Chrysler Voyager 2005 review

This North American people mover has set a few standards in its time; after 20 years in the business and more than 10 million sold around the world, the Voyager remains one of the best.

It is not the cheapest option for shifting people and luggage, these days the Grand Voyager starts at $55,990. But this is a substantial vehicle with style and seven seats.

For the new season the Voyager takes on side curtain airbags to cover all three rows of seats. There also is some cosmetic work around the outside, chiefly with a new grille and headlights giving the big wagon the latest Chrysler family face.

The new bits arrive on top of an impressive list of equipment from front airbags and ABS to tri-zone airconditioning and a sliding side door and tailgate which open with power assistance.

Here Chrysler Australia offers three trim levels of the long-wheelbase Voyager – SE, LX and Limited. The top of the range wagon – at $69,990 – carries leather and a superb 10-speaker sound system.

Past the standard Grand Voyager Limited there is an all-wheel-drive Limited version at $71,990.

All these Grand vans sit on a 3030mm wheelbase and run to 5096mm in the body; the advantage here is reasonable luggage space behind the third row, unlike some rivals which leave vestigial room for gear when all seven seats are used.

The Voyager is 1749mm high, good for access and head room through to the back row of seats.

In fact the interior of these Limiteds is quite tidy. Big analogue instruments have a classic, simple-to-read style, buttons and bells fall readily to hand while the interior's fit and finish, certainly on the Limited version, reflects the price tag and Austrian build.

Accommodation in all seven seats is excellent, centre armrests for the front four seats a welcome bonus.

But for the driver there are Americanisms to be accommodated.

The indicator and wiper stalk is mounted on the left-hand side of the steering column, although that's not unusual.

Then the change lever for the four-speed automatic sprouts from the right-hand side of the column. This may not be a problem after a day or two behind the wheel of the Voyager, there is some symmetry to parking, using the right hand to shift the transmission into park and the left hand to pull on the floor-mounted handbrake lever.

But then there's the limited room in the Voyager's driver footwell, there's not a deal of space to rest the left foot with too much intrusion from the centre console coming in from the left. The saving grace is the high and upright, albeit quite comfortable, seating position which allows a driver's foot to sit flat.

On the move, the Grand Voyager is quiet and flexible. The 3.3 litre V6 produces 128kW at 5100rpm and 278Nm of torque at 4000rpm, enough to have the Voyager sailing along with the traffic around the town or down the highway.

The V6 runs about its business with a smoothness not always found in this market niche; the auto transmission is quick and easy and some two tonne of machine is on its way.

The Voyager handles like a big front-wheel-drive wagon, it does not need to be pushed around quite as hard as the family Commodore.

Yet this big Chrysler has a decent amount of balance and roadholding for a fair lump of machine. Only the steering lets the side down a tad; it is woolly, too light and non-communicative at the straight-ahead.

The Voyager steers fine, it just takes that little extra before it bites.

The Chrysler Voyager may not be a volume seller, some 8813 have been sold across Australia since it arrived in July 1996, but it does fly the flag for the company's image and engineering.