Mitsubishi Grandis test drive since 2004 minivan

Grand Tourism

The modern car should be beautiful. Moreover, it is desirable that the modern car is spectacular. To judge by appearance, so the utilitarian classes no longer exist. The design in almost every new development becomes the cornerstone. Just a few years ago, the appearance of a serial Japanese mini-wen, similar to Grandis, would become a sensation. Today it is the norm of life.


The capacity, suitability for distant travels, versatility, practicality ... Boring. Pedantically checking the mini-wen for compliance with these everyday qualities, the future owner makes a choice in favor of a particular model. In the case of Grandis, the usual algorithm risks crumbling, because you can easily fall in love with this car. She is beautiful and spectacular.


The design of the novelty from Mitsubishi is currently represented by one of the most successful in this segment. Grandis was created when Olivier Bula still worked in Mitsubishi. The style that the Frenchman was instilled and seemed to have successfully instilled in the brand, achieved the most vivid incarnation in the new mini-owan. The car turned out to be incredibly dynamic, proportional and luxurious. As they say, it looks like all the money. Mini-wen-had-Turner! You are attracting such attention to others, as if traveling on a red sports compartment, and not on a spacious cargo -passenger minibus, albeit a new model. I am sure that with the predecessor Grandis Space Wagon, such a number would not have passed.


Not surprising. In the mid-90s, when Space Wagon was created, the creators paid the main attention to the technical filling. In particular, the economical and environmentally friendly GDI motor with direct injection. The design then remained in the background. With Grandis, the opposite is true.

In what perspective do not take a look, whatever lighting, no turn on Grandis is extraordinary and convincing. This grinning anime-physinomy of the transformer robot, these plastic elegant sides ... and the rear lights? Only Cadillac SRX can contrast Grandis in this nomination. An important detail 17-inch wheels with rubber dimension 215/55. A successful profile for our tired roads.

After this beginning, I want the corresponding continuation inside. I carefully open the driver's door. The interior harmonizes well with the appearance, but here the car no longer pulls perfectly in all the parameters without exception. The salon is quite stylish and interesting. The central console has rounded shapes, a small automatic transmission selector is located in a tide, and not on the floor. The convenience of such a layout, however, only one should not pull the hand. But moving from a chair to a chair, contrary to expectations, is not so simple. The legs are stuck between the base of the front panel and the console, and traces of shoes remain on a light gray sheathing. What did you fight for?


It's time to touch the plastic kingdom with your hands. Does everything look expensive, but to the touch? To the touch, not a single soft texture, except for the steering wheel sheathed with leather, a gearbox selector, handles and seats. Everywhere is firm and echoing, if you knock. However, why knock? For an office or traveling car, Soft-Look is enough. But the inserts under the tree are a clear puncture. Why simulate a plywood? But in general, a beautiful salon, and looks good. Yes, they saved something in some ways, but no one will suffer much from this. In addition, everyone remembers the financial problems that Mitsubishi has recently posed.


In the top complexation, which we met, the car is equipped with two hatches. Luxuriously! But here there was a place to save. The one above the driver has a mechanical drive clicked on the button, pushed up, something like this. As compensation, aerodynamic noises at high speeds and the automatic closure function. At a speed of 135 km/h, the hatch slammed shut independently and without warnings. Enough, they say.


The interior highlight was discovered when I turned the ignition key. The backlighting devices is another greetings from the car elite. Or, conversely, hello them from Grandis. First, red arrows light up, then, in two stages, gray-blue backlight. Class! Lexus, say, Mercedes-Benz? Mitsubishi! The eyes do not strain at all, all the information is perfectly read at any time of the day.
 

I try to arrange it conveniently in the driver's seat, its 190 cm of height. We have to use all the proposed adjustments. In Grandis, their standard set (back, back and forth, the height of the position of the chair), and, unfortunately, it is not enough. In particular, the range in height had a higher range of the chair was higher than they wanted. I had to compensate for this, setting the steering wheel. And then also the knees half -cross of the console rested. It is good that the box is an automatic pedal node, by the way, convenient, the site in the corner allows the leg to rest normally.


The second row of seats in this configuration are two separate chairs, almost like ahead (a standard three -seater sofa is offered in the basic configuration). You can adjust the position of the back and pillows. Theoretically, it should be convenient on long trips. Let's check it! In addition to the electric hatch, there are other elements of luxury. For example, tables with gas underputs. Very reliable, but the size, alas, is small. For a dozen rolls and a pair of land, there will be enough traditional Russian treats. If the driver is in a good mood, he will probably turn on ventilation for the rear passengers. The air comes from deflectors in the ceiling. Moreover, it is brought even to the third row.
 

By the way, about the gallery. In appearance, the usual cargo compartment mini-wen. But it is enough to pull for two ropes, and in a matter of seconds a flat surface turns into two chairs, forming a small cozy sofa together. Immediately find armrests and cup holders, which before that it was simply difficult to pay attention to. The third hatch, of course, is not, but ventilation helps out. The trunk, however, is completely absent with the rear seats. But it turned out to sit together with a 190 cm height (not for two). And, you know, quite! The head, however, rests on the roof, but not everyone is so high.


You can practice the transformation further. For example, make a seat from the back row for a fisherman. The sofa turns back until the back becomes a pillow, and vice versa. We pass back to the reservoir and, hanging our legs, fish. From the rain, the raised back door will protect.


Planting on the third row is almost different back in the three-door hatchback of golf class. The only difference is to climb above. How much cargo can be taken away? Not an idle question, even given the design of this mini-wen. Enough! The middle row of seats, oddly enough, is not removed from the car at all, but is folded, but the place is released decently.


Under the hood of Grandis, a completely combat -ready motor of 2.4 liters equipped with a MIVEC system. This is the only motor offered for a car neither GDI nor diesel is provided. The engine is both moment and steep, it produces 165 hp. At 6000 revolutions and 217 Nm at 4000 revolutions. The automatic box is four-speed, with the possibility of manual gear shifts. Being adaptive, she willingly adapts to your driving manner and, after a short addiction, demonstrates logical work. For example, if you need to take a quick start, the gas pedal must be pressed to the stop, and then the automatic transmission will allow the tachometer arrow to approach close to the red zone, switching at the very last moment. You can make the box switch up before, slightly releasing the gas pedal. Kikdown also works quite predictable. The transition to a reduced gear occurs only after a small delay for promoting the engine. The machine can be called somewhat thoughtful, but in general, I liked its work with the engine. The car is quite dynamic in the city stream, and on the highway it quickly goes to the cruising 180 km/h. True, the engine is noisy. The angry notes in his voice when reaching peak revolutions do not fit slightly with the Grandis image.


We wound up plenty around the city on Friday and Saturday, and Sunday decided to spend on studying Grandis capabilities in terms of travel. They made a voyage in the Moscow region the village of Petrovskoye, Narofominsky district, then the route started us to Mozhaisk, then Borodino, Ruza, and the return to the capital for the Novorizhsk highway surprisingly unloaded for the September Sunday evening. In total, about 500 km has been passed, so some conclusions can be made.


There were four adults in the cabin. The front passenger felt most comfortable. Those who were sitting from behind had no complaints about landing and ergonomics, but complained of motion sickness when passing at a high speed of gentle road waves. As a driver, I can say that during the time spent at the wheel (with small stops to rest), the back is a little tired. Probably a non -optimal landing affected.


I liked the setting of the chassis. Grandis suspension is quite energy -intensive, elastic. The car tenaciously and reliably holds a direct trajectory, not a spine and not requiring steering. Judging by the sensations, the energetic appearance of the machine is accompanied by good aerodynamic indicators (the mentioned noisy hatch does not count). With an increase in speed, the car is pressed against the roadway and behaves so predictably that the real feeling of speed is lost. It seems that we go along the speedometer one hundred and eighty, and in the sensations no more than a hundred forty. Grandis rather confidently prescribes long high -speed turns, the steering wheel is filled with a distinct feedback. But in a city where the turns is cooler and the speed lower, the bank of the car seems empty. However, the average buyer, for whom the novelty is designed, will probably not find what to complain about in terms of controllability. The brakes were pleased with the efficiency and the convenience of deceleration. Everything is in order here. But you will have to park according to it. The car is rather big, the head restraints is the picket fence. It is strange that parking sensors do not appear even in the list of additional equipment. The cost of a Japanese miracle of design thought starts from a mark of about $ 31,000. The version, which visited the test, is equipped almost to the maximum and pulls by $ 36,000 with a tail. This is a completely competitive price if you study the offers for machines of this class (Renault Espace, VW Sharan, Ford Galaxy, Chrysler Voyager, Peugeot 807, Citroen C8, Hon da Stream). Other things being equal for Mitsubishi plays a magnificent design out of a number of utilitarian vehicles.

 
Leonty Tyutelev
 

Source: Motor magazine [October 2004]