IT'S an interesting exercise to stand well back from a Chrysler Voyager and open the sliding doors and the rear tailgate from a distance using the buttons on the key fob.
People stop and stare in disbelief. It really is a bit of one-upmanship as far as people movers are concerned.
But it's no gimmick. Being able to open any door automatically when you have your hands full with groceries or parcels has to be a bonus.
It's quite common to be able to unlock a door automatically by pressing a button from a distance but to actually open it is something else.
Buttons above the driver's head mean you can also open these doors from inside the vehicle without having to leave your seat.
The Voyager is very much an American vehicle and it shows from the moment you step into it. How many other automatics do you know where the gear shift is on the column ?
The Voyager is the world's best selling MPV, even though it has been in production for more than 20 years. Over those 20 years, however, it has changed and improved a lot so the attraction to buyers has remained.
It is certainly a spacious vehicle, with seats in a two, two, three configuration and the fact that the gear shift is on the column rather than the floor means it has a useful walk through facility.
The seats in my test car were all leather, with the front two also being heated.
The darkened windows from the sliding doors back - and including the tailgate window - were all heavily darkened making it look as if there was a celebrity in the rear. But in fairness it made little difference to the light on the inside.
The Voyager features a host of nooks and crannies to store items. There is even a CD drawer in the centre console and a sunglasses holder in an overhead console which also houses a temperature gauge and compass.
My test vehicle was powered by a 2.5-litre common rail diesel engine which, while reasonably frugal, was somewhat lacking in performance.
The Voyager is a heavy vehicle but even so I felt it should have had a lot more zip. Once up to motorway speeds, however, the Voyager performs well and always feels relaxed.
Handling is good for an MPV with very little roll, ensuring rear seat passengers feel comfortable even on long journeys.
The present model has much more torsional stiffness than its predecessors which not only helps improve the handling but also makes the vehicle much quieter.
FAST FACTS
Chrysler Voyager CRD LX
Price: £23,190
Mechanical: 150bhp, 2,776cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 4spd automatic gearbox
Max speed: 112mph
0-62mph: 12 secs
Combined mpg: 29.4
Insurance group: 15
CO2 emissions: 221g/km
BiK rating: 30%
Warranty: 3yrs/ unlimited mileage; 7yrs anti-rust; 7yrs paint