2022 Chrysler Voyager

The Chrysler Voyager has to be one of the most recognizable names in the world of minivans. The 2022 model is as capable as ever but it is now targeted only to the fleet market and not to the general public anymore. With a low purchase price and a trusted platform, you can't really go wrong here, and, considering it's essentially just a cheaper version of the award-winning Chrysler Pacifica, you know it has great potential. Powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 287 horsepower, the Voyager is a capable people carrier. Still, those looking for a premium family mover should look elsewhere like the Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey: the Voyager is a basic creature that offers little in terms of creature comforts, but who needs massaging seats when you've got a five-year-old kicking you in the back?

The Voyager is a vehicle that exemplifies the American minivan. Sure, its look has changed through the years, but the basic shape has remained largely unchanged. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as people in this market enjoy a bit of familiarity. In terms of exterior features, there's not much to write home about. In its default LX spec, the Voyager features automatic quad halogen reflector headlights and a set of 17-inch alloy wheels.

Minivans are by nature large vehicles, and the Chrysler Voyager is no different. Similar in size to the likes of the Honda Odyssey, the Voyager's dimensions include a total length of 203.8 inches. Width is measured at 79.6 inches, or 90.4 when one includes the mirrors. The overall height is 69.9 inches while the Voyager rolls on a 121.6-inch wheelbase. The curb weight is 4,330 pounds. For those keen on taking the Voyager on some light dirt road adventures, it is good to know that the minivan has a ramp break-over angle of 12.5 degrees, an approach angle of 14 degrees, and a departure angle of 18.7 degrees. That's enough to get up a dirt driveway.

Far from being an exotic Italian supercar, the Voyager goes about its business humbly, and that includes the range of exterior colors on offer. The beauty of the Voyager experience is that you'll always fly under the radar, no matter what color you go for, and cops won't be able to tell if you're running the kids to school or prize fighting roosters to Mexico City. For 2022, Chrysler offers the Voyager in five colors - one fewer than last year. The bases are covered with Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat, Bright White Clear Coat, and the new Silver Mist that replaces last year's Billet Silver Metallic Clear Coat. The more exotic colors on offer include Granite Crystal Metallic Clear Coat and Velvet Red Pearl Coat. Ocean Blue Metallic that was brand-new for 2021 has disappeared from the palette again for 2022.

The primary purpose of a minivan is to transport a relatively large number of people safely and reliably between two points. That's it. It doesn't have to look great and doesn't have to be fast. Chrysler knows this all too well and has bestowed the Voyager with a level of performance that is best described as "timid". Under the hood is a relatively lively 287-horsepower V6 engine that does its best to haul this 4,330-pound couch around. Although Chrysler has not released any official performance figures - because why would you bother with a minivan - independent testing has shown zero to sixty sprint times as low as 7.3 seconds. That's faster than a 1968 Chevrolet Corvette 327. Power is sent to the front wheels exclusively, which is a bit of a letdown when you consider the fact that the Toyota Sienna is available with all-wheel drive. It might be FWD only, but the Voyager can still haul 3,600 lbs, which is more than competitors such as the Honda Odyssey.

There's no need for complicated powertrains if a car's sole purpose is to slowly cart people around from the casino to the retirement village. For that reason, Chrysler has stuck with a tried and tested naturally-aspirated six-cylinder. This engine produces a solid 287 hp and 262 lb-ft. As is the norm for this type of engine, maximum power is only reached at a sky-high 6,400 rpm, and max torque is delivered at 4,000 rpm, which means you'll have to put your foot down if you want to see any real progress. Around town, the Voyager scoots along with no complaints and is a capable cruiser on the highway; just don't expect bristling overtaking maneuvers. The nine-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly enough and does a fine job of keeping the engine in its optimal powerband.

Chrysler isn't known for building well-handling cars, and the Voyager builds on that legacy. It's not to say that the Voyager is a horrible car to drive, but it should be made clear from the start that this minivan will not be supplying any major thrills anytime soon. All that is expected of a minivan is a predictable driving experience and a well-damped suspension setup and the Voyager delivers these characteristics with aplomb. The light steering makes it simple to guide this mom-bus around tight corners and cramped parking lots on suburban and city streets. That same slight steering gains a bit of heft as soon as you hit the highway, but as with most of the cars in this class, steering feedback is non-existent. At low speeds, the Voyager soaks up bumps without complaint. At higher speeds, it can feel floaty but never feels out of control. At 70 mph, the Voyager is a comfortable cruiser, despite the noticeable wind noise.

The modern minivan has a lot on its hands these days: not only do owners expect them to offer enough space for the whole family, but it needs to keep them safe, comfortable, drive and handle like a much smaller car, and return good fuel economy figures. When it comes to fuel economy, the math does not favor the humble minivan. With a curb weight of over 4,000 pounds, a big V6 under the hood, and the aerodynamics of a house, you'd expect the Voyager to suffer at the pumps. Still, this American favorite performs rather admirably. The EPA rates that the Voyager will manage a best performance of 19/28/22 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles. The Honda Odyssey's gas mileage numbers are identical. With a 19-gallon fuel tank on board, the Voyager will get 418 miles on a single fillup.

Minivans of old offered the bare basics, as their sole purpose was the transportation of a large group of people, with little thought given to keeping said people comfortable. The modern car owner expects a bit more from a minivan, and the good news is that the Chrysler Voyager delivers. The interior is a welcoming space that looks premium enough, especially at its price point. The Pacifica might be more upmarket, and there are many hard plastic panels to be found scattered about in the Voyager, but all in all, it's a nice place to be, never mind the abundance of passenger space on offer. With last year's unimpressive L trim gone, the default LX offers features like an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and three-zone automatic climate control.

This is where the Voyager truly shines. Its ability to swallow people is uncanny, and with a seating capacity of seven, the Voyager makes every one of its occupants feel comfortable. There are two front bucket seats for the driver and front passenger and two second-row captain's chairs. The third row is a three-seater 60/40-split bench. This year, the second and third rows are of the Stow 'n Go design and they all fold flushly into the floor. The Voyager's high roof means that there is ample headroom for all three rows, and legroom in the first two are also plenty. Things get a bit tighter in the third row, but your average-sized adult will still be able to sit comfortably.

Don't expect Mercedes-Benz S-Class levels of interior quality in the Voyager, but in the same breath, you don't have to expect the worst. The Voyager offers a level of quality that is on par with its competitors, and while the choice of materials isn't breathtaking, they'll easily withstand years of abuse. The LX gets premium cloth seats in black only. Black plastics and alloy trim dominate the cabin.

Cargo space might not be the Voyager's main focus, but it still delivers an impressive amount. The Voyager offers 32.3 cubic feet of space behind the third row, which should be enough for a solid run to the grocery store or three kid goats. If there are only four in the car, the third row easily slides flat via Chrysler's Stow 'n Go feature and opens up to a total of 87.5 cubes. This should be more than enough to accommodate the luggage of said passengers on an extended road trip. If you're moving or transporting a baby elephant, the Voyager offers up to 140.5 cubic feet of space behind the front seats.

Small items are stored in the standard floor trays, floor console, a full-length floor console on the LXi, the locking glove box, and lower instrument panel cubby. There are ample cupholders spread throughout the interior. On the LX, the second-row quad seats come with in-floor storage bins.

Last year's very basic L trim has been dropped, leaving the better-equipped LX. Standard features on the LX include two 12-volt auxiliary power outlets, a 120-volt AC power outlet, cruise control, and driver aids such as a ParkView rear backup camera and remote keyless entry. The LX has three-zone climate control with voice activation, an N95 cabin filter, a tilting/telescoping steering column, front and rear reading lights, ambient overhead lighting, power sliding doors, a power liftgate, a driver's eight-way power-adjustable seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The lack of any notable driver assistance systems except for normal cruise control and automatic headlights is worrying.

Once again, the Voyager's price point signals a lack of any premium infotainment features. However, you do get all the basics, which should suffice for your average family hauler or airport shuttle. All trim levels are fitted with a seven-inch infotainment display that runs the new and more user-friendly Uconnect 5 system. This is an easy-to-navigate system and intuitive enough for anyone to get to grips with. The infotainment system includes an AM/FM radio, Bluetooth with integrated voice control, aux and USB ports, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with voice recognition, Amazon Alexa voice control, Uconnect Market, the ability to connect two mobile phones via Bluetooth at once, and over-the-air updates. Music is channeled through a six-speaker sound system with Active Noise Cancellation that sounds best when blasting Night Swim by Home. The infotainment system can be upgraded with navigation, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and SiriusXM 360L and Guardian.

The Chrysler Voyager has proven that its reliability does not have to be questioned, having had no recalls in the past three years. However, its more upscale sibling, the Pacifica, has been recalled once in 2020 for a fault with the backup camera display. Chrysler will cover the 2021 Voyager with a standard three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, roadside assistance for five years or 60,000 miles, as well as a five-year corrosion warranty.

Transporting lots of people in one vehicle places extra responsibility on the manufacturer to keep things safe. In the NHTSA review of the Chrysler Voyager, it managed a full five-out-of-five stars, while the IIHS gave the 2021 model mostly Good scores in its rating of the Voyager but rated it Poor for its headlights.

Expect only the basics. The Voyager offers seven airbags, including front seat-mounted side airbags and side-curtain airbags for all three rows. ABS brakes and stability control are also present. A ParkView rear backup camera, remote keyless entry, automatic headlights, and an electric parking brake are also standard. Customers looking for some added safety can go for the new Safety and Premium Group package, which adds blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, full-speed forward collision warning, rear park assist, and pedestrian emergency braking.

Chrysler has managed to deliver a cost-effective and capable minivan that ticks most of the boxes and will be an easy car to live with daily. At its price point, it undercuts many of its competitors, and despite taking a knock in the features department, it still offers enough for most when you review your basic needs. Under the hood, the Chrysler offers sufficient poke to do the daily rounds and manages to keep its fuel addiction on the manageable side of things. This van behaves well on the road, and while it won't handle the corners as well as, say, the Honda Odyssey, it is still comfortable enough for long road trips. The cabin is spacious and doesn't feel cheap at all, but there are very little in the way of features, especially in the base model. The absence of any modern driver-assist technologies as standard is especially hard to swallow. Yes, the Voyager is a step down from the Pacifica, but it is still a brilliant deal for those who focus on value rather than luxury.

Possibly the most significant selling point of the 2022 Chrysler Voyager is its low cost when compared to the competition. With the base model now gone, the only remaining trim is the LX and it is expected to cost just a little bit more than last year with a starting price of around $30,800 excluding tax, registration fees, and a destination fee of $1,495. With tons of spare parts available, the Voyager's running costs should be minimal.

For 2022, there is only a single fleet-only trim of the Chrysler Voyager left, namely the LX. It is basically last year's LX carried over to 2022 with a few added features. It is powered by a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, driving the front wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The LX has automatic halogen-projector headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, and remote keyless entry. Inside, the seats are upholstered in black cloth, the front seats and steering wheel are heated, the driver's seat is eight-way electrically adjustable, and the second and third rows are flat-folding Stow 'n Go items, with a total seating capacity of seven. Other standard luxury features include three-zone climate control with an N95 cabin filter, a 12-volt auxiliary power outlet, cruise control, a tilting and telescoping steering wheel, power sliding doors, and a power liftgate.

There are virtually no standard safety features besides seven airbags, ABS brakes, stability control, and a backup camera, but more driver-assistance features such as blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and automatic emergency braking can be added. The infotainment system has been overhauled and is now the more advanced Uconnect 5 version that allows two Bluetooth smartphone connections and has a seven-inch touchscreen. It supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as Amazon Alexa voice control and over-the-air updates. Navigation and a 10.1-inch touchscreen are optionally available.

The LX is offered with the Safety and Premium Group package that adds luxury features such as navigation and a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen and driver-assistance features such as blind-spot with rear cross-traffic detection, full-speed forward collision warning, pedestrian emergency braking, and ParkSense rear park assist with stop function. This package is crucial to add the bare minimum of driver-assistance features and the infotainment upgrade that comes with it is most welcome too.

Firstly, you're only eligible if you're a fleet buyer, as the Voyager is no longer for sale to the general public. Secondly, you don't have a choice of models, since the LX is the only remaining trim this year. Therefore, it comes down to what extras you order to pesonalize it and, to this end, the Safety and Premium Group is indispensable to bring your Voyager up to the minimum safety standard.

These two cars are one and the same, but the Pacifica is a more upscale minivan. The Pacifica shed its L and LX trims a few years, which were simply rebranded as Voyager vans, so most of the stuff you see in the Voyager will be present here, only in a more upmarket package. The Pacifica runs the same V6 engine and transmission and can hold the same amount of people and amount of cargo. The only significant difference here is the available number of features, an increase in the asking price, and the availability of AWD for the Pacifica. Also, the Pacifica is offered in hybrid guise. The Chrysler Pacifica starts at a significantly higher $35,820 for the Pinnacle AWD model cost over $54,000. That said, these prices offer standard features like blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and rear cross path detection, all of which aren't standard on the Voyager. If you're looking for a more premium experience and don't mind the extra cost, then you can't go wrong with the Pacifica.

The base FWD Sienna starts at $34,560 and is a hybrid by default, offering fuel economy that, at 36/36/36 mpg, is vastly superior to the Voyagers. It seats eight people by default but doesn't offer the Voyager's nifty Stow 'n Go rear seats, which means the Voyager's total cargo volume with all seats folded is a huge 40% more. It is also more powerful than the Toyota. The Sienna feels like a missed opportunity by Toyota to finally give it the interior configurability that the Chrysler minivans have had for years. So, despite being so much newer in concept, it fails to edge past the high-value Voyager, which can be reasonably equipped with the most important safety features for less than the cheapest Sienna. That being said, if fuel economy and available AWD are that important to you, the Toyota has an edge - at a significant price hike over the Voyager.