Grandis by name, grandiose by nature, Mitsubishi's seven-seater factotum is the replacement for the Tupperware-ish Space Wagon, a functional item with the emotional leverage of a sandwich toaster. Thankfully, this model makes great efforts to inject some style and panache into the business of impersonating your local bus. And the result is an alternative to the Renault Espace, Volkswagen Sharan and Ford Galaxy which is worthy of serious contemplation, not least because of pricing: at ¯¿½19,699 for the 2.0 DI-D, you have the keys to a well-kitted machine.
Yes, how does it compare against such strong rivals?
The 'Classic' spec includes air-con, 17-inch alloys, front fog lights, electric windows and mirrors, plus an alarm with remote central locking. The sound system has four speakers, is MP3-compatible and, of course, includes a CD player. As with all models, eight airbags are included (though nothing pops out in the third row) and anti-lock brakes come with electronic distribution to ensure the stopping power goes where it should.
Looks like I'd need an HGV licence
Yes, she's not exactly svelte, but that snazzy front-end styling and the fact that the nose is fairly low set makes this not so much of a tarmac-bound airship as first impressions suggest. And if you do have a small army to manoeuvre, they'll enjoy the space. You have three seating rows with an asymmetrically splitting bench for the second row, while the third row caters for two and can be split 50-50 or folded flat (though not flush to the floor) when - as you'll find means near as ever always - they're not required. Those rearmost seats are best left for kids, though: there's only token legroom.
Does diesel make sense here?
Absolutely - particularly if you're the maker. Mitsubishi was trying to sell the petrol-only Grandis for about a year in a UK market where some 85% of purchases are diesel. This new option, courtesy of a power unit from Volkswagen, unties the Japanese makers hands, though there are some design errors which make it not entirely the answer to your dreams.
Such as?
Well, the headlines are superb. It'll average 43mpg, yet perform briskly, reaching 62mph in just 10.8 seconds (so making it a tenth of a second quicker than Renault's 3.0-litre diesel Espace). The chief gripe is the lack of an automatic option here. The five-speed gearstick sprouts cleverly from the dash, so there's room under it for a storage compartment and the floorway is kept uncluttered, but such are the dimensions and the consequent driving nature of this model that an automatic option would have been perfect.
So what is the 'driving nature'?
A true motorway cruiser, the Grandis is smooth and quiet when settled at speed. The diesel engine doesn't match the 2.4-litre petrol for refinement when the revs creep up, but thanks to those 134 horses, it's punchy, albeit a little short of steering feel (a shortcoming which soon displays itself on a challenging road). The six-speed box can, like so many, be a little grouchy if you start to ask for quicker reactions from it, but with 288 ft lbs of torque, this is a load-lugger that can confidently overtake. The suspension is fairly sophisticated, too - crucially, the Grandis has a fairly low centre of gravity, though the driving position is no less lofty.
A good excuse for extending the family then?
Easy day-to-day use makes the Grandis appealing but in the flesh - and particularly if you opt for dreary old predictable silver - it does tend to look a bit of a featureless slab, despite the space-age face. Build quality looks and feels good enough, but the cabin feels plasticky, too. Trump card has to be individuality: even at Mitsubishi's most ambitious estimates, this model will never be commonplace. Ultimately though, it's not quite as athletic and agile as its creators would have you believe.
Tiscali verdict: 7/10 Not sporty by a long stretch.
