Mitsubishi Grandis News

Mitsubishi is currently on a hot streak of reviving classic nameplates for its line-up in Europe.

Mitsubishi has revealed its next new small SUV model, the Grandis, which will sit above the ASX but below the Outlander in its international line-up, offering both mild and full hybrid drivetrain options.

Little wonder, then, that Kia's Carnival, at $29,990, has proved to be such a hit: it offers considerable value for money for anyone willing to make a few sacrifices to save$10,000.Kia is now taking aim at a slightly more affluent sector of the market with its new, more powerful and larger Grand Carnival, priced from $36,990.The Korean giant plans to sell both the old, sub-$30,000 Carnival and the new model side by side for the foreseeable future as it attempts to increase its market share.The people-mover segment is fast becoming one of the most competitive in the vehicle industry, and makers have even tried to sex up their image.Most successful has been Honda's new-generation Odyssey, which is far more car-like in both appearance and dynamics than its predecessor.Ford has come up with a winner by offering soft-roaders such as the Territory with an optional third row of seats.With a bewildering array of choices in the market, Sunday CARSguide looks at five vehicles for the masses. Chrysler VoyagerPRICE: $55,990 to $71,990GOOD: Space, and lots of it. The 3.3-litre V6 offers a handy 128kW of power. The Stow 'n' Go option allows you a wide variety of seating and cargo options, and sliding rear doors make for easy access.BAD: All that interior space makes for a very big exterior. The Voyager feels a lot like a delivery van, and has an interior reminiscent of the early 1990s. When behind the wheel, you can't help feeling you're heading off to the local Dunkin' Donuts shop somewhere in middle America.VERDICT: This is one for the "size really matters" crowd. Extra size and power can't prevent the Voyager feeling distinctly old-school. It's also expensive. Speaking of old school, did I mention the column shift? Mitsubishi GrandisPrice: From $39,990GOOD: The Grandis has excellent interior space. functionality and style. Its tip-and-tilt seating system is one of the easiest and most useful around. Priced from $39,990, it also offers reasonable value for money.BAD: The somewhat aggressive exterior styling may not be to everyone's liking. Its height means it can't quite match the Honda Odyssey for on-road dynamics and feel.The 2.4-litre four puts out 121kW and has to work hard with a full load. Some dashboard controls are fiddly and set too far away.VERDICT: If you don't mind the looks, you should definitely test-drive the Grandis; it's a genuine rival to the Odyssey, and at a competitive price. Honda OdysseyPrice: $38,790 to $45,290GOOD: The most car-like MPV, the Odyssey has great on-road dynamics. Its interior and exterior build quality is superb.BAD: The Honda is not alone among modern cars in having the emergency brake on the floor, but it's an annoyance — even if it does allow extra space for the centre console. The test Odyssey had an acute case of reflected glare on the dashboard.VERDICT: A quality product that is quite rightly considered the leader in the people-mover stakes. The Odyssey's 2.4-litre, in-line four makes the most of its 118kW and is reasonably frugal, but fitting the 140kW engine from the outstanding Accord Euro would make things even better. The rear seats are best suited to pre-teens. Ford TerritoryPrice: $39,490 to $56,320GOOD: The new ZF six-speed transmission fitted in the AWD version of the Territory is a huge leap forward for Ford. Its AWD system is one of the best, and the Territory proved sure-footed during a three-hour trip along the freeway from Sydney to Newcastle in a torrential downpour.The Territory can go places the other four in this comparison can't,, but it's not a fair dinkum off-roader.BAD: The six-speed tranny and AWD are expensive options, as is the third row of seats.The four-litre, six-cylinder motor delivers a healthy 190kW, but driven with enthusiasm, it gulps down considerably more juice than Ford's claimed 12.2 litres per 100km for the RWD and 12.8 for the AWD.Again, the third row of seats is strictly for pre-teens. Interior fit and finish are good by local standards, but can't match the Japanese.VERDICT: Most versatile of the five, but you pay handsomely for AWD anda six-speed gearbox. Though not the best vehicle for transporting seven people, the Territory wins points for its across-the-board potential and would suit a family of four or five who need two extra seats on occasion. Kia Grand CarnivalPrice: From $36,990GOOD: It's obvious why the base-model Kia, at $29,000, is Australia's best-selling people mover. For $7000 more, you can now get what is effectively a completely different vehicle.Interior and exterior remain bland, although the Grand Carnival wins points for the functionality of its eight seats. An enormous rear luggage space is achieved by placing the spare wheel under the centre of the vehicle. The sliding rear doors are generally easier to access than those on the Odyssey, the Grandis or the Territory.A big improvement is the new 3.8-litre V6, which increases power from 132kW to 184 and torque from 220Nm to 343.BAD: Engine problems with the earlier base model dented the Kia's reputation and hurt re-sale values. This will have flow-on effects to the Grand Carnival, despite it being a different vehicle.It's still clearly built to a price, with dynamics and general feel below that of the other vehicles in this test; in particular, the steering felt indirect. The new engine has loads more power, but you pay at the bowser, with Kia claiming a best-scenario fuel consumption of 12.8 litres/100km. Like the Odyssey, the Kia has a foot emergency brake.VERDICT: Money talks, and the Grand Carnival is a bargain buy that will garner healthy sales. The Odyssey and Grandis are better vehicles overall, but the Kia scores points for size and power. The winner ...HONDA'S Odyssey remains the one to beat. Although the Grandis runs a close second, the Odyssey outsells it by almost six to one. The Territory is a genuine option if you want to get a little way off the beaten track. The Grand Carnival is good value despite the price increase, and the Voyager is for those who really value their personal space.Most prices quoted in this story exclude dealer delivery and statutory prices

Not bad eh?A fairly aggressive face, high sides, swooping roofline, curved glass and a quite spectacular rear end complete with bumper to roof LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting. Woohoo.Nice one Olly.Grandis even grabs some fleeting looks from pavement punters who normally wouldn't look twice at people mover.And the inside is even better looking and functional as well. A dust and pollen filter built into the ventilation system also has a deodorising function.This is the sort of stuff Mitsubishi needs to come up with to meet its competition.Grandis joins a growing fleet of new people movers that could rekindle interest in the genre.It's 44 grand which is still stretching the budget but is fairly close to its main competition, Honda's base- model Odyssey and not forgetting the Ford Territory rear wheel drive that are around 39 grand.Grandis has seven seats arranged in three rows with multiple adjustments and configurations in the rear compartment. The back row can be completely stowed in the floor and the middle row slides forward and folds out of the way.Heck, you can even lift the tailgate at the footy or drive in movies (do they still exist), turn the rear seats around and watch grandstand style.Grandis has good performance from its 121kW/ 217Nm, 2.4-litre, four cylinder engine and whizzes along with nary a noise or vibe at all speeds despite its 1660kgs. The engine has variable valve timing to optimise performance, response and fuel economy. An average 10.5 litres/100km is within easy striking distance with mixed driving but that is with only a few on board. With seven, it would no doubt consume more.Drive goes to the front wheels via a four speed automatic transmission that is both smooth shifting and quite adept when you need instant response. A tipshift "manual" function is provided but is essentially superfluous. Money would be better spent on an extra cog rather than the tipshift.The ride and handling package impresses for such a vehicle. It's comfortable and controlled sailing over rough roads without bucking and hanging in there through tight sections. Quite unexpected when you think it is after all, a people mover.There is plenty of luxury and safety equipment including multiple air bags, efficient climate-control air, ABS and electronic brake force distribution.Grandis marks the end of the road for Nimbus and Starwagon.

Sales soared and Toyota went all the way with a chisel-nosed Tarago that was the class act of the field.Every big brand had some sort of people mover for drivers with more than four in the family. Some called them, unkindly, Catholic vans.But they were mostly just converted delivery vans with three rows of seats, built to a price and with little concern for safety, comfort or equipment. A head-on crash meant the driver's legs would be first on the scene.People movers have never really recovered from the backlash against those evil originals, and the rise and rise of four-wheel-drives has also made life tough.Some people just don't want to be seen in a boring, boxy people mover, even if the newest of the breed are morphing into crossover cars that do more with less.The latest Mitsubishi Grandis and the Honda Odyssey point to the future. They're shorter and smoother but still pack lots of positions and choices into the cabin.They could spark a revival, particularly if petrol prices put real pressure on hulking seven-seat four-wheel-drives, but the current sales figures don't suggest that will happen soon.Kia sold 461 of its class-leading Carnivals in July to take its year-to-date total to 3199, but that was nearly half the total number of people movers, only 8579 going on to Australian roads in the first seven months. In contrast, big sixes totalled 103,677.People movers still fill a role, particularly if you really need to carry a lot of people for more than a sprint to the shops.Most carry seven in reasonable comfort. Among the official people movers, only the Volkswagen Kombi is rated as a nine-seater. The pricey Toyota Tarago and VW Caravelle seat eight.Still, people movers have come a long way on safety, comfort, refinement and equipment, and the benchmark Honda Odyssey is set for a huge sales rise very soon.A PEOPLE mover is no longer a box on wheels, nor is it an embarrassment to its occupants.The new Ford Territory is hot, and happily carries seven people if fitted with the rear seat. A Holden Crewman combines work-and-play duties, and the Toyota Kluger is a seven-seat family van disguised as an all-wheel-drive.Families want a vehicle that sits between traditional passenger car and hulking bush basher, and carmakers are rushing to fill the void.In coming years we can expect a rush of crossover vehicles that will blur the lines between traditional market segments.The Territory is already doing the job of an old-fashioned Falcon, albeit one dressed up in a macho body with a high-rider seating position, a classy finish and plenty of equipment and versatility. Luggage space is tight with the third row of seats up, and access to those seats could be easier, but it is a winner with families.The Crewman, the Cross8 in particular, is aimed at part-time parents who want family wheels with a bit of excitement. The upright back seat isn't all that comfortable, but the person making the buying decision – and using a Crewman for work – will be sitting up front.1. Honda OdysseyLowdown: Attractive body and Honda quality boosted by a top-value price.Verdict: The smooth new Honda shows how people movers should be done.Plus: Refined, classy, good looking.Minus: Not a huge amount of space.Rating: 18/20THE newest member of the Honda family is more quality stuff from the company that gave us the pace-setting Accord Euro. It comes with only seven seats, but that's no real handicap because the 2.4-litre engine has 118kW of power and impressive response. Letdowns are suspension that thumps over bumps, child-seat anchor points in the ceiling block the rear view, and loss of the V6. But to cap the action and really rattle its rivals, prices open at $38,790 and the fully loaded luxury model is $45,290.2. Chrysler VoyagerLowdown: The incredible hulk of the people-mover class is the one to buy if you have a big family and equally large budget.Verdict: An American "minivan" that's great for heavyweight hauling.Plus: Roomy and versatile, with V6 power.Minus: Costly, and not the best right-hand-drive conversion.Rating: 17/20THE American carmaker says this is the Rolls-Royce of people movers. There's space for seven with innovative roll-out rear seats and armrests in the front. The 3.3-litre V6 is punchy, if a little thirsty. Also available in a long-wheelbase model and all-wheel-drive. Prices start at $53,490 (SE model), step up to $59,090 for the long-wheelbase machine and go all the way to $78,590 for the fully loaded four-wheel-drive.3. Holden ZafiraLowdown: The innovative Holden was developed in Europe for three-row family work and Opel's original has been smartly tweaked for Australian sales.Verdict: Not the biggest of the bunch, but a good drive for smaller families.Plus: A good drive with impressive quality.Minus: Poor space in the tail, second-row bench has to slide forward for access to back seats.Rating: 16/20THE Zafira is close in concept to the now-dead Mitsubishi Nimbus, with a compact body that has Tardis-style third-row seating. It has excellent suspension tuning and good punch from its 2.2-litre four. The price is pretty nice, too, at $32,890, and the TV commercial with a youngster sketching on a baby is one of our favourites.MITSUBISHI GRANDISRating: 16/20Price: $43,990Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinderSMOOTH lines, nicely built and well equipped, but hit hard when the Odyssey arrived. Definitely worth a look for those dollars.MAZDA MPVRating: 15/20Price: $50,665Engine: 3.0-litre V6THE multi-purpose vehicle has been left behind by the zoom-zoom models in the Mazda family. Quality is impressive and it drives nicely, but few people seem to want a Mazda people mover.TOYOTA AVENSISRating: 15/20Price: $43,100Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinderNICE to drive with good access for kids in back, but minimal luggage space with third row up. Too costly for what it is, and shows Toyota doesn't really care about people movers in 2004.TOYOTA TARAGORating: 15/20Price: from $52,460Engine: 2.4-litre fourTHE faded former champion. Still has a great name. Desperately needs a V6 engine to justify prices that go up to $72,620.VOLKSWAGEN CARAVELLERating: 15/20Price: From $59,990Engine: 2.8-litre V6BOTH Volkswagens are in a run-out situation, with no turbodiesels left. The new turbodiesel T5 could be the pick for long-distance families.HYUNDAI TRAJETRating: 15/20Price: From $32,990Engine: 2.7-litre V6ONE of the newer models in the Hyundai family, and punchy with its V6 motivation. The price is good but it shapes as a big-box deal for people who are more worried about practicality than quality.VOLKSWAGEN KOMBIRating: 14/20Price: $39,990Engine: 2.5-litre four cylinderTHE Kombi has a great name and drives better than you'd expect, with austere but quality finishing. Not as flashy as some.KIA CARNIVALRating: 14/20Price: $29,990Engine: 2.5-litre V6THE easy sales leader but doing it on value. Is much like its Hyundai twin but with a little more equipment and a price that makes it a real winner.MERCEDES-BENZ VITOArriving early next yearPrice: TBAEngines: TBATHE Vito people mover will be available in two models, with the upmarket version getting leather seats and all the fruit. Worth a look.

While Mitsubishi's new Grandis will never be a volume seller it will hold a special place in the company's history.This is the first model of the rest of Mitsubishi's life in Australia. The settling of the Mitsubishi rescue plan and Australia's part in the future guarantees at least a medium-term survival for the local operation. With that resolved the Adelaide-based company has hit the ground running with the Grandis."Grandis is the first all-new global identity product for Australia and it is the first MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve lift and timing Electronic Control)engine in Australia," Mitsubishi Motors Australia president Tom Phillips said at the launch this week."It is the first of our new models this year and while it will not sell in huge numbers it is the catalyst to start some serious brand building."In a market of about 1000 sales a month, the Grandis has been set the task of claiming a 10 per cent share, doubling the sales of the long-serving Nimbus it replaces.Mitsubishi's Chris Maxted explains: "This market is changing, it is evolving and people are not using this type of vehicle in the traditional people-mover sense. They are being used not necessarily because buyers need the seven seats – most have two to three kids – but because of the flexibility. They are a lifestyle choice to serve a variety of weekly needs.¿Maxted says research has shown that more than a fifth of buyers in the segment own large family cars such as Commodore and Falcon while a further 15 per cent are moving up from the medium-car segment as their family grows.The Grandis evolved from the fuel cell Space Liner concept from the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show, the first indication of designer Olivier Boulay's vision for Mitsubishi's family look. A seven-seat low-slung van, it features a "wave" pattern dash with the automatic shifter mounted as part of the centre console. Drive is from a 121kW 2.4-litre four with performance ramped up by Mitsubishi's clever MIVEC technology, which allows a single camshaft to function at three loads, two at low speed below 3500rpm and one at high speed above that range.Mitsubishi's manager of the special projects centre, Rob Chadwick, explains: "It is impressive technology which is not terribly complex yet is very efficient at providing additional performance without an appreciable penalty in fuel economy or emissions."Safety has been high on the design criteria for the Grandis and testing in Japan indicates class-leading performance. "Internal tests to J-NCAP standards returned a six-star performance, the highest available," Chadwick says.That rating is not harmed at all by the standard inclusion of six airbags, including curtains – a first in the people-mover category.The Grandis will be on sale from the end of next week in two models – the Grandis at $45,710 and the Luxury Pack, with alloy wheels, dual sunroof, privacy glass, wood grain and leather trim and extra speakers for an additional $3745.How it drivesIf Mitsubishi's Grandis is an indicator it is a case of back to the future for people movers. While the Grandis is still a substantial hunk of metal – being a genuine seven-seater will do that to a car – the overwhelming impression is one of a large car rather than a small truck.Driver seating is lower than in the previous generation of similar models and the position of the steering more in line with sedan cars than an upright bus position.Seating is comfortable and supportive with most of the controls coming easily to hand, particularly those mounted proud on the waveform console. The radio is more difficult to reach and the lack of even the most basic steering wheel-mounted controls is a shortcoming.The car-like feel of the Grandis translates well to the driving dynamics. There is no hiding the fact that the car is tall and mass is moving around but the overall impression is one of stability and reasonable predictability.The 121kW from the 2.4-litre engine, reached at 6000rpm, puts it at the head of the class for four-cylinder people movers but more important is the fat torque curve.While maximum urge of 217Nm is available at 4000rpm much of that is on tap from about 2000rpm right through to peak power – the major benefit of the MIVEC technology. The INVECS II four-speed automatic showed a reluctance to kick down in full-auto mode but can be driven in tiptronic sports mode when it can be run right to redline without electronic interference.With the three rows of seats deployed there is precious little luggage space available, a common problem in this style of cars, but the seating itself is very flexible.The third row folds completely flat under the floor while the second row folds and slides forward to provide enough room for a couple of bikes and luggage as well.The seats are split 50:50 in the third row and 60:40 in the second to provide the option of a two-one-one seating pattern and room to carry a longer load.