The dilemma
Jeff is looking to replace his Toyota Kluger with a larger vehicle to haul his growing family and tow a caravan.
He regularly uses his Kluger’s third-row seating so its remaining boot space isn’t big enough to carry a pram plus the paraphernalia that goes with four young children.
Jeff is considering a Toyota Prado off-roader, Chrysler Voyager people mover and perhaps a European option from Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.
The budget:
Up to $70,000.
The shortlist:
Jeff hasn’t specified whether he already tows a caravan with his Kluger, which is an important piece of the puzzle. If he does then we can safely assume his caravan isn’t a mobile mansion and cast a wider net. If not, then Jeff will need to look at the big rigs with higher towing capacities.
The Prado is the logical step up from the Kluger and ticks Jeff’s boxes for cabin space and flexibility. It also has a substantial braked tow capacity of 2500 kilograms.
If Jeff is happy to compromise tow-ability for interior flexibility and value then Australia’s best-selling people mover, the Kia Grand Carnival, is worth a look in. There’s a large chink in the Korean’s armour, however.
As with the Ford Territory soft-roader, its potentially life-saving curtain airbags do not extend to the third row, which allows Chrysler’s Grand Voyager LX ($57,000) to step up here. But the big American bus isn’t perfect either, with a handy reversing camera not on the standard equipment list. At least it comes with rear parking sensors, and a camera can always be retrofitted relatively cheaply.
At the Euro end, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen’s people movers are basically delivery vans with seats and windows. But part of their lure includes some of the most refined diesel engines in the business, top-notch safety, plus seating for up to nine occupants. The popular models also fit within the set budget.
Jeff’s other options?
We’d avoid Nissan’s ageing Patrol for a lack of airbags compared with its rivals while the similarly sized Toyota LandCruiser 200-Series is beyond budget here (from $77,990).
If he wants to head down the proper 4WD route then the Land Rover Discovery 4 TdV6 is another potential candidate owing to its big, roomy cabin and Clydesdale-like towing capacity of 3500kg. The downsides, however, are its budget-stretching $68,900 asking price (plus $2500 for the third-row seats on top of on-road and dealer costs) not to mention Land Rover’s reputation for less than stellar reliability.
If the Disco still appeals, however, we’d steer clear of the Discovery 3 (2005-09) for the current model (from 2009), which starts from about $60,000 in the used classifieds.
Toyota Prado GXL diesel (from $61,990)
The tradition heavy-duty 4WD comes loaded to the brim with safety and standard equipment, particularly the top-selling GXL.
Unlike the base GX, it comes with seven airbags (including a driver’s knee and curtain airbags that extend to the third row), a reversing camera and rear parking sensors. The latter aids are crucial for such a high vehicle with limited rear visibility.
It’s powered by either a 4.0-litre petrol V6, or a more efficient 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder, which accounts for the majority of sales.
Importantly for Jeff, there's more boot space with the third row rows in use than the Kluger, and the extra seats can also fold into the floor for more room. But don’t expect people-mover levels of cargo space with the third-row seats in place. It’s still pretty tight back there.
The Prado’s high floor might be beneficial in the bush, but it could prove tiring to load a pram into each day.
It’s also more affordable than the Land Rover Discovery 4, which offers a classier cabin and similar off-road credentials, but still comes with reliability issues.
Chrysler Grand Voyager LX (from $57,000)
As a conventional, one-box people mover, the Grand Voyager doesn’t have the towing or off-roading prowess of the Prado, but it does come with a pretty clever cabin, with loads of space, astonishing flexibility and genuine user-friendliness.
It features a clever seating system that allows the middle-row seats to be folded, flipped and stored under the floor while the third-row seats also fold into the floor to convert the Chrysler from seven-seater to two-seat cargo carrier.
The boot isn't especially long but compensates with depth and height, and is versatile thanks to the final row's split-fold function.
Sweetening the deal are power-sliding doors and a flexible 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine.
Volkswagen Muiltvan T5
Jeff has a wide range of Mercedes and Volkswagen people-movers to choose from and it all comes down to numbers, be it the quantity of seats, turbos, engine outputs, and of course, the price.
The recently introduced Mercedes-Benz Valente (from $54,490) fills the gap between the entry-level Vito wagon and the powerful, luxury-skewed Viano flagship.
Despite its workhorse origins, the Vito is impressively refined and car-like to drive so the Valente will be no different.
Its flexible seating carries up to eight occupants, but as with the Kia Grand Carnival, the Mercedes’s curtain airbags don’t protect third-row occupants.
That brings us to the Volkswagen Multivan. The German giant also sells a more affordable diesel-powered people mover, the Caravelle (from $49,990), but curtain airbags for second and third-row passengers are not available.
Of the six Multivans on offer (two petrol and four diesel), three slide into Jeff’s budget, with the TDI400 Comfortline T5 (from $56,990) being the stand out for its value and torquey, 400Nm twin-turbocharged diesel engine.
The big VW also comes with the choice of two- or all-wheel drive ($60,990), the latter of which could prove useful for his towing ambitions.
Another drawcard is the Multivan’s clever railing system, which allows you to slide the second- and third-row seats fore and aft to adjust legroom and boot volume accordingly – a handy futureproof for a growing family.
The Multivan’s seating may not entirely suit Jeff’s needs, though, as the second row consists of two swivelling armchairs separated by a sliding drawer. Only the third row is a traditional bench seat.
Being European also means you’ll need to cough up extra for some key features. A reversing camera will add $1290 to the cost and power-sliding doors (standard on the Chrysler and Kia) are a $2390 ask.
The verdict
If Jeff wants a hardcore bush basher then the Prado will hit the spot. It continues to be immensely solid and capable, great off-road and a very capable tow vehicle. It’s also a handy people mover without looking like a dowdy school bus.
But Jeff is also looking for an urban daily transporter, which is not the Prado’s intended environment, so he’ll need to think hard before choosing the big Toyota.
Going against the Chrysler is the Kia. The top-spec Grand Carnival Platinum diesel can be bought for similar money (from $56,190) as the entry-level Chrysler and is better equipped. It also comes with a longer warranty and a more powerful diesel engine. If only its curtain airbags covered the third row.
That leaves the Volkswagen. It’s a roomy, versatile people mover and comes with a range of powerful engines and drivetrain configurations to suit Jeff’s needs and budget. Just make sure the second-row seats suit, too.
Jeff is looking to replace his Toyota Kluger with a larger vehicle to haul his growing family and tow a caravan.
He regularly uses his Kluger’s third-row seating so its remaining boot space isn’t big enough to carry a pram plus the paraphernalia that goes with four young children.
Jeff is considering a Toyota Prado off-roader, Chrysler Voyager people mover and perhaps a European option from Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.
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He’s ruled out other popular people-movers, however, such as
the Toyota Tarago, Hyundai iMax and Drive’s perennial favourite, the
Honda Odyssey.The budget:
Up to $70,000.
The shortlist:
Jeff hasn’t specified whether he already tows a caravan with his Kluger, which is an important piece of the puzzle. If he does then we can safely assume his caravan isn’t a mobile mansion and cast a wider net. If not, then Jeff will need to look at the big rigs with higher towing capacities.
The Prado is the logical step up from the Kluger and ticks Jeff’s boxes for cabin space and flexibility. It also has a substantial braked tow capacity of 2500 kilograms.
If Jeff is happy to compromise tow-ability for interior flexibility and value then Australia’s best-selling people mover, the Kia Grand Carnival, is worth a look in. There’s a large chink in the Korean’s armour, however.
As with the Ford Territory soft-roader, its potentially life-saving curtain airbags do not extend to the third row, which allows Chrysler’s Grand Voyager LX ($57,000) to step up here. But the big American bus isn’t perfect either, with a handy reversing camera not on the standard equipment list. At least it comes with rear parking sensors, and a camera can always be retrofitted relatively cheaply.
At the Euro end, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen’s people movers are basically delivery vans with seats and windows. But part of their lure includes some of the most refined diesel engines in the business, top-notch safety, plus seating for up to nine occupants. The popular models also fit within the set budget.
Jeff’s other options?
We’d avoid Nissan’s ageing Patrol for a lack of airbags compared with its rivals while the similarly sized Toyota LandCruiser 200-Series is beyond budget here (from $77,990).
If he wants to head down the proper 4WD route then the Land Rover Discovery 4 TdV6 is another potential candidate owing to its big, roomy cabin and Clydesdale-like towing capacity of 3500kg. The downsides, however, are its budget-stretching $68,900 asking price (plus $2500 for the third-row seats on top of on-road and dealer costs) not to mention Land Rover’s reputation for less than stellar reliability.
If the Disco still appeals, however, we’d steer clear of the Discovery 3 (2005-09) for the current model (from 2009), which starts from about $60,000 in the used classifieds.
Toyota Prado GXL diesel (from $61,990)
The tradition heavy-duty 4WD comes loaded to the brim with safety and standard equipment, particularly the top-selling GXL.
Unlike the base GX, it comes with seven airbags (including a driver’s knee and curtain airbags that extend to the third row), a reversing camera and rear parking sensors. The latter aids are crucial for such a high vehicle with limited rear visibility.
It’s powered by either a 4.0-litre petrol V6, or a more efficient 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder, which accounts for the majority of sales.
Importantly for Jeff, there's more boot space with the third row rows in use than the Kluger, and the extra seats can also fold into the floor for more room. But don’t expect people-mover levels of cargo space with the third-row seats in place. It’s still pretty tight back there.
The Prado’s high floor might be beneficial in the bush, but it could prove tiring to load a pram into each day.
It’s also more affordable than the Land Rover Discovery 4, which offers a classier cabin and similar off-road credentials, but still comes with reliability issues.
Chrysler Grand Voyager LX (from $57,000)
As a conventional, one-box people mover, the Grand Voyager doesn’t have the towing or off-roading prowess of the Prado, but it does come with a pretty clever cabin, with loads of space, astonishing flexibility and genuine user-friendliness.
It features a clever seating system that allows the middle-row seats to be folded, flipped and stored under the floor while the third-row seats also fold into the floor to convert the Chrysler from seven-seater to two-seat cargo carrier.
The boot isn't especially long but compensates with depth and height, and is versatile thanks to the final row's split-fold function.
Sweetening the deal are power-sliding doors and a flexible 2.8-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine.
Volkswagen Muiltvan T5
Jeff has a wide range of Mercedes and Volkswagen people-movers to choose from and it all comes down to numbers, be it the quantity of seats, turbos, engine outputs, and of course, the price.
The recently introduced Mercedes-Benz Valente (from $54,490) fills the gap between the entry-level Vito wagon and the powerful, luxury-skewed Viano flagship.
Despite its workhorse origins, the Vito is impressively refined and car-like to drive so the Valente will be no different.
Its flexible seating carries up to eight occupants, but as with the Kia Grand Carnival, the Mercedes’s curtain airbags don’t protect third-row occupants.
That brings us to the Volkswagen Multivan. The German giant also sells a more affordable diesel-powered people mover, the Caravelle (from $49,990), but curtain airbags for second and third-row passengers are not available.
Of the six Multivans on offer (two petrol and four diesel), three slide into Jeff’s budget, with the TDI400 Comfortline T5 (from $56,990) being the stand out for its value and torquey, 400Nm twin-turbocharged diesel engine.
The big VW also comes with the choice of two- or all-wheel drive ($60,990), the latter of which could prove useful for his towing ambitions.
Another drawcard is the Multivan’s clever railing system, which allows you to slide the second- and third-row seats fore and aft to adjust legroom and boot volume accordingly – a handy futureproof for a growing family.
The Multivan’s seating may not entirely suit Jeff’s needs, though, as the second row consists of two swivelling armchairs separated by a sliding drawer. Only the third row is a traditional bench seat.
Being European also means you’ll need to cough up extra for some key features. A reversing camera will add $1290 to the cost and power-sliding doors (standard on the Chrysler and Kia) are a $2390 ask.
The verdict
If Jeff wants a hardcore bush basher then the Prado will hit the spot. It continues to be immensely solid and capable, great off-road and a very capable tow vehicle. It’s also a handy people mover without looking like a dowdy school bus.
But Jeff is also looking for an urban daily transporter, which is not the Prado’s intended environment, so he’ll need to think hard before choosing the big Toyota.
Going against the Chrysler is the Kia. The top-spec Grand Carnival Platinum diesel can be bought for similar money (from $56,190) as the entry-level Chrysler and is better equipped. It also comes with a longer warranty and a more powerful diesel engine. If only its curtain airbags covered the third row.
That leaves the Volkswagen. It’s a roomy, versatile people mover and comes with a range of powerful engines and drivetrain configurations to suit Jeff’s needs and budget. Just make sure the second-row seats suit, too.
