Lancia Voyager 2.8 CRD 163 CV Aut., road test (Exterior design, interior and trim)

If you are looking for an MPV with seven seats and enough room for all seven occupants to travel comfortably, the Lancia Voyager is an interesting vehicle for you. In the first part we reviewed the engine, performance, handling and consumption of this large MPV.

And now in the second part we turn to the exterior design, the interior qualities and the space it offers occupants, as well as the various practical solutions it incorporates inside.

Exterior design

From the outside, few features have changed compared with the last generation of the Voyager that was sold in our country under the Chrysler name. At the front we now find the Lancia logo and new chrome elements.

Something similar happens at the rear, where very little has changed and the only notable items are the new logo and the chrome strip that runs from side to side across the Voyager. In terms of figures, the photos already give an idea of how imposing this MPV is, and its 5.21 metres in length certainly confirm it.

Tinted glass adds a touch of privacy to the interior, and finally the standard 17-inch alloy wheels complete the simple and elegant side profile.

The side doors are electric, (Gold trim) and we can open them from the inside (the driver has the controls to hand) or simply by pulling the door handle, after which the electrical system does the rest.

Interior design, quality and finish

As soon as you open the door we notice that the driver’s seat is set in a raised position. It is a position that is at the same time comfortable for driving, thanks also to the large seats, which are more like an armchair than a car seat.

Thanks to the height of the front seats, forward visibility is good, while side visibility is completed by the large mirrors, with which we can see what is around us (they are absolutely necessary given the dimensions of this Lancia).

The dashboard is the weak point of the Voyager. The design is more than correct and the quality of the controls is good too; where it falls short is the overall quality of the dashboard, a hard plastic typical of American vehicles that lets down an otherwise well-finished car. What is curious is that in large MPVs of this kind it is rare to find one with soft-touch plastics on the dashboard. Despite the quality, the fit and finish are correct.

The doors, however, show a quality that one wishes were present throughout the car, as they have softer padded areas which, together with the leather upholstery, are in line with the final price of the car.

In the second row we find two seats that can be adjusted for distance (moved forward or backward) or have their backrest adjusted. They are comfortable, with their own armrests on both sides, and because they can be moved, we gain versatility.

The climate control system has three zones: driver, passenger and the rest of the car. That is, the second and third rows of seats have independent climate control. In addition, the second row has standard-opening electric windows, while the third row has electric windows that open only laterally.

Third row where three seats complete the seven-seat layout, access is quite good. These seats can be stowed in the boot in a matter of seconds, freeing up more capacity.

Space is guaranteed in all three rows of seats, including the third, where there is enough room for feet and head, and the seats are comfortable rather than the small, cramped ones typical of some seven-seat SUVs, suitable only for children or contortionists.

Storage and boot

In terms of storage, it is an MPV and lives up to its name. There is a central console with plenty of space for objects and several glove compartments. The door pockets are large, the main glovebox is medium-sized (although it is a double glovebox), and in the second row there are further storage spaces beneath the floor mats where more things can be kept.

Overall, the inside of the Voyager has many storage spaces and compartments, whether in the front seats, the rear seats or the third row, making it ideal for a large family with children.

The boot has a capacity of 1450 litres in the four-seat configuration, while with the seven seats fitted there is still 510 litres of space available. These capacities stand out from its rivals and are very good figures. It has a rechargeable LED torch located on the side of the boot, and the tailgate is electrically operated.

In the third part of the test we will focus on equipment, reviewing the safety of the Lancia Voyager, along with the rest of its equipment and our overall assessment.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira