THOSE IN THE MARKET for a seven-seat people mover are spoiled for choice these days.

Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Renault and Toyota each have their own non-crossover seven-seaters on the market, and all have their unique appeal.

Mitsubishi’s Grandis is one that will no doubt be familiar to most. On sale in Australia since 2004 as the replacement for the Nimbus, the Grandis is an attractive package for family-bound motorists.

Styling

Although it can’t hold a candle to Honda’s slick Odyssey, the Grandis is one of the more handsome people movers on the market today.

Sharp triangular headlights are complemented by futuristic vertical tail lights, and blacked-out pillars smooth the glasshouse and give the Grandis a sleek and quite edgy profile.

For 2009 the Grandis is only available in VRX flavour, and that brings a bodykit with flared wheel-arch extensions, sportier front and rear bumpers and a set of 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels.

A chrome exhaust tip and a set of front foglights are also part of the VRX package, as is a subtle rear spoiler, a pair of roof rails and electrically-folding wing mirrors with integrated side indicators.

Despite the slightly advanced age of the Grandis’s basic design, it is still a shape that’s easy on the eyes – and one that will retain its good looks for at least few more years yet.

Interior

As pleasant as its exterior may be, the real appeal of a people mover lies within its shell. Intelligent packaging and sensible ergonomics are key; the Grandis satisfies on both these criteria rather well.

Seven seats fit comfortably into the Grandis’s 4760mm long and 1835mm wide frame, and the setup is extraordinarily flexible.

The 50/50-split third row seats can fold completely flush with the floor or be tilted 90 degrees to the rear so that two people can enjoy the view through the car’s open tailgate.

The second row seats adjust fore and aft, and the backrests can fold down to create a full-length bed. Alternatively, they can both be pushed up against the first row of seats to maximise cargo space.

One downside: the procedure for stowing away the third row takes some getting used to, and having to remove the headrests is a chore.

There are cup-holders for each of the seven seats, and the two outboard passengers in the second row also get a fold-down tray table mounted in the front seatbacks. Map lights are provided in all rows and the rear cabin gets its own ventilation controls mounted in the roof.

Generously-sized storage bins have been incorporated into each door, and there’s also some stowage room under the third row seats.

The front pews are heated and all seats are upholstered in black leather. Our tester came fitted with the optional dual sunroof, which lends the cabin a much airier feel when opened up.

The driving position is good, although the steering wheel adjusts only for tilt and not reach. The leather-trimmed wheel is comfortable to hold though, and the dash-mounted shifter lever falls readily to hand.

One major shortfall is the lack of steering-wheel mounted audio controls, meaning the driver needs to lean over the dash to change radio frequencies or CD tracks on the six-stacker CD tuner. With the seat back, it can be a bit of a reach.

There’s a great deal of plastic in the interior of the Grandis, but quality of fit and finish is high and everything feels well-screwed together. The barrel-shaped centre console though is a bit clunky design-wise, and encroaches on knee space.

That said, it’s a versatile interior, and despite heavy use of mid-grade plastics there’s a premium feel to the cabin.

The seats are comfortable, legroom is plentiful (even in the third row) and only tall adults will find a shortage of headroom in the rear seats. Overall, the Grandis is a comfortable vehicle to be in for any length of time – a perfect companion on a longer trip.

Mechanical Package

The Grandis VRX is motivated by Mitsubishi’s venerable 4G69 2.4 litre inline four. Developing 120kW at 6000rpm and 216Nm at 4000rpm, the naturally-aspirated 2.4 litre MIVEC powerplant provides adequate shove to get the Grandis moving.

The engine is paired with a conventional four-speed automatic, which features a tiptronic mode for manual control over gear ratios. The automatic is the only gearbox on offer however, with no conventional manual available.

Braking is by ventilated discs on the front axles and solid discs on the rear, and steering assistance is hydraulic, rather than electrical. The Grandis is suspended on MacPherson struts at the front and multi-link trailing arms out back.

For such a large car, the Grandis offers quite reasonable urban agility. The steering geometry allows for a respectable 11 metre turning circle, and the steering assistance is light enough to make carpark manoeuvres a doddle.