Chrysler Grand Voyager (2008 – 2015) Review
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Chrysler Grand Voyager (2008 – 2015) At A Glance
Large and comfortable with generous space for seven passengers. Excellent Stow & Go seats that fold flat into the floor. Well equipped as standard.
Nearly 17 feet long so can be tricky to park and manouevre. Some of the interior feels a little cheap considering the price tag. Better in the back than behind the wheel.
Proper, full-sized people carriers are becoming a rare thing, but the Chrysler Grand Voyager retains the old-school theory of MPVs - it's large, comfortable and immensely spacious. Of course, focussing on those strengths has its downsides, not least in terms of looks and handling, but the Chrysler Grand Voyager isn't designed to be thrown around corners - instead it's the perfect car for larger families.
The seven-seat Grand Voyager now sits in a small but definite market niche for plush, big people carriers. It's the sort of thing well-heeled families might buy instead of a 4x4 or a big estate. It's also aimed at chauffeur and private hire companies who employ cars like this use to flog around town or ferry business types from airports to hotels and conferences.
This version is much squarer and sharper than the previous model, but there are the familiar Chrysler styling touches including a large grill but while it's big, it manages not to look too bulky. Inside there's acres of space and you can easily fit in seven adults with decent room for all. Most models come with the 2.8 CRD diesel which is strong, if not especially refined.
But the Chrysler Grand Voyager really excels in terms of praticality. All the rear seats can be individually folded away into the floor and don't have to be removed like other MPVs such as the Renault Espace. This allows you to maximise either luggage or passenger space - or have a mix of both.
It's a shame that some of the interior looks a little low-rent, especially noticeable from behind the wheel where there are some rather flimsy switches - you'd expect more given the not inconsiderable price tag. But for the rear seating system alone, the Chrysler Grand Voyager is one of the best large MPVs around.
Reviews for Chrysler Grand Voyager (2008 – 2015)'s top 3 rivals
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Chrysler Grand Voyager (2008 – 2015) handling and engines
- Engines range from 2.8 CRD to 3.8 V6
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 24–33 mpg
The Grand Voyager comes with either a 2.8-litre CRD diesel engine or a 3.8-litre V6 petrol but as you'd imagine, the latter only accounts for a handful of cars. It's the CRD that most people choose as it offers relatively affordable running costs with an average fuel economy figure of 30.4mpg, compared to just 23mpg with the V6.
Both have a six-speed automatic gearbox (with a manual override) that works unobtrusively bar a very slight surging sensation around town. The engine is willing and provides plenty of low speed pulling power and punts the car along decently the rest of the time. It's a bit vocal under hard acceleration, but has that diesel knack of quietening right down on motorways. It will accelerate from 0-62mph in a respectable 12.8 seconds but be warned that CO2 emissions of 247g/km mean car tax won't be cheap.
On the road the Grand Voyager is capable and comfortable. It rides very well, steers accurately enough and doesn't roll too much, although with a full load of passengers and luggage on board, you won't relish country lanes. The sheer size of the Grand Voyager can make parking it a challenge too and although visibility is pretty good, tight manouevres can take a while. It's far happier on the motorway where it feels relaxed and smooth.
Chrysler has focussed on safety too. Hardly unsurprising given that the previous model has an appalling safety rating with just a one star crash safety rating from Euro NCAP. This model comes loaded with safety kit, including a plethora of anti lock-brake and traction control systems plus an array of airbags, including two big, side curtain bags. It's not been crash tested yet, but it should perform far better than its predecessor.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8 CRD | 34–36 mpg | 12.8 s | 207–222 g/km |
| 3.8 V6 | 23 mpg | 12.6 s | 294 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Chrysler Grand Voyager (2008 – 2015)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
83%
Real MPG
24–33 mpg
MPGs submitted
20
Chrysler Grand Voyager (2008 – 2015) interior
- Boot space is 756–3296 litres
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 5143–5218 mm |
| Width | 1953–1954 mm |
| Height | 1816–1818 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3078 mm |
The Grand Voyager is a good example of a well-thought out, family-friendly people carrier. The two rows of rear seats collapse directly into big floor recesses that have folding covers and work as storage areas when the seats are in place. Chrysler calls this system Stow ‘n Go and there are no other seating systems as easy to use or as useful on any other car.
As a result, you don't have to haul out hefty seats to create load space and folding the rear seats is a doddle too. With all the seats down, boot space increased to a huge 3296 litres and it's the ease and speed of the system that impresses.
All the seats can be slid forward and back while legroom is superb too - the second row offers 750mm while the rearmost seats boast 790mm. There's even underfloor storage areas. The third row is a little cramped with three side by side but it's far from claustrophobic and boot space is another strong point with 756 litres. Handily the back seats can also be reversed by flipping them over - useful if you want to have a picnic in comfort and under the cover of the tailgate. A Swivel 'n Go system, which features two swivelling captain's chairs in the second row, is available as a £750 option.
The driving environment is much better than the old model. It's still not perfect - some of the plastics feel a little brittle, it feels cramped and few people will be fans of the naff wood trim. There's also still no reach adjustment on the steering wheel and no rest for your left foot - annoying on long journeys.
And as for the way all this is built, well this car is an American consumer durable, which means there's a mild but tangible cheapness about some of the materials and elements of its detailing.
This doesn't make the Grand Voyager badly made, but the way it's screwed together doesn't have the classiness Audi or even Toyota owners might expect. A relatively high mileage driver who switched cars every three or four years probably wouldn't care, but anyone driving a Grand Voyager in the middle of the next decade might see it starting to fray a little at the edges.
Still, the car will have plenty of toys to take their minds off the odd wobbly bit of plastic. There are so many to mention but the tailgate is electric, as are the sliding rear side doors, which have the novelty of electric windows that go all the way down. Rear passengers can control their own climate and the various in car entertainment systems should keep the most fractious family entertained. The optional twin folding rear video screens can show different movies or games.
Chrysler Grand Voyager (2008 – 2015) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 5143–5218 mm |
| Width | 1953–1954 mm |
| Height | 1816–1818 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3078 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 2230–2305 kg |
| Boot Space | 756–3296 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
| Servicing | 7500–12500 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £28,245–£36,325 |
| Insurance Groups | 11–34 |
| Road Tax Bands | K–M |
| Official MPG | 23.0–35.8 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | - |
On sale until December 2017
| Large MPV | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.8 CRD Limited Auto 5dr | £36,325 | 35.8 mpg | 12.8 s |
| 2.8 CRD SE Auto 5dr | £28,325 | 35.8 mpg | 12.8 s |
| 2.8 CRD SR Auto 5dr | £30,325 | 35.8 mpg | 12.8 s |
On sale until October 2015
| MPV | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.8 CRD Limited 178 5dr Auto | £36,310 | 35.8 mpg | 12.8 s |
| 2.8 CRD SE 178 5dr Auto | £28,310 | 35.8 mpg | 12.8 s |
| 2.8 CRD SR 178 5dr Auto | £30,310 | 35.8 mpg | 12.8 s |
On sale until December 2012
| People Carrier | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 2.8 CRD LX 5dr Auto | £28,245 | 33.6 mpg | 12.8 s |
| 2.8 CRD Touring 5dr Auto | £30,245 | 33.6 mpg | 12.8 s |
On sale until November 2010
| People Carrier | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 3.8 V6 Limited 5dr Auto | £35,495 | 23.0 mpg | 12.6 s |
Model History
- February 2008: All-new seven seat Chrysler Grand Voyager goes on sale
- July 2011: 2011 Model Year Voyager introduced
February 2008
All-new seven seat Chrysler Grand Voyager goes on sale
Updated range of petrol and diesel engines and more than 30 new features. These include heated first and second row seats, rear-view interior conversation mirror, a removable torch in the rear quarter panel, electric windows in the power sliding second-row doors, movable LED reading lamps and automatic three-zone climate control for all passengers.
To keep passengers entertained, optional dual-DVD system with two screens so second-row passengers can play a game or watch a different film from those in the third row. The MyGIG infotainment system offers MP3 player compatibility, a touch screen and voice-controlled navigation system as well being able to store up to approximately 1600 songs on an integrated 20GB hard drive.
Safety equipment includes traction control and ESP, tyre-pressure monitoring, front and all-row side-curtain airbags, as well as seven full-size seats with fixings for three Isofix child seats all come as standard across the range. Big: 5,094mm (16' 9") c 1,997mm (6' 7"). Weighs a hefty 2,118kg.
Stow ‘n Go seating and storage system means the Grand Voyager can be transformed from a seven-passenger people carrier to a two-person cargo vehicle in less than 30 seconds. And because all of the seats store in the floor you don’t have to struggle to pull the seats out or find space in the garage to store them.
Chrysler will also be offering the Swivel ‘n Go seating as an option for the first time on the Grand Voyager Limited. This features second-row covered floor storage bins and second-row quad seats that swivel 180 degrees to face rearward for conversational seating. A removable table fits between the second and third rows. A one-touch power-stowing third-row seat with power recline can be adjusted into four different positions with a single push of a button.
The Chrysler Grand Voyager is available with six-speed automatic transmission and either a 3.8-litre V6 engine with 193bhp and 305Nm of torque or a 2.8-litre diesel engine with 163bhp and 360 Nm of torque at 1800 rpm (30.4mpg combined and 247g/km C02). Three equipment levels – LX, Touring and Limited will be available.
On sale from 1st May 2009 and with only 100 models available, the 25th Anniversary Grand Voyager is priced at £32,600 on-the-road. Interior equipment includes leather upholstery, dual screen rear DVD entertainment system and satellite navigation including uconnect phone with voice recognition. The exterior equipment features xenon headlamps, chrome mesh grille, LED daytime running lights, revised lower front fascia, special paint and badging and an engraved commemorative keyring. Powered by a 2.8 diesel engine, it provides acceleration from 0-62mph in 12.8 seconds plus a top speed of 115mph, with a combined fuel consumption figure of 30.4 mpg.
July 2011
2011 Model Year Voyager introduced
It carries Chrysler’s new winged badge, but that’s not the only change made to the 2011 model year Grand Voyager. The latest in a long line of luxury people carriers – Chrysler invented the MPV in 1983 and has since sold more than 13 million examples – has been given a raft of enhancements for the model year change.
Most notable is the new, more premium looking front end, featuring a revised grille, bonnet and lower fascia. It’s the first Chrysler model to adopt the new winged badge. The seven-seater’s rear gets enhanced LED tail lamps, new rear bumper and revised tailgate.
There is also the new Stow ‘n Place roof rack system, standard on Touring and Limited models. Stow ‘n Place offers the added convenience of allowing the vehicle’s roof crossbars to be stowed longitudinally alongside the roof rails when not in use.
Inside, the new Grand Voyager has improved Stow ‘n Go seating. Since November 2004, Chrysler has led the market with this award-winning, never-copied, feature. For 2011, the new second row Stow ‘n Go seats are larger, more comfortable captain’s chairs, which feature a new ‘fold-into-the-floor’ one-touch mechanism. The system automatically drops the head rest and tumbles the seat forward, ready to be stowed – all with just one lever.
The interior of the 2011MY Grand Voyager also benefits from the introduction of new features. Specifically for the entry LX model, there’s a new leather wrapped steering wheel, steering wheel audio controls and cruise control as standard.
Touring models benefit from the addition of Uconnect Phone bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, auto dimming rear view mirror, AM/FM/CD/DVD radio with a 6.5-inch touch screen, 30GB hard disk drive and rear reversing camera. Limited models also receive blind spot monitoring, crosspath detection and new Nappa leather upholstery.
All Grand Voyagers are powered by a 2.8-litre CRD diesel engine producing 161bhp at 3800rpm and 265lb ft of torque. This gives the people carrier a 0-62mph time of 12.8 seconds and a top speed of 115mph. Yet the car can return 33.6mpg (combined) fuel economy, and has a CO2 figure of 222g/km.
| LX | £27,995 |
| Touring | £29,995 |
| Limited | £35,995 |
What to watch out for
Very heavy on brakes. On one reader's car t he front discs and pads needed replacing in the first 12 months at 15,800 miles, then needed changing again at 18 months and 28,000 miles together with the rear discs and pads.
03-02-2012:In T.S.B. 17-003-11 issued on 22-11-2011, Chrysler said noise over bumps at low speeds was most likely to come from the rear shock absorbers. (Source: New York Times Automobiles.)
14-02-2013:Corrosion problem on leading edge of bonnet. Seems that the paint is thin, stone chips allow moisture behind the paint and they suffer from bubbling. FIAT refuses to do anything about it, as outside the 3 year paint warranty.
23-11-2014:Combined satnav, radio, DCD player and Bluetooth on 2009 Chrysler Grand Voyager failed. Dealer offered to fit an exchange unit for £425.
20-01-2015:Not completely dead because it sometimes fires up. Will also power up then freeze with the controls (soft touch keys) still showing.
