VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY (some text hidden) --NONE--

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Introductionword count: 106

The Chrysler Voyager offers a rather more upmarket alternative to the run of the mill MPV crop, focusing on road presence and prestige. Offering a rather more polished look and feel to its predecessor, which ran from 1997 to 2001, the MK2 Voyager has remained the world's best selling MPV and with good reason. The '97-'01 Voyager incarnation was the first we saw in the UK and, though large and well equipped, had serious flaws when it came to questions of handling, ride and safety. This current generation model rectifies these shortcomings and offers a strong challenge to the best that Europe and Japan can offer.

Modelsword count: 20

Models Covered: Chrysler Voyager - 2001-to date: (Five-door, 5/7-seat People Carrier: 2.4, 3.3 petrol, 2.5 CRD diesel [SE, Touring, LX])

Historyword count: 271

The first five-door Voyagers arrived here in March 1997 (though there were some unofficial left-hand drive imports before this). The first examples had either the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine introduced with the Neon the previous year or a 3.3-litre V6. There was also a lengthened version called the Grand Voyager that majored on sheer space. The range was thoroughly revised in February 2001 and that's the line-up we're looking at here. Owners of the previous model wouldn't have any trouble recognising one, for the look is little different, with both standard and Grand Voyager bodystyles on offer. In fact, the exterior visual changes are so few - wider wheelarches and a deeper front grille with PT Cruiser-style headlamps - that you might mistake this for a facelift rather than an all-new car. Chrysler is unapologetic, unwilling to change what has proved to be a winning formula. Where change was needed was under the bonnet - and it was duly provided. Petrol customers choose between two engines - a 150bhp 2.4-litre four cylinder unit and a 3.3-litre V6 with a power hike from 158 to 180bhp. These are primarily for the US market however: European family buyers are understandably reluctant to incur the running costs that come with a car which will average little more than 23mpg. Which is why the most significant part of this latest model lies in its 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine. In Spring 2004, a larger 2.8-litre CRD turbo diesel was unveiled to power top spec Voyagers and the Grand Voyager. It's arrival coincided with a facelift for the whole range which included a new chrome grille and projector headlamps.

What You Getword count: 259

Inside, it's much as before: this is still the largest MPV in its class. In standard form, you get two individual seats in the middle which flip forward for easy access to the foldaway three person bench at the rear (which can be swapped for two individual seats). As usual, all the seats can be removed or folded into makeshift tables but they don't slide back and forth (a la Espace) to increase either centre legroom or rear luggage space. Chrysler has missed a trick here. The short wheelbase model offers 450 litres of storage space behind the rear third row of seats or, if that isn't enough, the long wheelbase Grand Voyager version has 671 litres, as well as 150mm more cabin space. Take all but the front seats out and the capacity rises to a vast 4880 litres - almost enough to move house with. Nice touches include optional electric operation for the sliding side doors and tailgate - which would be a real boon in the supermarket carpark with your hands are full of shopping. Another extra worth having is the optional cargo organiser for the boot, which neatly divides the space into three separate cargo bays. For stowing smaller items, there's a removable central storage box, which slots into place between either of the front two rows of seats. The three-zone air conditioning's neat too, with the temperature for rear seat occupants controlled by a panel in the roof lining. As you'd expect, cup holders are everywhere and the multi-speaker Infiniti stereo system is brilliant.

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