2001 Chrysler Voyager

Stand back a little and look for something special when the Chrysler unit of DaimlerChrysler unveils redesigned minivans.


After all, Chrysler introduced the first modern carlike minivan in late 1983--long before becoming affiliated with Daimler-Benz a few years ago. More than 8 million Chrysler minivans have been sold.


There is a lot more minivan competition than there was in the 1980s or even early 1990s, but Chrysler minivans still are the top sellers in this market segment. That's partly because they are trusted by most buyers of such vehicles, and trust is a major attribute with family-oriented vehicles.


The Plymouth nameplate is being phased out, so the old Plymouth Voyager minivan name has been changed to Chrysler Voyager. But the sister Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivan models retain their old nameplates.


Such things as individualized grilles, wheel designs and equipment levels set the models apart from one another. Base prices start at $19,160 for the entry Chrysler Voyager model. The highest priced model is the $37,175 Town & Country Limited with all-wheel drive.


These new minivans are several inches wider and longer than the 1996-2000 generation models. They have sleeker new bodies, stronger construction, revised suspension, improved steering and brakes--and more powerful headlights. Side-impact air bags up front are offered for the first time.


Front-wheel drive is retained, although the Town & Country model also is offered with the all-wheel-drive system.


The new minivan models have the same carlike steering, ride, handling and braking of the previous generation model, but feel more solid and have greater refinement.


All new models seat seven, with some allowing eight passengers. All have standard dual sliding side doors. You now can get power operation for both doors for the first time.


Chrysler always used an evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, approach with its minivans, and the 2001 models are no exception to that rule.


Major selling points of the new minivans are more powerful V-6 engines and industry firsts such as a power tailgate controlled by the keyfob or interior switch. There's also a removable console with a power outlet that holds such things as cell phones and a pop-up rear cargo organizer.


When open, the organizer forms a storage bin with two folding dividers spaced to accommodate up to six full-size grocery bags. It also may be used with seatback-mounted grocery bag hooks to carry plastic grocery bags. The organizer can be fixed at floor level or raised to a mid-level position.


Another first is a 6.4-inch liquid crystal display screen with a rear seat video entertainment system that comes with wireless headphones for about $1,500. Entertainment systems are becoming especially popular to keep kids amused on long drives in minivans.


Still other minivan firsts include a split rear 50-50 roller seat, power dual sliding doors that allow for manual override, a power sliding door obstacle system for opening and closing and three-zone automatic climate control.


Most old Chrysler minivans were underpowered, but the 2001 Town & Country has the most powerful minivan engine--a 215-horsepower V-6.


A 3.5-liter, 230-horsepower V-6 arrives in March in the Town & Country. Chrysler clearly doesn't want to be trumped in the power department by another new minivan and is trying to shed the "soccer mom" minivan image by offering faster, sexier models.


All new Chrysler minivans have the smooth, generally conservative styling of their predecessors. But they look slicker than the hot Honda Odyssey minivan--and remain the best looking minivans.


I tested the new Voyager, which has a 2.4-liter, 150-horsepower four-cylinder engine. There's also a higher-line $23,525 LX Voyager with a 3.3-liter, 180-horsepower V-6.


The base model has only a three-speed automatic transmission, while the V-6 is hooked to a responsive four-speed automatic.


The power of the 3.8-liter V-6 offered for other Chrysler minivans is raised to 215 from 180. The Odyssey thus becomes the second most powerful minivan, with 210 horsepower.


The base Voyager is for those on tight budgets who want the latest Chrysler minivan. Its engine produces the same power as last year's model and has only marginal punch for merging or passing on highways. Despite that, Chrysler sells a lot of four-cylinder minivans.


Fortunately, the horsepower of the 3.3 V-6 LX model has been raised to 180 from 158. This model provides good acceleration and loafs at 2,100 rpm at 65 mph.


The four-cylinder delivers an estimated 20 mpg in the city and 25 on highways, and the V-6 provides 18 and 24.


Both base and LX Voyagers have three rows of seats. They're short-wheelbase models, whereas other new Chrysler minivans also are offered with longer wheelbases to provide more cargo room with all seats in place.


The Voyager's cargo room is just adequate without the third seat removed. You can put a week's worth of groceries or some soft luggage back there, but that's about it unless you remove the third seat.


It's easy to step in and out of the new minivans, which have easily gripped door handles, and to move from second- to third-row seats. There's plenty of room in the first row. But the supportive front bucket seats could be larger, and tall second- and third-seat adult occupants will want more leg room.


White numbers on a black background in the new dashboard would make the Voyager's gauges easier to read than the "sporty" black-on-white gauges. But the quiet interior has soft-touch controls and plenty of cupholders and storage areas.


All the changes should keep the Chrysler minivans at the head of the pack.