LET'S all go on a summer holiday and the latest Grand Voyager might just be the car for the job.

For a start you can comfortably carry all the family and still have masses of room for all of your holiday baggage and yet be in one of the sleekest multi purpose vehicles around.

Just because it has the American badge of Chrysler don't be fooled by the idea that it has been shipped in across the Atlantic.

The new Voyager is European built, at a factory in Austria, and in latest guise is sleeker, more sophisticated, with refined styling, an enhanced power-trains, including a powerful new common rail turbo diesel engine, which goes hand in hand with smooth ride and handling and is accompanied by a wide range of friendly features.

Take the tailgate and the side-sliding doors: both open as if by magic at the press of a button on the key fob.

The power sliding door system is fitted with a detection system that will stop and reverse direction if it detects anything in its path, whether it is opening or closing. Then at the back the power tailgate is equipped with two further safeguards: a warning chime alerts you for two seconds before the tailgate begins to open or close and sounds for the first two seconds of its movement. Secondly, it has a pinch sensor that detects fingers and other objects that may not provide enough resistance to be sensed by the primary detection system as the tailgate closes.

Compared to most people carriers, the current Voyager has oodles more interior space, is better to handle, smooth and agile. It lends itself to stress-free driving through refined levels of quietness and luxurious appointments.

You can get the seven seater as a front-wheel drive, standard and long wheel-base, and with a petrol engine as an alternative to the fantastic 2.5-litre common rail turbo diesel engines, as well as different levels of trim.

Go for the latest turbo diesel for all round satisfaction. It neither acts or sounds like a diesel except when it comes to operating economy.

With around 60 per cent of all Chrysler Voyagers bought in this country and mainland Europe fitted with a diesel engine, the most significant is an all-new 2.5-litre, common rail direct injection turbo diesel engine developed by DaimlerChrysler.

This new four cylinder 16-valve engine seems a significant technical development and has the performance to make it top drawer, with an abundance of power and torque, yet with no perceptible noise, vibration or harshness, sufficient to 115mph.

Standard equipment includes four-wheel disc brakes with antilock braking, power door locking, electrically operated front windows and rear quarter vents, power steering, power heated folding door mirrors, dual front airbags and side airbags for the front seats.

Not only is it the best looking MPV with a host of mouth-watering comforts, I consider it the smoothest, quietest, most powerful and more comfortable than most.

It's one people mover I could certainly live with.