SA Road Tests

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This is the home of automobile road tests in South Africa. We drive South African cars, SUVs and LCVs under South African conditions. It also just happens that most of the vehicles we drive are world cars as well, so what you read here possibly applies to the models you can get at home.

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* Please note that prices quoted are those in effect at the time the vehicle was tested

2009 Chrysler Grand Voyager Limited

An upmarket family bus

A recent survey published in the UK determined that the items highest on women’s motoring wish lists were:
• Satellite navigation, 30%
• A decent music system with MP3/iPod connectivity, 17%
• Climate control, 15%
• A sunroof, parking sensors and an infotainment system were also there, but numbers weren’t given.
Fewer than ten percent listed environmental issues or fuel economy as major concerns. So much for: “As long as it gets me from A to B”,  “I am a bunny hugger” and other feminine stereotypes then, but I digress.

The Chrysler Grand Voyager we spent a while getting to know recently, comes with the above “must haves” and excellent safety credentials as well.  

The list includes ABS, brake assist, electronic stability program, traction control, multistage airbags, constant force seatbelt retractors with load limiting, child seat anchors, child protection rear door locks, enhanced accident response system (switches lights on and unlocks doors to make it easier for rescue personnel to get to you after an accident of bag-deploying severity), auto reverse widows and sliding doors and rollover sensors.

There are 40 features in all. I don’t want to bore you and most would like me to write the definitive motoring article in 50 words or fewer, so you will just have to go to the agents if you want a full list.

All these earned the Grand Voyager five stars in US government tests for front and side impacts and a “good” rating (read top marks) in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s frontal offset- and side crashworthiness tests. A point to consider is that US testers slam American-sized missiles into their test cars, unlike the Europeans who use smaller objects.

It also earned International Car of the Year awards for “Best SUV” and a “Best Interior” trophy at the 2008 Ward’s Interiors show

Favourite party tricks of the Grand Voyager include push-button operated rear and side doors, a third row of seats that tucks itself away or turns to face rearwards at your command and the ability to fold both second row seats into the floor. The latter has to be done manually though - most inconsiderate.

A R9 900 option allows second row seats to be swivelled around to face the third row and to have a small table inside as well. This would be nice for family togetherness on camping trips or picnics, or possibly as a mobile office.

The version we tested was fitted with a 3,8 litre V6 developing 142 kW at 5 200 rpm and 305 Nm at 4 000 rpm, but a 2,8 litre common rail turbo-diesel is also available. The only transmission offered is a six-speed automatic with “Tiptronic” option.

We found performance quite satisfactory for what this is, a big comfortable family bus without sporting pretensions. On the same note, road holding and handling was on the same level as most other big SUVs, double cabs and the like – not iconic, but up to what would reasonably be expected. Parking is also surprisingly easy.

Manufacturer’s performance figures are quoted as 12,6 seconds for the 0 to 100 run with a maximum speed of 190 km/h. Car magazine’s fuel index is 15,2 l/100 km, which is in the same league as other big people carriers.  

Considering that the Grand Voyager offers a comprehensive list of safety and convenience features and is pretty much in a class of its own, the asking price of R 399 900 for the Limited edition is probably competitive, so our gripes about fit and finish (we rate the interior as B plus) and the gear stick (bit short and too far away) could be seen as churlish. At this price level, though, it might be better for Chrysler to charge a bit more and fix these minor details on what is actually a very nice upmarket family bus.

Prices:
3,8 litre LX auto        R329 900
2,8 litre CRD LX auto        R369 900
3,8 litre Limited auto        R399 900
2,8 litre CRD limited auto    R439 900

Maintenance plan: 3 years/100 000 km

 What We Do

This is a one-man show, which means that road test cars entrusted to me are driven only by me. Some reviewers hand test cars over to their partners to use as day-to-day transport and barely experience them for themselves.

What this means to you is that every car reviewed is given my own personal evaluation and receives my own seat of the pants judgement - no second hand input here.

Every car goes through real world testing; on city streets littered with potholes, speed bumps and rumble strips, on freeways and if its profile demands, dirt roads as well.

I am based in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, South Africa. This is the hub of the KZN Midlands farming community; the place farmers go to in order to buy their supplies and equipment, truck their goods to market, send their kids to school and visit to kick back and relax.  So occasionally a cow, a goat or a horse may add a little local colour by finding its way into the story or one of the pictures. It's all part of the ambience!

Comments?

Want to ask a question, comment or just tell me you thoroughly disagree with what I say? That's your privilege, because if everybody agreed on everything, the world would be a boring place. All I ask is that you remain calm, so please blow off a little steam before venting too vigorously. Email me from here

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