the Limited is a delight to drive, although its length means that at times it can be a problem parking in restricted spaces. It is one of the quietest of vehicles I have driven with no engine noise audible at all on tickover.
Despite the size and weight of the Grand Voyager its beefy V6 makes light work of pulling it and acceleration is impressive for such a large vehicle. This is certainly not a Chrysler you are going to get stuck behind.
The ride is excellent with most major bumps being completely ironed out. Handling too is impressive, thanks partly to a hefty increase in torsional stiffness over the previous model and you feel as if you are driving a well mannered large saloon rather than a small bus.
The Voyager is the world's best selling MPV and has been around in one guise or another for 17 years. But unlike some vehicles that does not mean it is getting long in the tooth. Rather it is a vehicle which has evolved with its market and simply become more impressive as new innovations have been added.
Words: Ed Stephens
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