The Bottom Line

Pros

seating for seven

Decent economy

Nicely put together and

Cons

Not really a VW

Shorter warranty than Chrysler kin

experience lacks fun

Description

Prices: $26,930 (S); (SE); $37,390 (SEL); (SEL Premium)

Engine: V6

Horsepower: 283 @ 6,350 rpm

Torque: 260 @ 4,400 rpm

Transmission: 6-speed with manual shift and front-wheel drive

Curb 4,494 lbs (S); 4,595 lbs SEL, SEL Premium)

Fuel Economy: 17 mpg city/25 mpg

Wheelbase: 121.2; Length: Width: 76.9; Height: Ground Clearance: 5.6

Cargo: — 144.4 cubic behind first row; 83 feet behind second 33.0 cubic feet third row.

Warranty: 3 mile basic warranty; 5 mile powertrain warranty; 3 mile roadside assistance; 3 mile carefree maintenance

Review — 2011 Routan

Chrysler gets for starting the minivan craze the Town Country back in But I think Volkswagen really the seeds for the minivan in 1950 the introduction of the Type 2, better as the VW Bus, Microbus or Hippiemobile. The rear-wheel drive bus was an iconic on the road, and still draws of delight (from me, anyway). The Bus into the Vanagon (1980 1992), which morphed the Eurovan (1993 — which evaporated like the dew. Since 2009, VW has the Routan on its showroom floors. that I didn’t say produced the because the Routan is more of a of branding than building. VW with Chrysler to build the in its Windsor, Ontario factory. slap a few VW badges on the Chrysler Country, and a Routan is born.

The good parts of the Routan are the parts of the Town Country, and not bad at all. The minivan gets a of cool features, user-friendly and a high degree of comfort. All rows of seating are suitable for with the front two rows in comfort. Routan doesn’t get the Stow Go seat option TC can get, so you have to make do seats that fold and tumble forward to provide to the third row. Storage abound throughout the vehicle, under floor storage in of the second row and a cup holder ratio of 2:1 (cup holder:passenger).

VW kept things simple the hood. The Routan is available only one powertrain, a 3.6-liter V6 a six-speed automatic transmission and drive. It’s the same engine that you get with a TC, down to the Chrysler logos the hood. The V6 will deliver all the you need from a minivan, if it doesn’t deliver all the performance you want. Freeway on-ramps, grades and passing are all a breeze. is adequate, with well-controlled roll and decent braking. expect razor edge from the Routan — never forget that driving a minivan.

Routan’s big challenge has to be obvious it’s a Volkswagen in name There’s no essential VW-ness it. So why would you go to a VW dealer to buy one, of a Chrysler or Dodge dealer you could get the same vehicle a different logo and a better warranty? I can imagine scenarios convenience or familiarity might the VW connection work better for buyers, but it’s a stretch. more of a stretch for me is choosing the over the Toyota Sienna or Odyssey, each of which I over the Routan, Town or Grand Caravan. All I can say about the is that I can’t wait the next VW minivan arrives in the

Disclosure: Review samples provided by the manufacturer. For more please see our Ethics Policy .

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