2009 Volkswagen Routan Review

PROS  Lots of passenger and cargo space, Very refined, Plenty of minivan features

CONS  Mediocre fuel economy, Scant rear-seat head room with optional sunroof

People remember the VW Microbus with fondness, perhaps even a bit of affection. But the truth is the vehicle was awful. Believe me, I know, frequently traveling to and from high school in a particularly bad example of the Microbus that had little acceleration in first gear and no acceleration in second gear. In addition, there was scant front-seat leg room and absolutely no heat in the winter. Still, I suppose we looked hip . . .

Flux capacitate to 2009 as Volkswagen introduces the Routan, it's the German automaker's first minivan offering in the United States in six years. Sharing chassis and engines with Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan but Routan sports different styling inside and out and a few unique features. Additional competitors include the Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Nissan Quest, and Toyota Sienna.

Routan is offered in three trim levels: S, SE, and SEL. All are front-wheel drive and seat up to seven passengers on front buckets, a second-row bench seat, and a third-row bench seat. Optional are second-row bucket seats that recline or fold flat. Chrysler and Dodge offer second-row buckets seats that fold into the floor or swivel to the rear. These types of seats are not offered on the Routan.

S and SE come with a 197-horsepower 3.8-liter V6. The SEL gets a 251-horsepower 4.0-liter V6. Both engines mate to a six-speed automatic transmission that has a dashboard-mounted shifter with separate shift gate for manual selection of forward gears. When properly equipped with the optional towing package, towing capacity is for all models is 3500 pounds.

Standard safety features on all trim levels include antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, tire-pressure monitoring system, and dual-front and curtain-side airbags. Rear-view camera and rear-obstacle detection are optional. Side airbags are not offered.

S models list for $25,200 and include air conditioning, tilt-telescope leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, cloth upholstery, heated power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with digital-media player connection, conversation mirror, rear defogger, floormats, theft-deterrent system, fog lights, 225/65R16 tires, and wheel covers.

The SE lists for $29,700 and adds tri-zone manual climate controls, eight-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustment, power-sliding rear doors, in-dash 6-disc CD/MP3 changer, steering wheel radio controls, trip computer, outside-temperature indicator, compass, universal garage door opener, illuminated visor mirrors, second- and third-row sunshades, 225/65R17 tires, and alloy wheels.

The line-topping SEL has a base MSRP of $33,600 and adds to the SE automatic climate controls, leather upholstery, heated front- and second-row seats, power-adjustable pedals, Bluetooth cell-phone link, automatic day/night rearview mirror, power liftgate, and automatic headlights.

Key options include sunroof, power-adjustable pedals, power-folding third-row seat, remote engine start, eight-way power passenger seat, memory system (driver seat, mirrors, pedals), upgraded sound system, 115-volt power outlet, navigation system, satellite radio, iPod adapter, digital hard drive for music and image storage, and rear-seat DVD entertainment system with dual screens. The Routan has a destination charge of $650 and is assembled in Ontario, Canada.

Get Up and Go  As you might expect, there's not a lot of difference between the two engines. Volkswagen claims that the 3.8-liter can push the Routan from 0 to 60 mph in 10.2 seconds; the 4.0-liter accomplishes the same task in 8.9 seconds. Both numbers are well within the norm for the minivan class.

Regardless, the performance of either engine should be adequate for most situations. If you constantly have a full load of passengers or often tow, you'd probably want to opt for the larger engine, though that means stepping up a great deal in price. In addition, the larger engine seems to be a trifle bit more refined in hard acceleration.

Though unnoticed most of the time, six-speed automatic occasionally hiccups annoyingly during gear changes at low speeds. This is most noticed when driving in stop-and-go traffic or when coasting around corners.

EPA estimates for the 3.8-liter V6 are 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. Surprisingly, the 4.0-liter V6 garners better ratings of 17/25 mpg. VW says that both engines will run fine on regular-grade gasoline.

In routine driving you are likely to average about 18 mpg with either engine. In straight highway cruising 20-22 mpg is more likely.

On the Road  As you might expect, the Routan rides much like the Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Grand Caravan, though it seems a trifle more refined.  There's excellent isolation from small bumps and expansion joints and very large jolts are handled with composure. On especially rough roads, there's an excess side-to-side oscillation that's somewhat off putting.

Routan feels more nimble than its Chrysler Corp. stable mates. Still, it's not as car-like as Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna. Body lean is kept in check nicely and the steering is accurate, if a bit numb. Brakes are plenty powerful and the turning radius is better than expected for a minivan.

Owners will appreciate the Routan's quiet interior. It's one of the quietest minivans, perhaps even more serene than the T&C. There's a slight bit of whistle from the roof rack at highway speeds, but otherwise wind rush, tire thrum, and engine noises are but a distant memory.

Behind the Wheel  For most owners, the most important feature of any minivan is the interior. It appears that Volkswagen took Chrysler's years of experience in designing minivan interiors and enhanced it with a bit of European flair. For the most part the design is both pleasing and functional. Materials are on par for the class if not a bit better and there are lots of nice features like removable and dishwasher safe cupholders and lock-out control to prevent small children from messing with the radio and climate controls.

Gauges are right in front of the driver. Entertainment system controls are high in the center of the dashboard. A touch screen is available to help manipulate the myriad of audio and video options. You don't need to read the owner's manual for basic operation and simple controls like the station presets and volume controls have their own buttons. The climate controls are a bit low, but still easily accessible. Simple dials manage the temperatures in all three zones.

The rear-seat video screens aren't as large as in some competitors, but they are big enough and have a sharp picture, plus there are two of them.

Front seats are very chair-like and upright. They aren't too hard for long trips or too soft for twisty roads. In other words, they are just about perfect for a minivan. Power pedals and tilt steering wheel make it easy for the driver to get comfortable. Visibility is great to the front and sides. The optional park assist and back-up camera are a great plus when parking.

Second-row seat comfort is also quite good. Because they don't have to fold into the floor, the seats are properly size for adults, meaning they are substantial and comfortable. Leg room is plentiful. Head room is good unless you opt for the sunroof, then even average-size adults might complain.

The third-row seats offer decent head and leg room, but they aren't quiet long-trip adult comfortable. Getting to the third-row seats is a bit tricky unless you use the middle pass through.

Power second-row windows are a nice touch as are available second-and third-row sunshades. There is also a power option for the third-row seats. While this is a nice feature, it really only makes sense if you can't easily reach into the cargo area to flip and fold those seats.

Cargo capacity plays a huge role in the success of a minivan, and the Routan is quite versatile. There's a deep rear storage well and second-row storage bins. In addition the second-row seats are removable. There are also numerous storage bins and cubbies and a number of overhead bins. The one-piece tailgate opens tall enough for an adult to walk under and the optional power-close button is located on the sidewall where it is easier to access for vertically challenged adults.

Bottom Line  This might not be the minivan the Volkswagen buyers expected, but it's a credible player in the marketplace and then some. It lacks the innovative seating options of its Chrysler cousins, but Routan makes up for that with an extra dollop of refinement.

When shopping for a minivan, it is important to remember that functionality trumps style and performance every time. VW engineers seems to recognize that fact as they didn't compromise any of the values that make the Town & Country or Grand Caravan the class leaders. Pricing is in line with the competition, so there's no reason not to give the Routan a test drive.