What they said when the Mitsubishi Grandis was new… (Jun 21 2004)
MITSUBISHI has high hopes for the seven-seater Grandis, which brings something different to the full-size MPV market.
It's not an ultra-tall vehicle, for a start, at 1,655mm - Ford's Galaxy, for example, is about 10cm taller - which will appeal to those who prefer a car-like feel.
Not that the Grandis is cramped inside. It's simply that the floor level has been kept low so that you step, rather than climb, in.
Mitsubishi's persuasive logic is that an MPV is not an off-roader, so why is height necessary when it can only disrupt the quality of the drive? Do you really want a van with seats?
Certainly, the Grandis is sleek for an MPV and could tempt estate buyers, marrying seven-seat capacity with good load-carrying ability.
The rear two seats fold over effortlessly into a flat floor, and folding the second row provides a cargo area that is 1,600mm long and 1,545 litres in volume.
And the Grandis has a special trick. Those rear seats can be reversed so you can park and sit in comfort to look out on the world from the tailgate. Beats taking deck chairs.
Oh, yes, and they also recline, so you have a travelling bed, too.
The Grandis has more-familiar MPV features - a 60;40-split second row that slides independently to give easy access to the back via huge doors, plane-style seat-back trays and a generous serving of storage areas and cupholders.
At the front, the gearshift is housed in a silver bib extension of the mighty, waved console to free up cabin space, though there's no walk-through facility.
It's an impressive-looking interior and switches, dials and information are presented simply and clearly. The three-stage instrument panel illumination is a nice touch.
Because of the car's shape, the front pillars don't obstruct the driver's view - a bane of MPVs - and there's height variation for the driver's seat and steering wheel, so comfort and lookout is pretty good, helped by the big windows.
In this sense, all Mitsubishi's plans come to fruition, but the hopes of improving on the traditional MPV ride and drive quality are less convincing. The five-speed manual Grandis I drove first still bounced a little too easily, even on a motorway stretch.
Later, however, a version fitted with the optional four-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission with logic control was more settled. The key appeared to be the extra weight this system added to the car, so a bit of tweaking could easily bring the manual into line.
Similarly, adjustments would help the steering. It's progressive and helpfully light in town and country, but a bit more weight would be welcome on the open road.
At launch the Grandis will be powered by a new Euro IV-compliant 2.4-litre 16-valve petrol engine which develops 162bhp at 6,000 revs and 159lb/ft of torque at 4,000.
General running is fine, but it needs a bit of acceleration and you have to work the gearbox. This doesn't help the economy, which for the manual is claimed to average 30.1mpg but which was closer to 26 on the test run.
The auto is not so quick but thirstier again. However, it's a smooth unit and, with a Tiptronic function, is good to drive.
What the Grandis really needs is the choice of a diesel engine, but that is being sourced from VW and won't be available for 12 months. Some European countries are holding the car back until it is available and Mitsubishi UK is taking a decided gamble by launching it now with just the petrol engine.
Such is the confidence that the Grandis can establish unique appeal here, that it is one the company is happy to take.
Arriving in Classic, Equippe and Elegance trim, it offers a lot for your money. Standard equipment includes eight airbags -with deactivator on the front passenger side, climate control, 17in alloys, ABS with EBD, electric windows and door mirrors, front fog lamps, radio/CD player, armrests, remote central locking, alarm and immobiliser. Certainly that outguns just about all the comparative opposition.
Mitsubishi originally estimated the Grandis would capture 2,000 customers in a full year - not including potential diesel figures.
But the feeling is that this estimate may be conservative following interest in the car at the recent Motor Show.
Words: John Scantlebury
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