Review
The brand is so strong that computer manufacturers use it in their own advertising to show they are offering a quality product.
It’s a shame that, because they are competitors, car makers can’t do the same and flag up great equipment they have taken from other manufacturers.
Take our long-term Mitsubishi Grandis, which is exceeding any expectations I had for it when it first joined the fleet. It has Volkswagen Inside – in the shape of the excellent 2.0-litre 134bhp turbodiesel engine.
I have covered more than 2,000 miles in a relatively short space of time and the benefits of the engine never fail to impress.
It pulls extremely well (I mentioned in the new arrival report that it spun its wheels regularly when pulling out of junctions and it becomes even worse in the wet. It needs traction control as standard, please), and it has very good fuel economy – I regularly get 40mpg despite carrying full loads and sitting in traffic.
The standard DVD player which folds down from the roof to amaze children of all ages had its first outing recently and performed exceptionally well.
I expected more of a tinny sound from the earphones, but they are extremely good and the screen is large enough and close enough to make sure you don’t have to squint.
It also has a snazzy games console built in. The offered games are more Commodore 64 than Microsoft X-box, but it passes the time anyway.
Despite being built for family use, the Grandis has shown itself to be a credible performer as a motorway mile eater. Also, the gearshift is perfectly placed so it falls easily to hand. All the switches are within easy reach and the handy storage bin on top of the dashboard keeps the usual litter associated with long drives from sweeping across the dashboard at every corner.
The third row of seats has also been put to good use, but only for small people. Most adults will find their heads crammed against the roof.
The middle row, which slides fore and aft and has reclining seats, is a lesson in comfort, although pushing home the seatbelt buckle when it is wrapped around a car seat is a real task.
Once everyone is on the move, the ride is firm and it puts on a good performance when cornering, keeping relatively flat.
Overall, a very solid performance and all wrapped up in one of the most beautiful bodies you will see on an MPV. It may have Volkswagen on the inside, but on the outside it should have its MPV rivals worried. John Maslen
Model: Mitsubishi Grandis 2.0 DI-D Warrior
Price (OTR): £23,699
Mileage: 6,450
CO2 emissions (g/km): 176
Company car tax bill (2006) 40% tax-payer: £196 a month
Insurance group: 15D
Combined mpg: 42.8
Test mpg: 45.1
CAP Monitor residual value: £7,950/34%
Expenditure to date: Nil
Typical contract hire rate: £447
