Chrysler invented the people carrier in 1983 when it launched the Voyager, so it knows a thing or two about making MPVs. While some rivals are better all-rounders, when it comes to all-out practicality, little can touch the cavernous Grand Voyager. Even with all seats in place there’s a 756-litre boot; fold the various chairs flat and this jumps to a huge 3,296 litres, making even the biggest estate car seem small. Buy a Grand Voyager with the neat Stow ‘n’ Go system, which adds a DVD-based entertainment system and centre seats that can swivel through 180 degrees, and you’ve got the perfect family carry-all. But running costs can be high and reliability can be poor, so buy with care.

Key dates

2/08: The fifth-generation Grand Voyager reaches UK showrooms, with 3.8 V6 petrol or 2.8 CRD diesel engines and seating for seven. 

5/09: The Special Edition celebrates 25 years of the Voyager (a year late); just 100 were made, each with leather trim, DVD player and metallic paint. 

7/10: Revisions cut CO2 emissions and fuel consumption by 10%. Anti-whiplash head restraints are now standard too. 

7/11: A facelift brings revised lights, badging and grille along with improved seating and extra standard equipment. At the same time, the petrol engine is dropped.

Checklist

• Diesel-powered models are thirsty; petrol editions are very costly to run.
• All cars have powered side doors and tailgate as standard; the former can sometimes open for no reason.
• The paint gets chipped around the sat-nav screen, making the dash look tatty.
• Base models don’t get parking sensors as standard, yet they’re essential.
• The brakes have to work hard and can wear quickly, so check the discs and pads aren’t tired.
• Make sure all the electrical items work, such as central locking, windows, seats, doors and lights; these can all be unreliable.
• The quality of some interior plastics isn’t great, so look for marks in the fittings, and broken trim.
• The paintwork gets damaged easily, with the sills and leading edge of the bonnet the most likely to chip.

We like

• Space
• Practicality
• Comfort
• Refinement
• Equipment levels

We don’t like

• High running costs
• Poor build quality
• Heavy depreciation
• Chrysler defunct in the UK
• Poor safety rating
• Mediocre to drive

Richard Dredge