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CHANCE ENCOUNTER

Rather like running, the Grandis is not something you go out of your way to chose but once you get introduced, it kind of grows on you.

That’s not to say the Grandis isn’t easy on the eye; it’s stocky yet streamline shape makes it a lot less awkward looking than many other MPV’s. However rather like exercise, it doesn’t quite have the same appeal as a slap-up English breakfast; you don’t buy the Grandis for its mouth-watering draw but rather more for its sensibility.

Having seven seats will always be a bonus when you’re the leisure and tourism planner of your group. If it wasn’t for you organising a weekend trip to Newquay or a game of golf of an evening then surely Dave, Andy and Richard would just be consigned to licking windows at the local pub. Instead the rear seats can be folded down and there’s plenty of room for bags and clubs. Even Richard’s trainers are far enough away to be able to enjoy the country air. And then when Simon gets let out on the town after a long stint of blissful coupledom, the middle row of seats slide right forward to avoid him any drunken injuries. Even Paul will leave his Evo behind on the odd sunny weekend if a spot of surfing is on the agenda. He always gets the back row though being 5’5’’ although they do recline so at a push you could get a six-footer in there. Another handy feature is the way the back seats fold so you can sit backwards to pull on or off your wetsuit.
Come Saturday evening, rounding everyone up and being the only sober one while everyone chants rugby songs in the back isn’t really the best bit of your job description. Ah well, at least you’ll be all fit and fresh tomorrow on the pitch while they’re nursing a hangover and trying to conceal their ever emerging kebab bellies in their shorts. You can always drown out the noise with a blast of the evening’s favourites from the car’s standard MP3 player. The 200-odd mile drive home is pretty relaxing too with the climate control turned up and the opportunity to use the whole girth of those 17” alloys through the twisty, sun dappled lanes of Cornwall’s toy-town chants. A quick stop for real clotted cream in a cone with a squirt of strawberry jam and it’s hardly worth using the central locking in a village where the population is about 6 and the majority are all over 65. Strange, those scantily-clad twenty something’s from yesterday evening must live somewhere around these parts, cautiously peering over the seats I see one has joined us for the ride.

Perhaps the Grandis is more of a magnet than I thought with its rakish contours, jewel-like headlamps, clamshell bonnet and integrated rear roof spoiler? It certainly has enough power to retain its street-cred. The 2.0litre DI-D Diesel engine is Volkswagen-sourced and uses pump-jet technology to develop 134bhp at 4,000rpm and 229lb ft of torque at 1750rpm. A 0-62mph time of 10.8 seconds isn’t exactly sports car territory but for a vehicle that transforms itself in to an after-party chill-out and slump room, it well exceeds expectations. A top speed of 121mph is not to be sniffed at either and being a diesel it’s got plenty of low down thrust too.
The engine is mated to a six speed manual transmission which has been designed to tap in to this reservoir of torque and ensure a good pay-off of both power and fuel economy. With 43 miles to the galloon on a combined cycle it’s a motor that gives rise to spontaneous long distance drives and because the C02 rating is 176g/km it’s pretty tax friendly too.

On the sensible subject, the Grandis’ safety is graded remarkably high in both the active and passive categories. The EuroNCAP rating is 4 stars whereas the in-house testing on its structural platform awarded it a 6-star JNCAP. As standard the Grandis gets a driver air bag, passenger front and side air bags and curtain airbags for the first and second rows of seats. It also has a four-sensor, three-channel ABS anti-lock system together with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA).

Verdict

FOR: Spacious and versatile, sporty streamline shape, economical, hot on safety, sociable and family-friendly
AGAINST: Sliding doors would have given it an even more practical appeal as well as sat nav which you really need in a motor that’s going to clock up the miles.
CONCLUSION: Yes a two-seater open-top sports car would be the instantaneous choice but think of all ways you can use a seven-seater. Sporty and large doesn’t usually go in the same sentence but in this case it seems to work; the Grandis is relatively nippy and handles well for a motor of its size. It’s not your bog standard box on wheels which makes it all the more appealing. Its definitely worth a test drive if your in the market for something a bit more versatile and don’t be surprised if your quick spin around the block grows in to a long distance stint.

Spec

ENGINE: 2.0litre D-I-D
Co2 (g/km)/tax: 176 g/km
POWER: 134bhp @ 4000rpm
TORQUE (lb/ft): 228lb ft @1750rpm
0-62mph (sec): 10.8
TOP SPEED: 121mph
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed
PRICE: £23,914
RIVALS: Renault Espace, Ford Galaxy, Peugeot 807, Chrysler Voyager, Citroen C8