Chrysler Grand Voyager 2014

Chrysler’s ageing Voyager has been spruced up, and just in time. With the new Honda Odyssey now on sale and the recent unveiling of the Kia Grand Carnival at the

New York Motor Show, the North American brand has a real challenge on its hands to remain relevant in the people-mover segment.

While its square, decidedly American styling may not excite, the Grand Voyager does have a lot going for it when comfort and convenience are considered.

The Grand Voyager is available in two flavours, starting with the $57,500 (plus on-road costs) LX and topping out with the fully-loaded Limited we have here, available from a not-unsubstantial $77,500 (plus on-road costs).

Both Grand Voyagers share the same 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder power unit, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and driving the front wheels. It’s been around for a while now, but its 360Nm of torque produced at only 1600rpm (to go with 120kW) remains useful for lugging over two tonnes of people mover.

Pick either model and you also gain Chrysler’s well-resolved Stow ’n Go cabin system that allows both second and third seating rows to be stowed completely flat, opening a mammoth 3296 litres of storage space. When the seats are upright, the under-floor storage bins come into play. In short, this is one versatile load space, the second-row captain’s chairs providing a particularly stately ambience.

Though undoubtedly pricey, the Limited does come lathered with a strong standard equipment list. It gains leather trim with suede microfibre accents over the cloth trim of the LX, and all rear passengers can be entertained by Chrysler’s mobile theatre multimedia system. This incorporates two nine-inch, drop-down high-definition multimedia screens which offer DVD playback. A nine-speaker Infinity audio system with a 506W amplifier compliments the theatre system.

The Limited also has a reversing camera with rear park assist, tri-zone climate control, Uconnect phone with Bluetooth, a voice-controllable media centre with 30GB hard drive, heated elements for front and middle-row occupants, an audible alert for the twin powered sliding doors (which can be operated via the key fob) and powered, heated exterior mirrors. It rides on 17-inch alloys and uses self-levelling HID headlamps.

Stepping up into the front pew, the North American feel is immediately apparent. There’s a grab handle for the driver, rather than the passenger, and the transmission gate’s operation feels reversed, pushing the lever away from rather than towards the driver to select a gear. The shifter itself also reveals the first of several safety/quality issues within the cabin, especially when one considers the Grand Voyager’s remit. Small fingers – indeed, a whole small hand – could fall into the gap left by the transmission gate’s cover, where various pulleys and parts can be seen.

The same is true when folding the mid-row seats, with no cover stopping those same hands getting stuck in the seat mechanisms.

As well as being a safety issue, it all looks incredibly clunky and brings into question why you’d spend the large part of $80,000 for something so carelessly put together.

Crank the Grand Voyager into life, and the large-capacity four-pot announces its presence with old-school diesel chatter, like a small truck.

Slot into drive and the diesel does deliver the low-down punch you would expect, but it’s always industrial and not overly fuel efficient in stop-start traffic. Indeed, when I first grabbed the keys, the fuel economy showed 12.1L/100km. In traffic and driving purely for economy, the gauge dips to 10.8L/100km. Once on the open road this figure eventually reduces down to 7.3L/100km, which actually beats the claimed combined economy figure of 8.4L/100km.

Contributing to the improved open-road economy is the adaptability of the six-speed automatic gearbox. Jerky initially, with an awkward habit of holding first and second for overly-long periods, then slipping through third into fourth almost immediately, over the course of the week, it came to recognise my driving style and delivered the power in a far more intuitive, smooth way.

One aspect of the Grand Voyager experience that surprises – especially in the context of its more modern competition – is its dynamic balance. The self-levelling suspension system is accommodating of various loads, but it also retains a supple ride that makes a mockery of the Odyssey.

There is also decent, consistent weight coming through the large-rimmed steering wheel. Of course, the Grand Voyager is no paragon of cornering grip, but that’s not its intent.

Adopting the role of a passenger, it is also surprising to see that the third-row seating is adequate even for an adult. There is plenty of width for two grown-ups, or three children, and its occupants are well catered for with the theatre system, air vents, window blinds, cup holders and storage bins. Knee room is excellent, and little ones can walk through between the second-row captain’s chairs with ease.

The convenience of being able to fold this rear section flat with one touch of a button is also tremendously practical, as is the addition of a torch to the rear compartment to make packing and unpacking a cinch, even in the dark.

Both first and second-row occupants, of course, have all the cabin width and height they could ask for, the second-row also gaining its own climate control functions. Coat hooks are very easy to locate… but where are the child seat anchorage points?

All in all, the latest Chrysler Grand Voyager is a highly curious mix of thoughtful and thoughtless. It does many things well, but there are simply too many oddities bringing its overall rating down. And when you factor in price, you have to conclude that there are more complete people-moving options out there.

2014 Chrysler Grand Voyager Limited pricing and specifications:
Price: $77,500 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 120kW/360Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 222g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: N/A