Test drive Chrysler Voyager 2000 - 2003
American heart
The word Voyager means a navigator, and Voyage is a trip on a ship or an airplane. In the automobile world, the name Voyager has long been a household name.In 19831984, many mini-wen class cars appeared on several continents almost simultaneously. In France, the release of Renault Espase, in Japan, Mitsubishi Chariot, in the United States Chrysler Voyager. As you know, in different countries, buyers impose various requirements for cars. Therefore, the first-generation mini-wenes differed significantly from each other in design and consumer qualities. In Europe, such machines are used mainly for traveling during summer vacations, respectively, the annual mileage is small, but at the same time they make increased requirements for the durability of the body, because it is assumed that these cars will use for many years. Therefore, Renault Espase, for example, installed plastic external panels that corrosion is not terrible. Mitsubishi Chariot differed from its competitors with technical perfection, modern engines provided him with the best dynamic characteristics and fuel economy in their class.
The inhabitants of the United States, even in everyday city operation, prefer spacious cars, so Chrysler Voyager significantly exceeded the sizes of the analogues of European and Japanese production. It differed from competitors with a spacious comfortable salon and a large luggage compartment. Time has shown that the American concept is the most correct: Chrysler Voyager and its modifications are successfully sold not only in the USA and Canada, but also in Europe. Every year, 500600 thousand new mini-wenes of this brand find buyers.
For more than twenty -odd years, several generations of Chrysler Voyager have changed, modern cars have little reminiscent of their predecessors. Moreover, from now on they are no longer Americans, but Europeans, because after creating the Daimlerchrysler corporation, all Voyager family cars produce in Austria. American -made machines of a similar design are now called Chrysler Town and Country. Various engines are installed on European and American versions, in addition, they differ from each other with a complete set.
So what to call the modern Chrysler Voyager European or American? In its concept, this mini-ven remained typically an American machine. In terms of dimensions, it significantly exceeds classmates. And his salon is the most spacious. At the same time, even in the seven -seater version there is a lot of space for baggage. From his predecessors, Chrysler Voyager inherited the sheepskin poker of the automatic gearbox selector. The suspension is also typically American, thanks to this, the car has high smoothness, but has a tendency to swing on an uneven road.
One of the long -standing traditions of the US automotive industry is the so -called model year, which, unlike the calendar, begins not in January, but earlier in September. If in Europe the model is restored once every four to five years, then in America, manufacturers almost every year make changes to the design, often quite significant. In this regard, Chrysler Voyager is not an exception. The 2004 models received updated bumper, radiator cladding and headlights. Noise insulation is significantly improved. A new complex of passive safety funds has been installed: belts with pretense, a traumatic steering column, the list also includes frontal, side and knee (for the driver) pillow of safety.
The recent Chrysler alliance with Daimler-Benz allowed to install the latest Mercedes turbodiesels on American cars. As a result, the consumer qualities of Chrysler Voyager have climbed a qualitatively new level, retaining their previous virtues. Mini-van has now become more speedy and economical. Since 2004, a 2.5-liter turbodiesel with a manual gearbox has been installed on European versions. On the 2005 models, a more powerful 2.8-liter motor with an automatic gearbox appeared. At the same time, the top version of Chrysler Grand Voyager is also updated, which differs from the basic model of an elongated wheelbase. From now on, the large navigator is equipped with the Stow`n Go system, which allows you to remove the seats of the second and third rows into the floor of the floor in a matter of seconds. As a result, an absolutely flat cargo platform is formed and the car can be used as a van.
Recently, Chrysler Grand Voyager with a new 2.8-liter turbodiesel appeared in Moscow car dealerships. Outwardly, this is a typical American mini-wen. The design of the machine turned out to be quite successful. Despite the large dimensions (length 5.096 m, width 1.997 m), it does not look bulky. The standard model has one of the most spacious salons in its class. And Grand, the length of which is almost 0.3 m larger, has no analogues in the European market. A real small -sized apartment! Compared to the luxurious Grand Voyager chairs, the seats of many other classmates seem stool. If possible, transforming the salon to a large sailor also has no equal. In total, 256 different options for the location of the seats are provided. The seats can be expanded by 90 or 180 degrees, folded, removed to the floor or completely dismantled.
The Mercedes turbodiesel completely changed the character of the machine. Although a typically American four -band machine operate far from perfectly, now its disadvantages have become almost invisible, because with a motor that has a torque of 360 nm at 1.82.6 thousand rpm, there is no need to do in a modern gearbox, since one can do it alone -At the speeds forward and reverse. Grand Voyager has good dynamic characteristics for machines: the maximum speed is 182 km/h, acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 12 s. However, at high speeds, the shortcomings of a typically American soft suspension become noticeable, the body begins to swing, the control accuracy worsens. In general, he does not like a large navigator to rush headlong through the autobahns in nature, he will be more suitable for a calm driver. With a steppe driving, a soft suspension does not transmit strokes to the body, the engine in the cabin is almost inaudible, even on our, far from perfect roads, Grand Voyager is very smooth. At the same time, he consumes a recordly small amount of fuel compared to analogues (6.7 liters on the highway, 11.5 liters in the city, 8.5 l in a mixed cycle). But in the past, the poor fuel efficiency of Chrysler Grand Voyager was considered its main drawback. That's what modern diesel means!
The model with such characteristics will surely be interesting to many customers. Thanks to low operating costs, the car is effective in everyday operation, but is well suited for long -distance travel. A comfortable salon will save on the night in the hotel. Grand Voyager will become an ideal vehicle for organizations. The car can be used as an office on wheels, to meet delegations, and if necessary, it is really converted into a van in a matter of seconds.
The basic complex of mini-wen with a 2.8-liter turbodiesel and an automatic gearbox is frontal airbags, lateral airbags for all three rows, an inflatable driver’s overlay, two-zone climate control, ABS, a power steering, adjustable steering column, ceiling, ceiling console with an on-board computer, fog lights, a central locking castle, immobilizer, AM/FM/CD audio system with six speakers, electric front door glasses and rear windows, electric trigger mirrors, trunk doors, cruise control, parking Roof trunk, heat -insulating glass, leather interior.
In Russia, such a Grand Voyager costs 41.9 thousand euros, which, in our opinion, is very little for a seven -seater car with unique capabilities. In terms of the cost of the business class, they offer a car that surpasses any limousine in comfort, is able to compete with the van in terms of body volume, but at the same time it consumes fuel no more than the usual low-profile.
If you select a five -seater Grand Voyager, you can save 620 euros. But the six -seater option, oddly enough, is more expensive than the basic version of 550 euros.
The basic equipment is quite rich, so the options for Grand Voyager offer a little: tinted glass (620 euros), AM/FM/CD radio with a CD changer (400 euros), AM/FM/CD radio with a navigation system (2.31 thousand (2.31 thousand . euro), six discs in the dashboard (520 euros), chrome wheeled wheels (900 euros).
In addition, all cars sold by official dealers are applied to a two -year guarantee without mileage restriction.
The editors thanks the Major Auto car dealership for the car provided.
