For South Africans, the debate on whether it was Chrysler or Renault which had invented the large MPV has been largely a non-issue. Renault’s offering, the Espace, has had an erratic presence in South Africa, but the Grand Voyager has been part of the local motoring landscape for a long time. It has also, in its previous, more ovoid shape, been largely successful.
Recently, however, it has been threatened by the emergence of a Korean upstart (Kia Sedona), and a resurgent VW Kombi. So, Chrysler has gone back to the drawing board and has come up with a thoroughly redesigned model aimed at re-establishing it at the top of this class.
Hip to be square
With its boxy, square-cut looks, the Chrysler Grand Voyager 2.8 CRD LX is certainly far removed from its curvaceous forbears. And yet, the conservatism actually suits the big Chrysler well and lends it a dignified, serious persona that is nicely complemented by some good detailing the chrome-rimmed egg-crate grille looks upmarket, the streak up the bonnet is a nice touch, and the shiny 16-inch alloy wheels are attractive.
Many people are forced into buying large MPVs by circumstances, but with the Grand Voyager at least they won’t have to settle for something that looks low-rent. The upshot of that boxy shape – and at 5.15 metres in length, it is quite a large box – is a massively spacious interior. The Grand Voyagers offers comfortable seating for seven in a 2-2-3 arrangement, which perhaps doesn’t really make it ideal as a hotel shuttle, but certainly for a family that likes to travel vast distances with lots of luggage.
Even with all the seats taken, the boot space is still much larger than what you’d get from a five-seat SUV or a station wagon, and if only the first two rows are occupied, then the total utility volume is bigger than what is offered by station wagons with their rear seats folded down.
It really is quite amazing what can be fitted into the cabin, with the high roof and square shape giving the Grand Voyager panel van-like practicality. But space is but one of the Grand Voyager’s talents. The other is the ease with which the seats can be made to disappear. Pull some straps and the seats magically disappear into tub-shaped compartments into the floor. This also applies to the middle row.
The driver is well-catered for, with an electrically adjustable seat and rake/reach-adjustment for the steering wheel. The seats are upholstered in a classy cloth fabric, and while they do not offer much in the way of bolstering, comfort levels proved to be very good on longer trips. Given the vehicle’s otherwise high specification and comfort-oriented design, there are really only two let-downs.
Firstly, the transmission lever is placed very low, and secondly there are no remote audio controls. Neither is likely to be a deal-breaker.
Otherwise, the standard features list is comprehensive, with triple-zone climate control, six airbags, cruise control and park assist all being part of the deal. You do pay extra for electrically sliding second-row doors, as well as the very fancy MyGig audio system which adds a 30 GB hard-disc drive for music storage.
Easy-going character
This Grand Voyager is powered by a 2.8-litre turbodiesel engine developed by Italian diesel experts VM Motori. The engine develops class-leading outputs of 120 kW and 360 Nm respectively, the latter figure available from 1 600 to 3 000 rpm. Unfortunately the six-speed automatic transmission is not quite as eager, and resultantly getaways are quite lethargic. Want to take a gap in the traffic? Then mash the throttle a little earlier than you may consider suitable. That said, once up to speed, the overtaking acceleration offered by the CRD engine is not too bad. And considering the vehicle’s weight (nearly 2.2 tonnes), a fuel consumption figure of 9.3 litres/100 km is not unacceptable.
Wafting along on the highway, the Grand Voyager is a surprisingly refined product. The levels of wind, road and mechanical noise are very low and the long wheelbase, high-profile tyres and comfort-oriented suspension tuning give the big Chrysler a very absorbent ride that appears to iron out imperfections as if they weren’t there. Of course, the soft set-up does result in occupants having to clutch their large Happy Meals a bit more tightly in the corners, but that’s not a great concern for this type of vehicle. With four occupants, a boot full of holiday gear and luggage, there are few vehicles at this price level that can gobble up the miles as comfortably as this Grand Voyager.
Verdict
Large MPVs will never be the most fashionable type of vehicle on the market, no matter what Renault says, but the Grand Voyager does a great job of displaying the talents that make these machines so attractive to families the world over. It’s not only about space. It’s not even about the way the seats fold to leave a flat cabin, though that in itself is deserving of high praise. No, what is more important than anything else is occupant comfort. In that regard the Grand
Voyager performs excellently, offering a cabin that doubles as an isolation chamber to the world’s troubles. At the price, this vehicle is untouchable for what it is.
We like:
Massive cabin
Improved quality
Comfort
Ride refinement
Value for money
We don’t like:
Lethargic pull-aways
Gearlever position
No remote audio controls
Fast facts
Engine: 2.8-litre, four-cylinder, turbodiesel
Power: 120 kW @ 3 800 rpm
Torque: 360 Nm @ 1 600 rpm
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Wheels: 16-inch alloy
Top speed: 186 km/h
0-100 km/h: 12.8 seconds
Fuel economy: 9.3 litres/100 km
Also consider:
Volkswagen T5 Kombi 2.5 TDI Tiptronic LWB:
Always regarded as the default option in this segment, but the T5 trades heavily on its VW badge and is underpowered compared with the Chrysler, as well as more “utilitarian” inside.
A vehicle that takes first-time drivers by surprise. The build quality is good, the engine punchy and economical, and the space – though not as generous as in the Chrysler certainly sufficient for a family.
Toyota Quantum 2.5 D-4D 10-seat:
Significantly cheaper, but there’s no automatic transmission and you do get a vehicle that could be mistaken for a taxi! Still, if you’re requirements are more business-oriented, the Quantum could be worth a look.
