Motoring: The verdict - Not now, Voyager

Chrysler's Voyager is the world's largest people carrier. And that, say our testers, is the problem.

Perhaps you thought that Renault invented the people carrier with the launch of its Espace in 1985. You'd be utterly wrong. Or at least that's what Chrysler maintains.

Although it didn't come to Europe until a couple of years ago, Chrysler has sold 7 million Voyagers since 1983, making it the world's best-selling people carrier. But is the original still the best? It's certainly the biggest, especially the long wheelbase incarnation tested here. The pompously named Grand Voyager 3.3LX is a stretched version of the standard Voyager, designed to counter the common criticism of people carriers, that they don't have enough luggage space once all the seats are in place. It not only seats seven in squishy luxury, but swallows their luggage, too.

Its passengers won't be bored: gadgets abound on the pounds 29,000 top-of-the-range LX. Electrically adjustable front seats, electric windows, air conditioning, a CD multi-changer, ABS and cruise control are standard, as is leather trim. The cup-holders could take gallon buckets of Root Beer, while the dimmer switch on the illuminated vanity mirror wins my prize for most pointless extra ever fitted to an automobile. An irritating "beep" sounds if you don't belt up, and the doors lock automatically a few seconds after you begin driving. And some people like the consequent feelings of isolation and protection: the Voyager wants to look after you.

But it is intimidatingly vast. And, with those tinted rear windows, a little sinister - like those vans driven by the men in space suits who came to take ET away.

Once on the move, super-light assisted steering and that growly 156bhp V6 3.3 litre engine mean you can punt it along at a fair lick, and worries about scale slowly dissipate. You'll approach your first corner with some trepidation: the Voyager's light steering and very American suspension mean that it's a yacht around bends. The brakes are transatlantically soft too, with far too much travel before the discs bite. Fuel economy, at 23mpg, is firmly in the category of, "If you need to ask, you can't afford it." The turbo diesel version, though, returns a far more respectable 33mpg.

But that US influence pays off in the Voyager's levels of comfort. For a jumped-up van it is relaxing to drive, and the heated front seats with their little fold-down arm rests and deep, soft leather, could grace many an airline's Business Class. Like its peers, the Voyager transforms into a fairly large van when you remove its rear seats: be warned though, these are very heavy lumps of furniture.

I can think of no better vehicle than the Voyager for roaming the Prairies with six friends in tow, but you've really got to need it to buy it. It's easily manoeuvred, but no amount of power steering or electronically retracting wing mirrors can make the Voyager smaller, and you'll be forever trying to find a double space in the car park.

That said, if you can get your head around piloting something akin to the London Palladium on wheels, the Chrysler Voyager could well turn out to be your most stylish available option.

Road test If you would like to take part in a test drive, write to The Verdict, The Independent Magazine, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DL, giving a contact phone number, your address and details of the type of vehicle, if any, you drive. For most cars, participants must be over 26, and have a clean driving licence.

Ian Gosling, 43, manager of the Heritage Department at McLaren FI, from Northampton. Currently drives an Audi A3

"My first impression was how easy to drive it is for such a big car. It's very un-American inside, which is good, and the V6 makes a nice noise without being obtrusive. It's for someone who wants something different from an Espace, who wants to make a statement. It would be very comfortable. It's excellent if you had a few kids, far better than a four-by-four because I never go off-road. What pisses me off is to see them driving around with one or two people in them. They take up a lot of road space and you have to look for double spaces in car parks."

Steve Malkin, 33, MD of Image Wizard PR, from Sevenoaks, Kent. Currently drives a Porsche 944

"My brother has one of these and really likes it. He's done 27,000 miles in four months. He has a bad back but hasn't had any problems. This would be great for a big family and it looks better than other people carriers like the Renault Espace. I'd definitely prefer it to a four-by-four. It is huge but doesn't feel too large or heavy to drive, though the tinted windows mean you could lose sight of motorcycles. The build quality is solid but I'd still imagine that the depreciation would be vicious. It would also be ludicrously expensive to run unless it was a company car - it's very thirsty on petrol."

Dianne Westoby-Brooks, 46, teacher, and her son Jack, 4, from Woking, Surrey. Currently drives a Mercedes 200TE

"You get a really good view from the driver's seat but visibility out of the rear is tricky. You feel very superior and safe but you can't see the bonnet. It drives very smoothly and is extremely comfortable. But it feels under-powered compared to my 2 litre Mercedes, and that's almost as heavy. I expected more oomph. The brakes are spongy. I'd need a much bigger garage, and taking it into a multi-storey car park would be a nightmare. At the end of the day I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole because the electric windows don't stop closing if they're obstructed - that could kill a child."

Simon Carter, 36, designer, from Croydon. Currently drives a Porsche 911 and Rover P6

"You aren't aware of how far back this thing goes until you look over your shoulder and realise the back seat is in another time zone. It would attract bollards like a magnet: there's a monster blind spot. Considering its size and the fact that it's American, the ride is nice and firm, but the steering a little vague. The engine is beefy but not very responsive, but it would probably be a delight on a motorway. The wood trim shows delusions of grandeur, otherwise it's very well appointed with more gravitas than an Espace. It's a lot of money to spend. It's a chic urban minibus for the bloated - in all senses - family."