What it lacked was a decent diesel engine to appeal to those people with busy lives and tight pockets - and now it has one.
The 2litre DI-D engine, complete with a six-speed gear box as standard, joins the already established petrol-powered line-up this month with a number of trim levels.
It means that along with the practicality that the Grandis always offered, you now get an engine which will return in the region of 43mpg.
There's also a tax-friendly CO2 rating of 176g/km. Sourced from Volkswagen, the 1968cc pump-jet, four cylinder unit is no space shuttle in the speed stakes, but it still makes for a very capable means of transport for the modern family.
You can certainly tell that you're driving a diesel, and it really does benefit from that six-speed box, but it isn't overly noisy, either.
The lower profile of the Grandis means that it also manages to avoid the feeling of sea sickness, which some other people-carriers can induce. If you're not familiar with the Grandis, it looks more like a stretched Honda Jazz than the "traditional" people-carriers we have come to know and love, including Renault's bulkier Espace and Ford's more cubic Galaxy.
The swooping design makes it look a little more sporting than most competitors, meaning that mum and dad can feel a little cooler than they might expect while ferrying little Jimmy to cubs.
On the down-side, the vehicle's narrow design means that it's probably slightly more difficult to reach the Grandis' sixth and seventh seat than you might find in some competitors.
As with a lot of Mitsubishi motors, it's a little plasticky on the inside - and there's a cheap and cheerful feel if not a cheap and cheerful price tag.
But, if you're looking for a frugal and good-looking ride which is also utilitarian, then the diesel Grandis makes a lot of sense.
