In European car terms, Ford's Galaxy and VW's Sharan are large MPVs, writes Brian Byrne. Or people carriers or minivans, whatever's your favourite flavour of the genre.
But they're small in relation to Chrysler's fourth generation Voyager. At more than 5.1 metres it is rather a family bus.
Which is fair enough, because the car is essentially designed for just that purpose. Mom's Taxi. The family fleet manager. Shifting the siblings from one social or sports event to another. All that in the good ol' USA.
Voyager as a working idea goes back to the 1980s in the US. A Plymouth model, with a Dodge equivalent, it was an unstylish but practical vehicle. As a Chrysler it was for sale outside the States. It is arguable that the original spawned the whole MPV idea, but there are counter arguments and we're not going into them here.
This fourth generation has actually been around in Europe for a few years, but is only launched in Ireland this month. That it is here is a consequence of Fiat taking a majority stake in Chrysler after Daimler cast it adrift. And there is a consequence to its late arrival which I'll come to.
In honesty, the current Voyager retains the original's DNA in that it is an unstylish but practical vehicle. Just a bigger one. It is, though, imposing. A large front end, thanks to an engine compartment capable of taking a hefty V6 or even more in its homeland. That length I mentioned. No attempt at looking cool at the expense of space for a full adult complement.
The review car was the top of the range Limited edition. So it had other imposing stuff. Like electric side doors and an electrically operated rear door. Also, electric switches to raise and stow the rear seats into the deep boot space.
It also features the 'Stow 'n' Go' foldaway individual middle pair of seats. These have a complex construction including internal hydraulics and springs to make it 'easy' to have them in use or under the floor. It takes a little practice, and maybe they should have talked to Opel about the simpler system they've had for years. But it does work. And I still have fingers.
The style of the inside is, well, American. And there's no getting away from it, it doesn't hack it with European levels of interior design or finish. But it is tough, will probably handle the wear and tear of long-term family transportation.
The Limited specification includes leather seats and other bits, Bluetooth and Chrysler's own very effective Uconnect system for infotainment. There are a pair of drop-down video screens to stall the 'are we there yet?' questions, for playing videos and with personal headphones for the viewers.
The powertrain in all three grades is the same. An MV Motori 2.8 diesel with 160hp on tap and all with a 6-speed autobox.
The efficiency isn't brilliant, but given that it is such a big car the estimated 33mpg equivalent from the diesel is reasonable. Actually, the latest Jeep models have MV Motori's much newer 2.8 and 3.0 four- and six-cylinder diesel units respectively and this car would benefit enormously from having either. But that's an issue of the fact that it is actually a relatively old model just launched here.
This older 2.8 is gruff enough, and not well matched to the autobox if you give it any welly. It doesn't compare to the newer engines I have driven in other applications, especially the 3.0 V6 in the Grand Cherokee. But it will do reliable duty for the kind of business which the Voyager will be about.
Don't expect dynamic driving. It is a car built for the lower speed limits and calmer progress of the American road trip, and also to absorb the potholes of the American city environment. Post Celtic Tiger Ireland offers some similar experience.
Look, the large MPV business in Ireland is now gone to tiny proportions, not least because there is an excellent variety of really good compact family and medium minivans around. Voyager has always done quite well on continental Europe, and will probaby continue to fill a niche performance there.
For Ireland? I guess the courtesy car for hotels is where it will do most business.
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