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Chrysler Voyager
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The Chrysler Voyager was a minivan marketed by Chrysler LLC in the United States from 2000-2007 exclusively as a short wheelbase (SWB) model, replacing the Plymouth Voyager after Chrysler dropped the Plymouth brand — and offered only in Generation III and IV of Chrysler's five generation minivan series.
Though no longer available in North America, Chrysler continues to use Chrysler Voyager nameplate in global markets, e.g., Mexico, Europe.
Together with its nameplate variants, the Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, Plymouth Voyager and Volkswagen Routan, 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 Plymouth Voyager; the only visual differences between the two were the head/taillights and grille.
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Encyclopedia
The Chrysler Voyager was a minivan marketed by Chrysler LLC in the United States from 2000-2007 exclusively as a short wheelbase (SWB) model, replacing the Plymouth Voyager after Chrysler dropped the Plymouth brand — and offered only in Generation III and IV of Chrysler's five generation minivan series.
Though no longer available in North America, Chrysler continues to use Chrysler Voyager nameplate in global markets, e.g., Mexico, Europe.
Together with its nameplate variants, the Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, Plymouth Voyager and Volkswagen Routan, 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 Plymouth Voyager; the only visual differences between the two were the head/taillights and grille. Besides of the slightly different appearance European Voyagers were sold with different engines, including diesel engines, which are popular in Europe; the trim was also different.
The current European Voyagers are very similar to the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country cars. Although produced in Ontario now, they are still available with diesel engines. They are sold as Chrysler Grand Voyagers in Europe, since 2008 only in the long wheelbase version (as in North America).
2000 (United States)
For 2000, the Chrysler Voyager was identical to the Plymouth Voyager except that the 3.8 L V6 was not available for the Chrysler Voyager. 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.
Engines
2001-2007 (United States)
From 2001 to 2007, 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 (where the Town and Country's is fancier) was the placement of the Chrysler emblem on the grille. After the 2007 model year, the Voyager was discontinued and replaced by the Chrysler Town and Country, SWB model.
Engines
- 2001-2007 3.3 L EGA V6
- 2001-2007 3.8 L EGH V6
- 2002-2007 2.4 L EDZ I4
Year to year changes
- 2000: The Voyager is sold as a Plymouth and as a Chrysler, with the same options and features, however the Chrysler versions have sticker prices of about $500 USD more.
- 2001: The Chrysler Voyager was completely redesigned for this year as were the other Chrysler minivans. It was now only sold under the Chrysler marque; no "Grand" LWB versions are sold. Some new features include side airbags and an optional navigation system.
- 2002: Either a VCR or a DVD-based rear-seat entertainment system was a new optional, dealer-installed on all 2002 Voyagers. A high-value entry-level model, the eC was offered this year along with the base and LX models. All 2002 Voyagers now used a four-speed automatic transmission.
- 2003: Power-adjustable brake and accelerator pedals were available on 2003 Voyagers. Anti-lock brakes remained optional for the upscale LX, but were no longer available for base Voyagers. The Voyager was discontinued after this year and was replaced by the little-changed SWB Town and Country.
Europe (1996-present)
Chrysler began offering the Voyager with Generation I, followed by a Generation II model marketed as the Town and Country in 2001 with a new engine range — including larger, more economical diesel engines and more fuel-efficient petrol engines.
The 2009 Grand Voyager uses a CRD 163 hp (120 kW) diesel motor that gets a combined fuel economy of .
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, facillitating the longitiudinal 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 50 lbs.
Safety
According to EuroNCAP crash test results, the 1996 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 2006 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'.
US pricing and trim levels for both generations
Prices(MSRP)
- 2000 - $18,850-$24,525 USD
- 2001 - $19,150-$23,525 USD
- 2002 - $19,575-$23,650 USD
- 2003 - $20,750-$23,800 USD
Trim levels
- base - 2000-2007
- SE - 2000
- LX - 2001-2007
- eC - 2002
Minivan production outside North America
In the early years of the European Voyager the cars were produced in North America and were exported to Europe (1988-1991).
In 1991 the first "made-in-Austria" 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 Daimler-Chrysler 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, in short wheelbase (SWB) and long wheelbase versions and in right and left-hand drive versions (all sold as Chrysler Voyager cars).
The current European Voyagers (2008 model) are now produced in Windsor, Ontario, Canada and exported to the European market.
External links
- - 2001 Chrysler Voyager homepage, through Internet Archive
- : creation, each generation, tech, rumors
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