PEOPLE carriers are taking over the world. Latest is the new flagship to join the eight -model Mitsubishi seven-seater Grandis range.

The Grandis Warrior, as it is known, has just gone on sale with a price tag of £22,499 for the manual version. Add another £1,000 for the automatic.

It is quite a stunning vehicle to look at, lower and sportier than its competitors, and kitted to look the part with 18-inch alloy wheels, sports-type aluminium front grille plus a fair amount of shiny chrome on the wing mirrors, door handles, rear tailgate grip as well as the exhaust trim. Metallic paint comes as standard, with a choice of sterling silver or cosmos black.

Warrior also carries a fair bit of standard gear, designed to keep everyone happy. There's an eight-inch DVD entertainment system for those in the back, a six-disc CD player for those up front, and leather seats for the comfort of all.

Other attractions include comprehensive safety features such as ABS anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, driver and passenger front and side airbags plus curtain airbags for the first and second row of seats.

There is also keyless entry and alarm, automatic air conditioning, front fog lamps, rear spoiler, electric door mirrors and height adjustable driver's seat with an armrest.

Warrior is also the only full-size MPV to have what Mitsubishi likes to call Hide & Seat. It's a rear row of seats that can be individually folded away into the floor in a simple operation that takes just a few seconds. The Hide & Seat is now a company trademark, and the idea creates lots of extra luggage room without the folding, removing, carrying and storing that can go with many MPV rear seats.

In terms of performance, Mitsubishi's own 2.4-litre 16-valve four-cylinder engine, develops 162bhp at 6,000rpm.

The powerpack takes the Warrior to 62mph in 10-seconds (11.7-seconds if fitted with the four-speed automatic), and with a more than impressive top speed, is still capable of returning a combined fuel figure of 30.1mpg with the manual box, and 28.2mpg automatic.

Dealer: York Mitsubishi, Great North Way, York Business Park, Nether Poppleton (01904 600600).

Updated: 11:21 Friday, January 21, 2005