GRAND STANDING (some text hidden) --NONE--

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Introductionword count: 92

Buying a used full-sized MPV can be fraught with all sorts of troubles. These vehicles often lead a hard life and buyers are often so anxious to find something in pristine condition that they'd often be better advised to buy new. One vehicle that does tend to shrug off the worst excesses of unruly children and big mileages is the Mitsubishi Grandis. Although it's only been on sale since 2004, dealers report few problems and strong demand. You may not find any super cheap bargains but you'll certainly find value for money.

Modelsword count: 16

Models Covered: Grandis MPV 2004 - To Date [2.4 petrol 2.0 diesel (Classic, Equippe, Elegance, Warrior)]

Historyword count: 193

You're probably used to Mitsubishi building rather square, uninteresting MPV style vehicles with names like the Space Wagon. The Grandis is rather different. Long, sleek and beautifully detailed, the Grandis has been marketed in Japan under the Space Wagon badge but UK imports finally got the nod in May 2004. First seen in Europe at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show and in the UK at the 2004 Birmingham Show, the Grandis created a stir but, unfortunately, Mitsubishi fell into a trap that really should be on page one of 'MPV Marketing 101'. They brought the Grandis into the country without offering a diesel-engined variant. With only a relatively thirsty 2.4-litre petrol engine on the books, most buyers instantly dismissed the Grandis as an interesting but ultimately impractical curio. The 2.0-litre DI-D diesel unit was added in July 2004 but by that time, the initial novelty had faded and Mitsubishi were forced to accept they'd missed the boat. That's something of a shame, as the Grandis has a lot to offer. If you can track one down it's well worth a place on your shortlist. Most buyers will never have even heard of it.

What You Getword count: 428

At 4,755mm long, the Grandis is a good 10cm longer than a Ford Galaxy. It's also a good deal narrower, its wasp-waisted 1,795mm width making it less broad in the beam than a Ford Fiesta. That swooping roofline also means that it's low slung, never reaching more than 1,655mm off the deck, making it low for an MPV. That's about 14cm lower than a Toyota Previa. If headroom in your garage is an issue but you need seven seats, the Grandis is an interesting option. It's not the only option, however, as Honda's even more compact and low-slung Stream also seats seven and offers sparkling driving characteristics. The Mitsubishi certainly scores over the Honda in terms of sheer space available inside and by the innovative nature of its seating arrangements. Their 'Hide & Seat' concept involves a rear row of seats that can be individually folded away into the floor in a simple operation that takes seconds. No longer will you have to fold and tumble seats, leaving ugly, greasy mechanisms exposed, nor will you need to risk a herniated disc by lugging these bulky units into the garage only for the cat to spend a penny on them whilst you're out. With the second and third row of seats folded in place, there's 1,545 litres of cargo capacity available. Park it in a salubrious inner city neighbourhood and you could almost rent it out as a studio flat. The third row of seats isn't just a crude bench as in most vehicles of this ilk. Both seats can be reversed to provide a rear facing vantage point - ideal when viewing an outdoor event as the rear tailgate provides an excellent rain shelter. What's more, both these seats can be individually reclined for additional comfort. What's less of a surprise is that the Grandis comes very well-equipped. Anti lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution and twin front and side airbags are fitted as standard to all models, although a black mark has to be awarded for only fitting curtain airbags for the first two rows of seats. Four trim levels are offered, Classic, Equippe, Elegance and Warrior, although such is the capricious nature of Mitsubishi's marketing effort in the UK that by the time of going to press, these models may well be named something completely different. The Classic includes 17-inch alloy wheels, a CD player, keyless entry and alarm, automatic air conditioning, front fog lamps, a rear spoiler, electronic door mirrors and a height adjustable drivers seat with armrest. That's a fair roster for an entry-level vehicle.

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