IT'S FAIR to say that when it comes to people carriers, Chrysler can lay claim to giving the world the daddy of all the full-size MPVs.

Its Voyager and Grand Voyager line-up has proven immensely popular, and more recently offered clever features such as power sliding doors and tailgate plus rear seats that could be stowed in cavities in the floor.

For all the car-like people carriers out there, the demand for space and smart comfort features wrapped up in a practical, nononsense body has never waned. The Voyager series might not have been the sharpest on-road but what they did they did better than the rest.

Keen to capitalise on the solid demand for such vehicles, Chrysler's 2008 model-year Grand Voyager sticks resolutely to the plan that has brought the company its considerable success in this sector. You won't find racy exterior styling or go-faster widgets here. What you will find is space (plenty of it), realworld innovation and thoughtful touches.

It's clear the success of the firm's 300C saloon has rubbed off on the Grand Voyager.

Its flanks are smooth and fussfree, the grille is the now familiar Chrysler family design and the vehicle looks purposeful.

Chrysler claims more than 30 new or improved features for the Grand Voyager, and the focus is very much on occupant comfort. The old car's clever Stow 'n' Go' rear seats remain an integral feature, and now there's an alternative in the form of Swivel 'n' Go' captain's chairs, allowing rear seat occupants to face each other, plus make use of a collapsible table.

Then there's the car's multimedia system, which comprises of DVD-based sat-nav plus colour touch screen plus a hard disc storage feature for music and images. Then there is the twin, roof-mounted screens, allowing passengers to watch a film, listen to music or even play a connected games console - all at the same time.

For all the Grand Voyager's many individual improvements - and yes, there are many - it's the car as a whole that's likely to continue to attract buyers.

When you first step into the car you're aware that it's been designed first and foremost as a family vehicle.

Storage space is generous, there's the option of a stain resistant fabric for the upholstery, the power operated doors can be controlled by the driver - thus limiting the chance of a child exiting the car into a busy road. And then there's the way it can be converted into a posh van with the minimum of effort.

Don't let its obvious family-centric values put you off if you don't have a family though. The car also boasts some grown-up features such as posh leather seats and a cabin featuring subtle ambient lighting that's more common in a costly executive saloon.

With a six-speed auto gearbox making the job of driving easier, the diesel powering the test car is gutsy enough and smooth when the road is straight and flat. Full-size people carriers aren't about performance, making the Grand Voyager's relaxed approach to motoring forgivable.