VW Routan is...uh...revealed

[CJ]

Enter the 2009 VW Routan, a seven-passenger minivan that looks like, well, just another minivan. Especially a Chrysler minivan, despite VW's press puffery about how the vehicle features "European sensibilities in design, fit and finish and handling characteristics."

Aside from the VW grille and badging, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the Routan apart from its American cousins from most angles, inside or out.

Under the hood is a familiar Chrysler 3.8-liter V6, rated at 197 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque. A 251-hp 4.0-liter is optional.

Among the features are a rear-seat entertainment system, dual power-sliding doors with power windows, touchscreen navigation, power liftgate and ? in a definite departure from the European ? 13 cupholders.

Further underscoring its European heritage, the Routan will be built in Windsor, Ontario. Prices will start at less than $25,000.

What this means to you: A Routan by any other name still looks like a Chrysler minivan. ? Paul Lienert, Correspondent

Damnit, VW, you screwed this one up.

[2o6]

Looks great. Interior looks good.

[ifcar]

I think they did an excellent job on the exterior, and if they improved the interior quality (they could have, they gave it a decently thorough restyle) this thing has good potential.

[sandertheshark]

I hurt my jaw yawning so hard.

[2o6]

I hurt my jaw yawning so hard.

What is it supposed to be? It's a minivan. It's great.

[CALL_911]

Routan. Sounds like Pasta. Looks good for a minivan, but the interior is blah.

[Mak450]

I don't think the taillights go very well with the rest of the rear, but other than that its not bad.

[MaxPower]

Aside from the VW grille and badging, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the Routan apart from its American cousins from most angles, inside or out.

They aren't kidding, and I don't think that's a good thing.  Why does VW need to do this to itself?  Was the Eurovan too small or something?  Forget about it...I just saw that other thread.

[ifcar]

I don't think the taillights go very well with the rest of the rear, but other than that its not bad.

My biggest complaint about the other Chrysler vans is the expanse of sheetmetal in the back. They're very wide vans, and having a horizontally oriented taillight seems to help disguise that.

[ifcar]

They aren't kidding, and I don't think that's a good thing.  Why does VW need to do this to itself?  Was the Eurovan too small or something?

I didn't see where they were coming from myself. It looks to me like they changed the front and rear ends, plus the roofline. If no one had told them it was based on the Chryslers, I don't think anyone would know until they were inside.

The Eurovan was a converted delivery van, like the Chevrolet Astro but more expensive. This makes more sense.

[MaxPower]

I didn't see where they were coming from myself. It looks to me like they changed the front and rear ends, plus the roofline. If no one had told them it was based on the Chryslers, I don't think anyone would know until they were inside.

The Eurovan was a converted delivery van, like the Chevrolet Astro but more expensive. This makes more sense.

Well, for me at first glance I saw the squared off rear in the first picture and immediately thought new Caravan...but, as I do let the pics soak in they have changed it significantly enough that the other pictures don't look so similar.  The headlights and taillights are certainly an improvement, that's for sure.

[Cookie Monster]

It's OK... I like the rear, but the front is blah.
The interior is OK, better than the Chrysler vans but the navigation screen is small and it looks odd.

[nickdrinkwater]

Looks good.  I deisagree with the artice, they differentiated it quite well.

[Mak450]

My biggest complaint about the other Chrysler vans is the expanse of sheetmetal in the back. They're very wide vans, and having a horizontally oriented taillight seems to help disguise that.

I see what you mean, I've never actually looked at the Caravan from the rear till you mentioned it.

[Payman]

They should have put a VR6 in it. 

[the Teuton]

They should have put a VR6 in it. 

I was kinda hoping for VW engines, too.  It looks decent, though, and it's relatively cheap for a VW.

[Rich]

They should have put a VR6 quad turbo V18 in it. 

Fixed

[Payman]

Fixed

Quad turbo W16.

[Rich]

Quad turbo W16.

Oh, I forgot, that is in VW's inventory isn't it?  I would buy that.

If it could be sold for 25k

[Payman]

Oh, I forgot, that is in VW's inventory isn't it?  I would buy that.

If it could be sold for 25k

You probably couldn't buy the gaskets for that engine for $25K.

[the Teuton]

This minivan really isn't that bad for a VW.  The interior doesn't look like their usual snuff, but it looks much better than the Chrysler alternatives. 

[2o6]

They couldn't have used the Sharan?

[the Teuton]

They couldn't have used the Sharan?

You are kidding, ja?



While it does look better, it's still too small to be competitive here.  Also, since it's made in Europe, it would be too expensive, too.

[2o6]

You are kidding, ja?



While it does look better, it's still too small to be competitive here.  Also, since it's made in Europe, it would be too expensive, too.

That pic is not real....


Also, the Sharan is shared with the Ford Galaxy. The Sharan is 182" in length, only four inches shorter than a SWB Caravan. (Previous Gen)

[2o6]

The New Ford Galaxy, is 190", just 10" shorter than the Toyota Sienna.

[ifcar]

You wouldn't call that significant? Do you not know what ten inches represents in auto size? A Passat isn't ten inches longer than a Jetta.

[TheIntrepid]

Now will this be as overpriced as most of the other "People's Cars" on the market?

[S204STi]

I didn't even know this was the Chrysler-clone till I read about it in this thread.  Shows, to me, how well they differentiated the styling inside and out.

Too bad they have the same crap drivetrain.

[TheIntrepid]

[the Teuton]

The VW's interior does look better than the Honda's.  I will say that.