MPV Search: Chrysler Grand Voyager

When I started my search for a family MPV, I had originally shortlisted the Dodge Caravan. When I dropped by the Dodge showroom, they were clearing stock as apparently due to a consolidation of dealerships, Dodge was now also represented by Chrysler dealers. As a result, the former exclusive distributor for Dodge in Shenzhen had given up their representation of the Dodge brand and was dumping their remaining inventories at cost. This was great news, but there was a snag. There was no vehicle available for test drive. Thankfully, the Dodge Caravan is also badge engineered as a Chrysler Grand Voyager and a Mercury Villager.As such, I dropped by the Chrysler showroom and checked out the Chrysler Grand Voyager.


Image taken from Chrysler China

The Chrysler clearly meets my requirements:

1. Sliding doors on both sides are electronic and maybe remotely opened using the electronic key.
2. Five star rating on NHTSA for safety, although it appears to overly protect the driver and not the passengers. I mean, here is a car that has airbags for the driver's knees! But, Chrysler neglected the passengers at the back, only offering airbags for the driver and front row passenger. So that, to me, is a big minus. However, I must add that most of the MPVs that I am looking at also do not offer the side passenger air bags.
   
3. The interior is very comfortable and roomy, especially the middle row with two captain style armchairs that offer a decent amount of support and comfort. The party piece for the Chrysler is the Stow 'n Go option which offers tons of storage options all over the passenger section that allows you to put things out of sight and arrange the seats in all sorts of configurations to suit your needs. I was particularly impressed with the ability to store the middle and back rows so that the entire floor is flat for hauling large items. A big plus. DVD with an LCD screen for the middle row is also offered as standard in the higher priced option.
4. The car is quite large and I am certain I could find some parts to modify it. However, if the ride is good enough, I may not necessarily need to modify the car. I will need to road test the car to find out.
   

Specifications:
Engine: 3.3l V6
Power: 128Kw (174hp) @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 278 Nm @ 4000 rpm
Top Speed: 179 Km/h
Gas consumption: not reported
Gas tank: 76l
Dimensions: 5096mm long x 1997mm wide x 1803mm high

And on to the test drive.