Chrysler Grand Voyager MPV

The Chrysler Grand Voyager is an old-fashioned MPV that relies on having huge amounts of space and a flexible cabin to appeal to potential buyers. Its electric sliding rear doors give excellent access to the interior and the Voyager is one of the few MPVs that can carry seven people and still offer a decent amount of luggage space.

There is only one choice of engine to choose from – a 2.8-litre diesel that lags behind more modern engines (in terms of power and economy) from manufacturers such as Ford and Volkswagen. It does, however, come fitted as standard with an automatic gearbox that makes for a relaxed, if unsophisticated drive.

The basic Chrysler Grand Voyager SE gets climate control, cruise control, and a Bluetooth phone connection with voice control. The top-spec limited model gets eight-way electric seats in the front, a powerful stereo, and a DVD play with two screens for the middle-row passengers.

As a huge, bulky MPV, running costs for the Chrysler Grand Voyager are not cheap, but even so the car’s fuel economy of 35.8mpg is starting to lag behind newer models – some versions of the Ford Galaxy can return 54mpg. Road tax is similarly expensive and will set you back £285 per year, although this is much cheaper than the old Grand Voyager used to be.

It’s not just the running costs that make the Chrysler seem a bit outdated, its warranty does too. It covers you for three years or 60,0000miles, which is significantly less than other manufacturers, though it can be extended at extra cost. The Grand Voyager is currently available to buy with interest free credit though, so there are some savings to be made.

Comfort is what the Grand Voyager is all about, so the suspension soaks up bumps and potholes well, even if the car does an acceptable job of resisting body lean in the corners given its size. The car’s high driving position also gives you a good view of the road ahead. Nonetheless, the steering feel doesn’t inspire confidence and the Voyager feels big when you’re driving down twisting country roads.

There’s only one engine to choose from – a 2.8-litre diesel, which has enough power to pull the Grand Voyager along at a reasonable pace. The MPV is only available with an automatic gearbox, which doesn’t help fuel economy, but does make the Chrysler easier to drive in town. All but the basic model gets a reversing camera to help you manoeuvre the Chrysler into a parking space more easily.

The Chrysler doesn’t suffer too badly from wind noise but it’s a shame that the automatic gearbox changes to a lower gear too readily on shallow motorway inclines, making the engine sound more strained than it should do.

Inside, Chrysler has its work cut out to catch up with its rivals like the Volkswagen Sharon and Ford Galaxy. The interior looks dated and is made of cheap plastics that are hard to the touch. It does at least get a flexible interior that is spacious and comfortable to sit in, while cars with the optional swivel ‘n go seats have two comfy Captain’s chairs in the middle row that can be turned to face each other.

You can say what you like about the driving characteristics and build quality of the Grand Voyager, but there’s no denying it’s huge inside. Even with all the seats up you get a 756-litre boot, and with the rear seats folded down that jumps to an enormous 3,296 litres. The car’s Stow 'n Go seating system means you can easily fold the seats flat into to the floor.

Another bonus is the electrically operated sliding side doors, which give excellent access to the car even when it is parked in a very tight space. Meanwhile, with the seats up, the recess they are stored in can double as very handy under floor storage, and there are plenty of other useful cubbyholes spread around the interior.

The Chrysler Grand Voyager didn’t feature in our 2014 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, but Chrysler came second last in our manufacturers’ rankings. It did best for reliability, but scored very badly in all other areas, including seat comfort, performance, in-car tech, build and ride quality.

As it sells in relatively small numbers, the Grand Voyager hasn’t been tested for safety by Euro NCAP either, but that’s potentially a good thing for Chrysler because the old model did very badly. It scored just one star when it was tested back in 2007. The car does come with six airbags, traction control and electronic stability control, however.

Its outdated design means the Grand Voyager can’t compete with models such as the Ford Galaxy, Volkswagen Sharon or the SEAT Alhambra when it comes to second-hand values. However, all models do come well-equipped with an MP3 stereo, three-zone climate control, and electric windows all round. Top-spec models also get a leather interior and DVD screens for the back seats.