2009 Volkswagen Routan SEL
06/06/2009
Greg A. Godsell
Rarely does a first generation vehicle come with such a storied past. It would be even harder to find a vehicle that better illustrates the contrast between the product development cycle and the rapid state of change in the industry. When Volkswagen enlisted the help of Chrysler to build their minivan, few could have foreseen the state of the industry when the product launched. Sales of the Routan minivan are off to a slow start. With the widespread trouble in the auto industry and the big changes at Chrysler in particular, the Routan may be a short-lived product in its current form.
Volkswagen's Routan minivan, although manufactured by Chrysler, wears significantly different bodywork to distinguish it from either the Chrysler or Dodge products of the same lineage. The styling is tasteful and fits within the current VW lineup with the conservatively styled Passat and Jetta.
With a sticker price of $41,790, the Routan SEL is comparable in equipment to the range-topping Honda Odyssey Touring, Sienna XLE and highly optioned models of the Town & Country/Grand Caravan. The VW includes a leather interior, navigation system, satellite audio system with hard drive, power sliding side doors, power operated rear hatch, power folding third row seats, three zone automatic climate control system, and heated second row seats.
The interior abounds with useful and convenient features. The deep in-floor storage compartments between the first and second row can swallow backpacks, purses and other small baggage easily, allowing items to be stowed out of sight from potential thieves, and cutting down the clutter associated with travel. Two appreciated interior amenities were the sunshades for second and third rows seats and the white LED lighting, which provides illumination for passengers without distracting glare for the driver. The interior also has its share of quirks such as the parabolic conversation mirror mounted too far back to be useful.
The Routan's instrumentation resembles the Passat's clear and legible gauges in daylight, but the backlit faces are distractingly bright at night. The navigation system has many useful functions, but is also hamstrung by some ridiculous quirks. For instance, the navigation system restricts the types of points of interest (POI) available while moving. This silly limitation does nothing to reduce the risk of distraction. Mobile phone-using drivers will appreciate the Uconnect voice recognition and phone pairing system, which worked as advertised.
Inside the Routan, the driver and front passenger benefit from generously proportioned, comfortable seats. Located between the seats is a bulky removable center console; a two-step sliding mechanism extends cup holders within reach of the second row passengers. Additional cup holders are in the dash for the front seat passengers. Switched and unswitched power outlets for electronic accessories are inconveniently located near the floor.
In the SE and SEL trim levels, second row occupants get tall buckets seats that flip and fold forward. Although the seats proved comfortable for long road trips, they do not slide sideways, swivel, lie flat or stow in the floor as on some Chrysler versions of this minivan. The large middle row seats hamper access to the third row. The third row seats lean sharply towards the rear of the vehicle, aiding seat stowage at the expense of passenger comfort. However, the power reclining function of the third row seats mitigates some of the complaints. Despite providing ample legroom , the rearmost seats lack headroom for 6-ft. or taller occupants.
Unlike seven passenger crossovers, minivans excel at hauling passengers and cargo. The Routan is no exception, providing a capacious cargo area. The deep recessed well in the rear swallows baggage and groceries. Although most modern minivans feature disappearing third row seats, some are lighter and easier to operate than others are. The Routan offers a power folding seat feature that does the heavy lifting at the touch of a button.
The range-topping SEL includes a Chrysler sourced 4.0L V6 rated at 251-bhp. Fuel economy is average for the class with an EPA estimate of 17 MPG city and 25 MPG highway. In our test, we fell short of these estimates; around town, the Routan achieved a mediocre 15-17 MPG, although on the highway, mileage exceeded 20 MPG.
Our Routan test vehicle was equipped with unimpressive Bridgestone Turanza EL400 tires. The torque-laden V-6 proved too much for the Bridgestones on wet roads, spinning the tires frequently with no intervention from the stability control system. Suspension tuning leans toward the comfortable end of the spectrum, but the Routan's nose-heavy weight distribution results in significant understeer. Nonetheless, on the highway, the Volkswagen is quiet and composed, proving an agreeable people hauler for extended trips.
The Routan is a competitive offering that not only provides Volkswagen with a minivan, but more importantly, with a seven passenger vehicle to sell. Chrysler's capable minivan platform and manufacturing capacity enabled Volkswagen a cost-effective way to expand its model range for the American market. The Routan's attractive styling should appeal to VW buyers and could be enough to draw customers from the bland, but popular Chrysler, Dodge and Toyota minivans.