Chrysler Voyager


The Chrysler Voyager, or Chrysler Grand Voyager, is a minivan manufactured by Chrysler. For most of its existence, vehicles bearing the "Chrysler Voyager" nameplate have been sold exclusively outside the United States, primarily in Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
The Voyager was introduced in Europe in 1988 as a rebadged version of the Dodge Caravan sold in the United States, and has evolved with the Caravan, Plymouth Voyager, and Chrysler Town & Country since. Vehicles bearing the Chrysler Voyager nameplate were marketed in the United States from 2001 to 2003 as a rebadged version of the short-wheelbase variant of the Plymouth Voyager following the 2001 folding of the Plymouth division of DaimlerChrysler AG.
Together with its nameplate variants, the Chrysler minivans have ranked as the 13th bestselling automotive nameplate worldwide, with over 12 million sold.
The European Chrysler Voyager was first released in 1988, nearly identical to its American counterpart, the Dodge Caravan; the only visual differences between the two were the head/taillights and grille. Besides the slightly different appearance, the European Voyagers were sold with different engines, including diesel engines, which are popular in Europe; and the trim was different. They were also available with manual transmission and a foot-operated emergency brake.
The last European Chrysler Grand Voyagers are very similar to the 2008 and later Chrysler Town & Country cars, and were sold only in the long-wheelbase version.
Although now produced solely in Ontario, Canada, the Grand Voyagers were still available with diesel engines as standard. These diesel engines are based on a modern double overhead cam common rail design from VM Motori of Italy.
Following the fifth generation, the Grand Voyager nameplate was discontinued in all markets. However, in 2019, FCA announced that the Voyager nameplate will return for the 2020 model year as a separate nameplate for low-end Pacifica models, and that it would replace the long-running Dodge Grand Caravan as FCA's lower-end minivan. Canadian models kept the Pacifica nameplate for 2020, but will be rebadged as Chrysler Grand Caravan for the 2021 model year.

First generation (1988–1990)

1988–1990 models sold in Europe were Dodge Caravans rebranded as Chryslers. In America, the Caravan was sold alongside a similar Plymouth Voyager counterpart. Europe's Chrysler Voyager was nearly identical to the American Dodge Caravan except that a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the 3.3 L Chrysler EGA V6 were never made available.

Engines

Introduced for the 1991 model year, the Chrysler Voyager in Europe continued to be identical to the Dodge Caravan in the United States except that the 3.8 L V6 was not available for the Chrysler Voyager. This would be the final generation available with a manual transmission. A 2.5 L turbo diesel four-cylinder engine produced by VM Motori was made available beginning in 1994. There were also military modifications available for the Voyager in South Africa, which included large fuel tanks available in 240 and 360-liter capacities.

Engines

The 1996–1999 models in Mexico are rebadged Dodge Caravans, although the Caravan was sold alongside the Voyager. For 2000, the Chrysler Voyager was identical to the Plymouth Voyager except that the 3.8 L V6 was not available. Base models of the Voyager were offered in most states with either a 2.4 L four-cylinder or a 3.0 L Mitsubishi V6 engine, except in California and several northeastern states, where the Mitsubishi V6 didn't meet emissions standards. In those locales, the 3.3 L engine was offered instead.
For the European market, Voyagers continued to be rebadged Caravans. Unique to this market were 2.0 L Straight-4 SOHC and DOHC engines and 2.5 L turbo diesel produced by VM Motori. European market vans also came with manual transmissions and in a six-passenger model with six captains chairs, not available elsewhere.

Engines

According to EuroNCAP crash test results, the 1999 model Chrysler Voyager did so badly in the frontal impact that it earned no points, making it the worst of the group. The body structure became unstable and the steering column was driven back into the driver's chest and head'. The 2007 model Chrysler Voyager fared little better, achieving just 19% in the frontal impact test, with an overall score of 2 stars out of a possible 5. However, chest compression measurements on the test dummy 'indicated an unacceptably high risk of serious or fatal injury. As a result, the final star in the adult occupant rating is struck-through'.
Despite the bad results in the Euro NCAP crash tests, statistics from the real world indicate that this is not the whole picture. Folksam is a Swedish insurance company that in May 2009 published a report on injuries and survivability of 172 car models. The 88–96 generation got a real world rating of "Average", and the 96-00 generation got a rating called "Safest"

Fourth generation (2001–2007)

From 2001 to 2003, the Voyager was offered in the SWB model only, replacing the SWB Plymouth Voyager. It resembled the Town and Country more than the previous generation, the only major cosmetic difference besides the trim was the placement of the Chrysler emblem on the grille. After the 2003 model year, the Voyager was discontinued and replaced by the Chrysler Town and Country, SWB model. The SWB Town & Country continued under the Voyager name in the Mexican market.

Engines

In Europe Chrysler began offering the Voyager with the first generation, followed by the second generation model in 2001, with a new engine range – including larger, more economical diesel engines and more fuel-efficient petrol engines.
The fourth generation Grand Voyager continued production for the Chinese market alongside the Dodge Grand Caravan until late 2010. Both models were built by Soueast in China, using a Town & Country production line relocated from Taiwan, and were powered by Mitsubishi 6G72 engines.

Fifth generation (2008–2016)

Chrysler introduced the new Grand Voyager for 2008 and successfully positioned it in the automotive market as a luxury MPV suited for large families. The Grand Voyager is visually identical to the Chrysler Town & Country which is sold in the North American and South American markets. In similar fashion to the other large multi-purpose vehicles on the market the Grand Voyager is sold with a standard diesel engine in Europe.
However, the seating is arranged in the 2–2–3 layout common in North America, rather than the 2–3–2 layout often seen in SUVs and MPVs in Europe. On right hand drive models the gear shift lever is placed on a floor-mounted console between the seats, in contrast to the instrument panel positioning found on LHD models.

Standard engine

The 2009 Grand Voyager with diesel motor gets a combined fuel economy of.
Optional engine on top of the range Limited models:
All engines are paired with Chrysler's 62TE 6-speed automatic transmission with variable line pressure technology.

Lancia Voyager

All Voyagers sold since October 2011 in continental Europe are sold under the Lancia brand.
The Chrysler-branded variant continues to be sold in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, South Korea, Singapore, and China, as Lancia does not have sales operations in those markets. Voyager become the successor to previous unrelated series of minivans produced by Lancia, the last of which is the Phedra.
However, the parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles under the leadership of CEO Sergio Marchionne has decided to shut down both Chrysler and Lancia brands out of its European market. Therefore, it appears Voyager too is on its way out of Europe.

European engines

The Lancia version is offered with engines compliant with Euro V emission standards.
ModelEngineDisplacementMax. powerMax. torqueYears
3.6 Pentastar automaticV6, Petrol3,604 cc2011–present
2.8 Turbo Diesel automaticstraight-4, Diesel2,777 cc2011–2013
2.8 Turbo Diesel automaticstraight-4, Diesel2,777 cc2013–2015

Safety

Sixth generation (2020–present)

For the 2020 model year, the Chrsyler Pacifica's low-end L and LX models were separated from the Pacifica lineup and given the Voyager name. This marks the return of the Voyager nameplate to the Chrysler model lineup, in which it was last used in 2016, and the North American market, in which it was last used in 2003 and 2007 in the United States and Mexico, respectively. In addition to the L and LX trim levels, an LXi model will be available to fleet customers.
The 2020 Voyager went on sale in the U.S. in the fall of 2019 with base prices ranging from $26,985 for the entry L model to $32,995 for the fleet-only LXi model. Seven-passenger seating, six-speaker sound system with Active Noise Cancellation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all models. Among the available options is the SafetyTec Group which includes rear park assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross path detection. The LX adds SiriusXM Satellite Radio and seventeen-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The fleet-only LXi adds easy-clean leatherette-trimmed seating surfaces and dual heated front bucket seats. LX and LXi models offer a single-screen rear DVD entertainment system as on option. All Voyagers will be powered by the same 3.6 L Pentastar V6 gasoline engine with Variable Valve Timing that powers the Chrysler Pacifica, producing and of torque, mated to the ZF-manufactured 948TE nine-speed automatic transmission controlled by a rotary control knob mounted in the Voyager's center console. Unlike the Chrysler Pacifica, which will be available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive for the 2021 model year, the Voyager will continue to be offered with front-wheel drive only.
The Voyager will take the place of the Dodge Grand Caravan in Fiat Chrysler Automobiles 's U.S. and Canadian lineup, as the Grand Caravan will be discontinued after the 2020 model year. Production of the Grand Caravan was slated to end in May 2020 but has since been delayed by three months.
In Canada, the Voyager nameplate is not in use, and all models still bear the Pacifica nameplate. Moreover, the upcoming 2021 Voyager will be called the Grand Caravan in Canada.

Seating features

The Chrysler Voyager has incorporated various seating systems for their minivans to enhance interior flexibility.

Integrated child safety seats

In 1992, Chrysler introduced a second row bench seat integrating two child booster seats. These seats continued as an available option through fifth generation until they were discontinued in 2010.

Easy Out Roller Seats

In 1996, Chrysler had introduced a system of seats to simplify installation, removal, and re-positioning— marketed as Easy-Out Roller Seats. The system remained in use throughout the life of the Chrysler Voyager.
When installed, the seats are latched to floor-mounted strikers. When unlatched, eight rollers lift each seat, allowing it to be rolled fore and aft. Tracks have locator depressions for rollers, thus enabling simple installation. Ergonomic levers at the seatbacks release the floor latches single-handedly without tools and raise the seats onto the rollers in a single motion. Additionally, seatbacks were designed to fold forward. Seat roller tracks are permanently attached to the floor and seat stanchions are aligned, facilitating the longitudinal rolling of the seats. Bench seat stanchions were moved inboard to reduce bending stress in the seat frames, allowing them to be lighter.
When configured as two- and three- person benches, the Easy Out Roller Seats could be unwieldy. Beginning in 2001, second and third row seats became available in a 'quad' configuration – bucket or captain chairs in the second row and a third row three-person 50/50 split "bench" — with each section weighing under.

Stow'n Go seating

In 2005, Chrysler introduced a system of second and third row seating that folded completely into under-floor compartments – marketed as Stow 'n Go seating and exclusively available on long-wheelbase models.
In a development program costing $400 million, engineers used an erector set to initially help visualize the complex interaction of the design and redesigned underfloor components to accommodate the system — including the spare tire well, fuel tank, exhaust system, parking brake cables, rear climate control lines, and the rear suspension. Even so, the new seating system precluded incorporation of an AWD system, effectively ending that option for the Chrysler minivans.
The system in turn creates a combined volume of of under-floor storage when second-row seats are deployed. With both rows folded, the vans have a flat load floor and a maximum cargo volume of.
The Stow 'n Go system received Popular Science Magazine's "Best of What's New" for 2005 award.
The Stow 'n Go system is not offered on the Volkswagen Routan, a rebadged nameplate variant of the Chrysler minivans.

Swivel 'n Go seating

Chrysler introduced a seating system in 2008, marketed as Swivel'n Go. In the seating system, two full-size second-row seats swivel to face the third row. A detachable table can be placed between the second and third row seats. The Swivel'n Go seating system includes the third-row seating from the Stow'n Go system.
These Swivel 'n Go seats are manufactured by Intier Corp. a division of Magna. The tracks, risers and swivel mechanisms are assembled by Camslide, a division of Intier. The swivel mechanism was designed by and is produced by Toyo Seat USA Corp.
The system is noted for its high strength. The entire load of the seat in the event of a crash is transferred through the swivel mechanism, which is almost twice as strong as the minimum government requirement.
The swivel mechanism includes bumpers that stabilize the seat while in the lock position. When rotated the seat comes off these bumpers to allow easy rotation.
The seat is not meant to be left in an unlocked position or swiveled with the occupant in it, although this will not damage the swivel mechanism.

Production worldwide

In the early years of its marketing, the Voyagers were produced in North America and were exported to Europe.
In 1991, the first Voyagers were produced in Austria, at the Eurostar plant nearby Graz. Eurostar was a joint venture between Chrysler and the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch. It was later acquired by DaimlerChrysler and finally the plant was sold to Magna Steyr in 2002. The minivan production ended there at the end of 2007. Units produced in Austria were marketed in Europe, Asia and Africa. They were built with gasoline and diesel engines, with manual transmission version, in short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase versions, and in right and left-hand drive versions.
From 2008 to 2010, the fourth generation Grand Voyager was produced in China by Soueast using a relocated Taiwanese Town & Country assembly line.
The fifth generation Voyagers have been exported to Europe from Windsor, Canada, where they are produced. Beginning in October 2011, they were exported and sold as the Lancia Voyager in most European markets, as Chrysler operations were merged with those of Lancia in many European countries. In the United Kingdom, only the Grand Voyager is marketed.
Since 2011, the Voyager is sold under the Lancia badge in Europe to strengthen the Chrysler-Lancia integration, though it remains branded as the Chrysler Voyager in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In March 2015, Fiat Group announced that in 2017, Chrysler would be discontinued in the United Kingdom. It was removed from Chrysler UK's website in January 2016.