Plymouth Voyager
Encyclopedia
In 1984, the Voyager name was applied to Plymouth's variant of Chrysler's all new minivan. This Voyager used the Chrysler S platform, which was derived from the K-platform (Plymouth Reliant
and Dodge Aries
). In addition to using a derived platform, the Voyager shared many components with the K-cars, most notably the interior materials. The Reliant's instrument cluster and dashboard controls combined with its front-wheel drive layout and low floor for easy access gave the Voyager a much more car-like ambiance when compared to traditional full-sized vans. The Voyager was on Car and Driver
magazine's Ten Best list
for 1985.
For 1987 the Voyager received minor cosmetic updates as well as the introduction of the Grand Voyager, which was built on a longer wheelbase adding more cargo room. It was available only with SE or LE trim.
First-generation Voyager minivans were offered in three distinct trim levels (which were also borrowed from the Reliant): an unnamed base model, mid-grade SE, and high-end LE, the latter bearing woodgrain-imprinted vinyl on the sides. A sportier LX model was added in 1989, sharing much of its components with the Caravan ES.
Safety features were typical of vans of the era, and consisted of 3-point seat belts for the front two passengers, with simple lap belts for rear passengers. Standard on all Voyagers were legally mandated side-impact reinforcements for all seating front and rear outboard positions. Safety features such as airbags or ABS
were not available.
Original commercials for the 1984 Voyager featured magician Doug Henning
as a spokesperson to promote the Voyager "Magic Wagon's" versatility, cargo space, low step-in height, passenger volume, and maneuverability. Later commercials in 1989 featured rock singer Tina Turner
. Canadian commercials in 1990 featured pop singer Celine Dion
.
The two bench seats in the rear were independently removable, and the large three-seat bench could also be installed in the 2nd row location via a second set of attachment points on the van's floor, ordinarily hidden with snap-in plastic covers. This configuration allowed for conventional five-passenger seating with a sizable cargo area in the rear. The latching mechanisms for the benches were very intuitive and easy to operate.
On base models, the front buckets were low-back items, upholstered with plain cloth or vinyl. On SEs, the buyer could choose between low-back buckets with deluxe cloth or high-back buckets in upgraded vinyl. LEs came standard with high-back front buckets, upholstered in either luxury cloth or luxury vinyl.
For 1987 the six- and eight-passenger options were withdrawn, leaving seating for five standard and for seven optional on the base and SE, and seating for seven with high-back front buckets standard on the LE, Grand SE, and Grand LE. Deluxe cloth upholstery was now standard on base and all SE models, with the luxury vinyl optional on SEs. On LEs, luxury cloth came standard and for the first time, leather seats were available on the LE models.
For the first 3 years of production, only 2 engines were offered in the Voyager, both were inline-4 engines with 2 barrel carburetors. The base 2.2L was borrowed from the Chrysler K-cars
, and produced 96 hp horsepower. The higher performance fuel injected version of the 2.2L engine later offered in the Chrysler K-cars
was never offered in the Voyager, and the 2-bbl version would remain the base powerplant until mid-1987. Alongside the 2.2L, an optional Mitsubishi 2.6L engine was available producing 104 hp horsepower, which did a better job motivating the van.
At launch, the Voyager's low horsepower to weight ratio
had not been much of a concern. Its main competitors were the Toyota Van
and the Volkswagen Vanagon
, both of which had similarly sluggish performance. However, by 1986, new competition from Ford's Aerostar
and Chevrolet's Astro
had highlighted how underpowered the Caravan was. Therefore in mid-1987, the base 2.2L I4
was replaced with a fuel-injected 2.5L I4
, which produced a respectable 100 hp, while the Mitsubishi G54B
I4
was replaced with the new fuel-injected 3.0L Mitsubishi V-6
producing 136 hp, which was a popular upgrade. This gave the base Voyager noteworthy performance among its (mostly heavier, rear wheel drive) peers.
Shortly thereafter in 1989, an even more powerful engine became an option, with a turbocharged version of the base 2.5L producing 150 hp. This engine would not prove popular though. Also in 1989, revisions to the Mitsubishi V-6 upped its output to 142 hp, In 1990, a new 150 hp 3.3L V-6 was added to the option list. Sales of the 2.5 turbo dwindled to nothing, and it was quietly dropped at the end of the year.
and a five-speed manual were available with all inline-4 engines, including the turbocharged 2.5 L
(this was a rare combination). V-6
engines were only offered with the venerable fully hydraulically operated TorqueFlite
, until the computer controlled Ultradrive
4-speed automatic became available in 1989. The Ultradrive
offered much better fuel economy and responsiveness, particularly when paired with the inline-4 engine. However, it suffered from reliability problems, usually stemming from what is known as "gear hunt" or "shift busyness", resulting in premature wear of the internal clutches. It also required an uncommon type of automatic transmission fluid and was not clearly labeled as such, leading many owners to use the more common Dexron II
rather than the specified "Mopar ATF+3", resulting in transmission damage and eventual failure.
Subsequent years would see many design changes to the Ultradrive
to improve reliability, and many early model transmissions would eventually be retrofitted or replaced with the updated versions by dealers, under warranty. These efforts were mostly successful, and most 1st generation Voyagers/Grand Voyagers eventually got an updated transmission.
The Plymouth Voyager was extensively redesigned for 1991; new sheet metal with rounder corners gave way a more "aero" styled appearance. The S platform was still used, though renamed the "AS platform". These were the last Voyagers that were derived from the Chrysler K platform
. The increasing popularity of the short wheelbase Voyager had a dramatic effect on the captive import from Mitsubishi, called the Plymouth Colt Vista, and was no longer imported to North America starting in 1991.
Trim levels were carried over from the previous generation. 1991 Voyagers were available in base, mid-grade SE, high-end LE, and high-end sporty LX. The LX which was available only on short-wheelbase Voyagers, was marketed as a sport-luxury minivan and came with the most standard equipment including alloy wheels, fog lamps
, and wide array of power-operated features.
In later years various trim packages were offered on SE models. The "Sport Wagon" package available from 1993–1995 featured accent color (gray) bumpers and molding, fog lamps, and special aluminum wheels. The "Rallye" package offered in 1995, took the place of the departed LX model. It was more luxury-oriented, with lower body two-tone paint — regardless of upper body color, the lower body was painted "Driftwood Beige" — silver aluminum wheels, and special badging. The font
first used for the Rallye's badging was adopted for all of Plymouth's badging from 1996 onward.
Interiors were much more differentiated in this generation than on the first. Gone was the Plymouth Reliant
-based dashboard and controls, in favor of a more modern and ergenomic layout. Ergenomics were further improved by a redesigned dashboard for 1994, that brought with it a passenger-side front airbag. One of the second generation's most exciting innovations was the new "Quad Command" seating package, available on SE, LE, and LX models. Quad command replaced the 2nd row bench with two individual bucket seats with a center aisle to the 3rd row bench. Interior options varied with trim levels and packages. Cloth seating was standard on all models; leather seating was a standalone extra-cost option on LE and LX models.
Only badging and minor cosmetics differentiated the Voyager from its Dodge Caravan
corporate twin. The headlamp
trim was chromed on the Voyager but not on the Caravan, and the Voyager's park and turn signal lamps
were shorter than those of the Caravan. The Voyager's taillights
were horizontally corrugated, while the Caravan's, though the same size and shape, had had a black-mask effect. Voyagers used a chrome eggcrate grille
, a characteristic of Plymouths of that time, while the Caravan's bore the crosshair design used on Dodge's other models. The Chrysler Town & Country shared the Voyager's headlamps and taillights, but had its own chrome waterfall grille.
However, the turbocharged engine and Convert-A-Bed feature were dropped.
underpinnings and architecture, replaced with more modern components and Chrysler's acclaimed cab-forward design. The third generation redesign used the Chrysler NS platform
and included a driver's-side sliding door, a minivan first. The Voyager was on Car and Driver
magazine's Ten Best list
for 1996 and 1997.
As part of Chrysler's new coorporate strategy to better focus the Plymouth brand on entry-level vehicles, U.S.
market third generation Voyagers and Grand Voyagers were only available in base trim and better-equipped SE models. Luxury LE models, however, were still sold in the Canadian and Europe
an markets. The "Rallye" trim package on SE models was carried over from 1995. It was replaced by the "Expresso" trim for 1998. As with the previous generation, these trims were merely special decor packages with more standard features, unique wheel styles and badging. Expresso models did feature their own optional higher-grade cloth seating. Voyager LEs were equipped similarly to the Chrysler Town & Country LX, which was sold in the U.S. This meant standard power windows and locks, Infinity sound sysetm, quad command bucket seats, deluxe cloth seating (leather was optional), and Sparkle Silver alloy wheels, among other features.
Base Voyagers and Voyager SEs were easily distinguished by their body-side moldings. Base models used a narrow accent color strip and SE models used a wide accent color strip with a "Plymouth" badge above it on either front door. Rallye and Expresso models used the SE's body-side molding with their own badge in the place of the Plymouth one. Export-market LEs used the base model's narrow accent color molding combined with a full accent color effect on the lower portion of the doors. The vinyl woodgrain-appearance side paneling was no longer available, as the new side sheetmetal was no longer flat.
Third generation Voyagers introduced a new system of rear seats to simplify installation, removal, and re-positioning— marketed as "Easy-Out Roller Seats". All Voyagers and Grand Voyagers were equipped with this feature. When installed, the 2nd and 3rd row seats (either bucket or bench seats) were latched to floor-mounted strikers. When unlatched, eight rollers lifted each seat, allowing it to be rolled fore and aft. Tracks had locator depressions for rollers, thus enabling simple installation. Ergonomic levers at the seatbacks released the floor latches single handedly without tools and raised the seats onto the rollers in a single motion. Additionally, seatbacks were designed to fold forward. Seat roller tracks were permanently attached to the floor and seat stanchions were aligned, fascillitating 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 (available through Generation IV), 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 lb (22.7 kg). The Easy-out system remained in use through Generation V — where certain models featured a two-person bench and the under-floor compartments from the Stow'n Go system.
In 1999 Plymouth's demise was announced, resulting in the 2000 Voyager/Grand Voyager models in the US doing double duty as both Plymouths
and Chrysler
s.
's 40 mph offset test. The structural performance and restraints were graded "Acceptable", but the foot injuries were very high.
In the NHTSA crash tests, it received 4 stars for the driver and front passenger in the frontal-impact. In the side-impact test, it received 5 stars for the driver, and 3 stars for the rear occupant, and resulted in a fuel leak that could cause a fire hazard.
in the US. It was offered in the short wheelbase only. The Chrysler Voyager was renamed Town & Country for 2004, so there was both a short and long wheelbase minivan sold under that name.
was responsible for building the Voyager from 1990 to 2000.
Plymouth Reliant
The Plymouth Reliant was one of the first two so-called "K-cars" manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation, introduced for the 1981 model year. The Reliant replaced the Plymouth Volaré/Road Runner, which was the short-lived successor automobile to the highly regarded Plymouth Valiant...
and Dodge Aries
Dodge Aries
The Dodge Aries is an automobile sold by the Chrysler Corporation from 1981-1989. It replaced the Dodge Aspen as Dodge's family car with "mid-size room" in a size and front-wheel drive format commonly associated with compact cars...
). In addition to using a derived platform, the Voyager shared many components with the K-cars, most notably the interior materials. The Reliant's instrument cluster and dashboard controls combined with its front-wheel drive layout and low floor for easy access gave the Voyager a much more car-like ambiance when compared to traditional full-sized vans. The Voyager was on Car and Driver
Car and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
magazine's Ten Best list
Car and Driver Ten Best
Car and Driver magazine annually nominates a list of what it considers the Ten Best cars and Five Best trucks.All production vehicles for sale in that calendar year are considered with these restrictions:# The vehicle must be on sale by January...
for 1985.
For 1987 the Voyager received minor cosmetic updates as well as the introduction of the Grand Voyager, which was built on a longer wheelbase adding more cargo room. It was available only with SE or LE trim.
First-generation Voyager minivans were offered in three distinct trim levels (which were also borrowed from the Reliant): an unnamed base model, mid-grade SE, and high-end LE, the latter bearing woodgrain-imprinted vinyl on the sides. A sportier LX model was added in 1989, sharing much of its components with the Caravan ES.
Safety features were typical of vans of the era, and consisted of 3-point seat belts for the front two passengers, with simple lap belts for rear passengers. Standard on all Voyagers were legally mandated side-impact reinforcements for all seating front and rear outboard positions. Safety features such as airbags or ABS
Anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...
were not available.
Original commercials for the 1984 Voyager featured magician Doug Henning
Doug Henning
Douglas James Henning was a Canadian magician, illusionist, escape artist and politician.-Early life:...
as a spokesperson to promote the Voyager "Magic Wagon's" versatility, cargo space, low step-in height, passenger volume, and maneuverability. Later commercials in 1989 featured rock singer Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
. Canadian commercials in 1990 featured pop singer Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
.
Seating
1984-1986 Voyagers could be equipped with five-, six-, seven-, or eight-passenger seating arrangements. Five-passenger seating was standard on all three models. The five-passenger arrangement consisted of two front bucket seats and an intermediate three-passenger bench seat. On base and SE models, the front buckets could be replaced by a 40/60 split three-passenger bench seat, bringing the total number of occupants to six. Seven-passenger seating was an option on SEs and LEs, with dual front buckets, an intermediate two-passenger bench, and a rear three-passenger bench. Eight-passenger seating was available on SE models only, with both the additional middle two-passenger bench and three-passenger front bench. So, depending on configuration, the base model could seat up to six, the SE could seat up to eight, and the LE could seat up to seven.The two bench seats in the rear were independently removable, and the large three-seat bench could also be installed in the 2nd row location via a second set of attachment points on the van's floor, ordinarily hidden with snap-in plastic covers. This configuration allowed for conventional five-passenger seating with a sizable cargo area in the rear. The latching mechanisms for the benches were very intuitive and easy to operate.
On base models, the front buckets were low-back items, upholstered with plain cloth or vinyl. On SEs, the buyer could choose between low-back buckets with deluxe cloth or high-back buckets in upgraded vinyl. LEs came standard with high-back front buckets, upholstered in either luxury cloth or luxury vinyl.
For 1987 the six- and eight-passenger options were withdrawn, leaving seating for five standard and for seven optional on the base and SE, and seating for seven with high-back front buckets standard on the LE, Grand SE, and Grand LE. Deluxe cloth upholstery was now standard on base and all SE models, with the luxury vinyl optional on SEs. On LEs, luxury cloth came standard and for the first time, leather seats were available on the LE models.
Engines
Chrysler K platform
The Chrysler Corporation's K-cars were compact-to-midsize cars designed to carry six adults on two bench seats and were aimed not only to replace Chrysler's nominally-compact F-body Aspen and Volaré, but also to compete with intermediates like the Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fairmont...
, and produced 96 hp horsepower. The higher performance fuel injected version of the 2.2L engine later offered in the Chrysler K-cars
Chrysler K platform
The Chrysler Corporation's K-cars were compact-to-midsize cars designed to carry six adults on two bench seats and were aimed not only to replace Chrysler's nominally-compact F-body Aspen and Volaré, but also to compete with intermediates like the Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fairmont...
was never offered in the Voyager, and the 2-bbl version would remain the base powerplant until mid-1987. Alongside the 2.2L, an optional Mitsubishi 2.6L engine was available producing 104 hp horsepower, which did a better job motivating the van.
At launch, the Voyager's low horsepower to weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio
Power-to-weight ratio is a calculation commonly applied to engines and mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another. Power-to-weight ratio is a measurement of actual performance of any engine or power sources...
had not been much of a concern. Its main competitors were the Toyota Van
Toyota Van
The Toyota MasterAce is a vehicle that was produced by Toyota and distributed worldwide under several names, with "MasterAce" being the name used in Japan. North American markets received the MasterAce as the Toyota Van...
and the Volkswagen Vanagon
Volkswagen Type 2 (T3)
The Volkswagen Type 2 was the third generation of the Volkswagen Transporter and was marketed under various nameplates worldwide – including as the Transporter or Caravelle in Europe, Microbus in South Africa and as the Vanagon in North and South America.Larger and heavier than its...
, both of which had similarly sluggish performance. However, by 1986, new competition from Ford's Aerostar
Ford Aerostar
The Ford Aerostar is a minivan produced by Ford Motor Company for the North American market; the first such design by Ford, it was sold from the 1986 to the 1997 model years. It was sold in both passenger van and cargo van configurations in two body lengths with both rear wheel drive and all wheel...
and Chevrolet's Astro
Chevrolet Astro
The Chevrolet Astro was a rear-wheel drive mid-sized van introduced by Chevrolet in 1985 to rival domestic competitors the Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager twins and the Japanese Toyota Van. Also sharing the Astro's platform was its sibling, the GMC Safari...
had highlighted how underpowered the Caravan was. Therefore in mid-1987, the base 2.2L I4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
was replaced with a fuel-injected 2.5L I4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, which produced a respectable 100 hp, while the Mitsubishi G54B
Mitsubishi Astron engine
The Mitsubishi Astron or 4G5 engine, is a series of straight-4 internal combustion engines first built by Mitsubishi Motors in 1972. Engine displacement ranged from 1.8 to 2.6 litres, making it one of the largest four-cylinder engines of its time....
I4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
was replaced with the new fuel-injected 3.0L Mitsubishi V-6
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
producing 136 hp, which was a popular upgrade. This gave the base Voyager noteworthy performance among its (mostly heavier, rear wheel drive) peers.
Shortly thereafter in 1989, an even more powerful engine became an option, with a turbocharged version of the base 2.5L producing 150 hp. This engine would not prove popular though. Also in 1989, revisions to the Mitsubishi V-6 upped its output to 142 hp, In 1990, a new 150 hp 3.3L V-6 was added to the option list. Sales of the 2.5 turbo dwindled to nothing, and it was quietly dropped at the end of the year.
- 1984–1987 2.2 L K I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, 96 hp, 119 lbft - 1984–1987 2.6 L Mitsubishi G54BMitsubishi Astron engineThe Mitsubishi Astron or 4G5 engine, is a series of straight-4 internal combustion engines first built by Mitsubishi Motors in 1972. Engine displacement ranged from 1.8 to 2.6 litres, making it one of the largest four-cylinder engines of its time....
I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, 104 hp, 142 lbft - 1987½–1990 2.5 L K I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, 100 hp, 135 lbft - 1987½–1988 3.0 L Mitsubishi 6G72 V6V6 engineA V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
, 136 hp, 168 lbft - 1989–1990 2.5 L Turbo I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, 150 hp, 180 lbft - 1989-1990 3.0 L Mitsubishi 6G72 V6V6 engineA V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
, 142 hp, 173 lbft - 1990 3.3 L EGA V6V6 engineA V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
, 150 hp, 180 lbft
Transmissions
Both a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmissionAutomatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
and a five-speed manual were available with all inline-4 engines, including the turbocharged 2.5 L
Litér
- External links :*...
(this was a rare combination). V-6
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
engines were only offered with the venerable fully hydraulically operated TorqueFlite
TorqueFlite
TorqueFlite is the trademarked name of Chrysler Corporation's automatic transmissions, starting with the three-speed unit introduced late in the 1956 model year as a successor to Chrysler's two-speed PowerFlite...
, until the computer controlled Ultradrive
Ultradrive
The Ultradrive is a 4-speed automatic transmission from Chrysler Corporation. It was produced starting in 1989. It was originally paired primarily with the Chrysler 3.3 engine in vehicles with transverse engines...
4-speed automatic became available in 1989. The Ultradrive
Ultradrive
The Ultradrive is a 4-speed automatic transmission from Chrysler Corporation. It was produced starting in 1989. It was originally paired primarily with the Chrysler 3.3 engine in vehicles with transverse engines...
offered much better fuel economy and responsiveness, particularly when paired with the inline-4 engine. However, it suffered from reliability problems, usually stemming from what is known as "gear hunt" or "shift busyness", resulting in premature wear of the internal clutches. It also required an uncommon type of automatic transmission fluid and was not clearly labeled as such, leading many owners to use the more common Dexron II
Dexron
Dexron is the trade name for a group of technical specifications of automatic transmission fluid created by General Motors . The name is a registered trademark of GM, which licenses the name and specifications to external companies which manufacture the fluid and sell it under their own brands...
rather than the specified "Mopar ATF+3", resulting in transmission damage and eventual failure.
Subsequent years would see many design changes to the Ultradrive
Ultradrive
The Ultradrive is a 4-speed automatic transmission from Chrysler Corporation. It was produced starting in 1989. It was originally paired primarily with the Chrysler 3.3 engine in vehicles with transverse engines...
to improve reliability, and many early model transmissions would eventually be retrofitted or replaced with the updated versions by dealers, under warranty. These efforts were mostly successful, and most 1st generation Voyagers/Grand Voyagers eventually got an updated transmission.
Generation II (1991–1995)
Chrysler K platform
The Chrysler Corporation's K-cars were compact-to-midsize cars designed to carry six adults on two bench seats and were aimed not only to replace Chrysler's nominally-compact F-body Aspen and Volaré, but also to compete with intermediates like the Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fairmont...
. The increasing popularity of the short wheelbase Voyager had a dramatic effect on the captive import from Mitsubishi, called the Plymouth Colt Vista, and was no longer imported to North America starting in 1991.
Trim levels were carried over from the previous generation. 1991 Voyagers were available in base, mid-grade SE, high-end LE, and high-end sporty LX. The LX which was available only on short-wheelbase Voyagers, was marketed as a sport-luxury minivan and came with the most standard equipment including alloy wheels, fog lamps
Automotive lighting
The lighting system of a motor vehicle consists of lighting and signalling devices mounted or integrated to the front, sides, rear, and in some cases the top of the motor vehicle...
, and wide array of power-operated features.
In later years various trim packages were offered on SE models. The "Sport Wagon" package available from 1993–1995 featured accent color (gray) bumpers and molding, fog lamps, and special aluminum wheels. The "Rallye" package offered in 1995, took the place of the departed LX model. It was more luxury-oriented, with lower body two-tone paint — regardless of upper body color, the lower body was painted "Driftwood Beige" — silver aluminum wheels, and special badging. The font
Font
In typography, a font is traditionally defined as a quantity of sorts composing a complete character set of a single size and style of a particular typeface...
first used for the Rallye's badging was adopted for all of Plymouth's badging from 1996 onward.
Interiors were much more differentiated in this generation than on the first. Gone was the Plymouth Reliant
Plymouth Reliant
The Plymouth Reliant was one of the first two so-called "K-cars" manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation, introduced for the 1981 model year. The Reliant replaced the Plymouth Volaré/Road Runner, which was the short-lived successor automobile to the highly regarded Plymouth Valiant...
-based dashboard and controls, in favor of a more modern and ergenomic layout. Ergenomics were further improved by a redesigned dashboard for 1994, that brought with it a passenger-side front airbag. One of the second generation's most exciting innovations was the new "Quad Command" seating package, available on SE, LE, and LX models. Quad command replaced the 2nd row bench with two individual bucket seats with a center aisle to the 3rd row bench. Interior options varied with trim levels and packages. Cloth seating was standard on all models; leather seating was a standalone extra-cost option on LE and LX models.
Only badging and minor cosmetics differentiated the Voyager from its Dodge Caravan
Dodge Caravan
The Dodge Caravan is a family minivan manufactured by Chrysler Group LLC and sold under its Dodge brand. Along with its nameplate variant, the Plymouth Voyager, the Caravan was introduced for the 1984 model year. In 1987, the Dodge Grand Caravan long-wheelbase model was introduced and sold...
corporate twin. The headlamp
Headlamp
A headlamp is a lamp, usually attached to the front of a vehicle such as a car or a motorcycle, with the purpose of illuminating the road ahead during periods of low visibility, such as darkness or precipitation. Headlamp performance has steadily improved throughout the automobile age, spurred by...
trim was chromed on the Voyager but not on the Caravan, and the Voyager's park and turn signal lamps
Automotive lighting
The lighting system of a motor vehicle consists of lighting and signalling devices mounted or integrated to the front, sides, rear, and in some cases the top of the motor vehicle...
were shorter than those of the Caravan. The Voyager's taillights
Automotive lighting
The lighting system of a motor vehicle consists of lighting and signalling devices mounted or integrated to the front, sides, rear, and in some cases the top of the motor vehicle...
were horizontally corrugated, while the Caravan's, though the same size and shape, had had a black-mask effect. Voyagers used a chrome eggcrate grille
Grille
A grille or grill is an opening of several slits side by side in a wall or metal sheet or other barrier, usually to let air or water enter and/or leave but keep larger objects including people and animals in or out.-Spelling:In the United States, "grille" is used to differentiate the automotive...
, a characteristic of Plymouths of that time, while the Caravan's bore the crosshair design used on Dodge's other models. The Chrysler Town & Country shared the Voyager's headlamps and taillights, but had its own chrome waterfall grille.
Innovations
This generation of vans brought additional innovations, such as:- "Quad Command" bucket seating (1991)
- Available All-wheel drive (1991)
- Available anti-lock brakes (1991)
- First driver's side airbagAirbagAn Airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint consisting of a flexible envelope designed to inflate rapidly during an automobile collision, to prevent occupants from striking interior objects such as the steering wheel or a window...
in a minivan (1991), made standard (1992), and first dual front airbags (1994) - Integrated child safety seats (1992), improved design with recliners (1994)
- First minivan to meet 1998 U.S. federal safety standards (1994)
However, the turbocharged engine and Convert-A-Bed feature were dropped.
Engines
- 1991–1995 2.5 L KChrysler K engineThe 2.2 and 2.5 are a family of inline-4 engines developed by Chrysler Corporation originally for the Chrysler K- and L-platforms cars and subsequently used in many other Chrysler vehicles...
I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, 100 hp, 135 lbft - 1991–1995 3.0 L Mitsubishi 6G72 V6V6 engineA V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
, 142 hp, 173 lbft - 1991–1993 3.3 L EGA V6V6 engineA V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
, 150 hp, 180 lbft - 1994–1995 3.3 L EGA V6V6 engineA V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
, 162 hp, 194 lbft - 1994–1995 3.8 L EGH V6V6 engineA V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
, 162 hp, 213 lbft
Year-to-year changes
- 1991: Second-generation minivans released. A driver's side airbag was made standard for this year. Integrated child safety seats in the second row bench were optional on 1992 Voyagers. The Grand Voyager was available with a lower-cost powertrain. A 142 hp 3.0 L V6 and a 3-speed automatic could be substituted for the standard 150 hp 3.3 L V6 with its 4-speed automatic. The 5-speed manual transmission could once again be paired with the base engine, which was now the 2.5 liter four instead of the original 2.2 liter four.
- 1993: On 7-passenger models, the optional "Quad Command" bucket seats replaced the middle bench seat. The right bucket tilted forward to ease entry and exit to the rearmost bench. The front shoulder belts became height-adjustable and rear shoulder belts had lower anchor points.
- 1994: New bumpers and body moldings, and a redesigned dashboard appeared on all 1994 Voyagers. New safety features which included a passenger-side airbag and side door-guard beams enabled the Voyager to meet all passenger car safety requirements through 1998. A cassette player became standard on all models but the base, and a CD player was available on all models. Under the hood, a 162 hp 3.8 L V6 was a new option for top-of-the-line Grand Voyager LE models. The 3.3 L V6 had been upgraded to produce 162 hp as well. For 1994 the "10 Year Anniversary Edition" was an option on Voyager SE models; it had unique two-tone paint and badges.
- 1995: No major changes were made for 1995, except for the new Rallye option package available on SE models. Rallye models came with special silver-accent wheels and special two-toned paint on the lower body.
Generation III (1996–2000)
The 1996 Plymouth Voyager was completely redesigned from the ground up. Gone were its K-carChrysler K platform
The Chrysler Corporation's K-cars were compact-to-midsize cars designed to carry six adults on two bench seats and were aimed not only to replace Chrysler's nominally-compact F-body Aspen and Volaré, but also to compete with intermediates like the Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fairmont...
underpinnings and architecture, replaced with more modern components and Chrysler's acclaimed cab-forward design. The third generation redesign used the Chrysler NS platform
Chrysler S platform
The Chrysler S platform and its successors are automobile platforms upon which the minivans manufactured by Chrysler Group LLC are built. The minivan platform has evolved through five generations, from the original S platform forming the basis of the Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and Chrysler...
and included a driver's-side sliding door, a minivan first. The Voyager was on Car and Driver
Car and Driver
Car and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011...
magazine's Ten Best list
Car and Driver Ten Best
Car and Driver magazine annually nominates a list of what it considers the Ten Best cars and Five Best trucks.All production vehicles for sale in that calendar year are considered with these restrictions:# The vehicle must be on sale by January...
for 1996 and 1997.
As part of Chrysler's new coorporate strategy to better focus the Plymouth brand on entry-level vehicles, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
market third generation Voyagers and Grand Voyagers were only available in base trim and better-equipped SE models. Luxury LE models, however, were still sold in the Canadian and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an markets. The "Rallye" trim package on SE models was carried over from 1995. It was replaced by the "Expresso" trim for 1998. As with the previous generation, these trims were merely special decor packages with more standard features, unique wheel styles and badging. Expresso models did feature their own optional higher-grade cloth seating. Voyager LEs were equipped similarly to the Chrysler Town & Country LX, which was sold in the U.S. This meant standard power windows and locks, Infinity sound sysetm, quad command bucket seats, deluxe cloth seating (leather was optional), and Sparkle Silver alloy wheels, among other features.
Base Voyagers and Voyager SEs were easily distinguished by their body-side moldings. Base models used a narrow accent color strip and SE models used a wide accent color strip with a "Plymouth" badge above it on either front door. Rallye and Expresso models used the SE's body-side molding with their own badge in the place of the Plymouth one. Export-market LEs used the base model's narrow accent color molding combined with a full accent color effect on the lower portion of the doors. The vinyl woodgrain-appearance side paneling was no longer available, as the new side sheetmetal was no longer flat.
Third generation Voyagers introduced a new system of rear seats to simplify installation, removal, and re-positioning— marketed as "Easy-Out Roller Seats". All Voyagers and Grand Voyagers were equipped with this feature. When installed, the 2nd and 3rd row seats (either bucket or bench seats) were latched to floor-mounted strikers. When unlatched, eight rollers lifted each seat, allowing it to be rolled fore and aft. Tracks had locator depressions for rollers, thus enabling simple installation. Ergonomic levers at the seatbacks released the floor latches single handedly without tools and raised the seats onto the rollers in a single motion. Additionally, seatbacks were designed to fold forward. Seat roller tracks were permanently attached to the floor and seat stanchions were aligned, fascillitating 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 (available through Generation IV), 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 lb (22.7 kg). The Easy-out system remained in use through Generation V — where certain models featured a two-person bench and the under-floor compartments from the Stow'n Go system.
Engines
- 1996–2000 2.4 L EDZ I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, 150 hp, 167 lbft (Canadian vans beginning in 1999 included a 3.0 L V6 as standard equipment) - 1996–2000 3.0 L Mitsubishi 6G72Mitsubishi 6G7x engineThe Mitsubishi 6G7 or Cyclone V6 engine is a series of V6 piston engines from Mitsubishi Motors. Five displacement variants have been produced with both single- and double- overhead camshaft layouts. MIVEC variable valve timing has also been implemented in some versions, and the 2.5 and 3.0 L...
V6V6 engineA V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
150 hp, 176 lbft (not available in certain U.S. states, 3.3 L V6 offered as standard equipment in those states instead) - 1996–2000 3.3 L EGA V6V6 engineA V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
, 158 hp, 203 lbft - 1999 3.8 L EGH V6V6 engineA V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
, 180 hp, 240 lbft
Year-to-year changes
- 1997: A CD player was a new option. Other than that, only minimal changes. In addition, the Plymouth text badges were changed.
- 1998: Grocery bag hooks were added to the rearmost bench. The Rallye option/decor package was replaced by the Expresso option/decor package (which included new wheel covers, new interior cloth, new 1st and 2nd row bucket seats, a CD player, and a body-colored grille).
- 1999: A 3.8 L V6 was added to 1999 Voyagers; it was already available on the Caravan and Town & Country. A small cargo net between the front seats, additional standard equipment, and child-safety seats in the second-row buckets were added to the Voyager this year. Air conditioning was made standard on SE and Expresso models. In Canada, the 3.0L V6 was standard equipment. 1999 also saw the addition of a one year only 15th anniversary "Platinum Edition", to mark Caravan's 15th year of production. This package was offered on various trim levels, and included Platinum Metallic paint, and fender badges.
- 2000: Now standard was air conditioning, power windows, and power locks (the latter two standard on SE models only). A dealer-installed rear-seat video entertainment system was newly available on all model. 1 The 2000 model year offered packages which included the "2000+" and "Millennium" package, however these were little more than unique fender badges on vans with popular equipment.
Plymouth (automobile)
Plymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, produced by the Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler.-Origins:...
and Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
s.
Crash Test Results
The 1996-2000 Dodge Grand Caravan (twin of the Voyager/Grand Voyager) received a "Marginal" rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway SafetyInsurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, and the rate of injuries and amount of property damage in the crashes that...
's 40 mph offset test. The structural performance and restraints were graded "Acceptable", but the foot injuries were very high.
In the NHTSA crash tests, it received 4 stars for the driver and front passenger in the frontal-impact. In the side-impact test, it received 5 stars for the driver, and 3 stars for the rear occupant, and resulted in a fuel leak that could cause a fire hazard.
Generation IV (2001-2003 Chrysler Voyager)
For the fourth generation of the minivan in 2001, the Plymouth Voyager was rebadged as the Chrysler VoyagerChrysler Voyager
The Chrysler Voyager or Chrysler Grand Voyager is a minivan sold by the Chrysler division of American automobile manufacturer Chrysler Group LLC...
in the US. It was offered in the short wheelbase only. The Chrysler Voyager was renamed Town & Country for 2004, so there was both a short and long wheelbase minivan sold under that name.
Trim Levels
- Base – 1984–2000
- LE – 1984–2000
- SE – 1984–2000
- LX – 1989–1992
- Sport Wagon – 1993–1995
- Rallye – 1995–1997
- Expresso – 1998–1999
Minivan production
Chrysler's plant in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
was responsible for building the Voyager from 1990 to 2000.
External Links
- Allpar.com minivans - Plymouth Voyager/Grand Voyager for all generations
- ConsumerGuide: Second Generation Voyager
- ConsumerGuide: Third Generation Voyager