Volkswagen Routan Reviews 2013

Don't expect razor edge performance from the Routan - you'll never forget that you're driving a minivan. Routan's big challenge has to be obvious - it's a Volkswagen in name only.

The 2012 Volkswagen Routan is a solid minivan, but others in the class offer more flexibility, nicer interiors and better performance.

The Routan is a solid choice for those looking for a bit of style and performance in a class not known for either attribute.

Inside, while the VW materials help the interior, some reviewers say that simply slapping nice coverings on a Chrysler interior is sort of like putting lipstick on a pig.

Reviewers say that while the Routan drives slightly better than the Chrysler minivans, it still lags the Honda Odyssey, which they call the best-driving van in the class.

I actually think that Volkswagen improved upon the work of Chrysler in defining the Routan as a VW product. It's a visually attractive van that manages to make good use of its vast expanses of sheet metal and glass.

As a minivan, it fits somewhere in the middle as far as manoeuvrability is concerned. Visibility is understandably good, however, fuel consumption is not.

Perfect crash test scores make the Routan a great choice for safety, but its fuel economy is just average at 16 mpg city / 23 mpg highway.

Even though the Routan is a minivan, it offers minimal front seat legroom. A driver of normal height may find the cockpit confining.

To be fair, VW worked hard to make the Routan feel more like a Volkswagen. Interior materials have improved with new color schemes, and the suspension has been tightened up for a (relatively) sportier feel.

Today's Routan, built atop a donor platform provided by Chrysler, omits personality completely and brings to the table a people-carrier with virtually no versatility beyond carrying people.

The 2009 Volkswagen Routan has the bonuses of Chrysler’s segment-defining minivans with a touch of German flair, but a modern-day VW Bus it’s not.

Though the Routan doesn't fully capture Volkswagen's typical feel, it delivers enough style to make it an attractive option.

It's a spacious package with a much nicer execution than had been the norm for the Chrysler vans.

The Volkswagen Routan minivan is something drivers don't see very often. It's a slow seller, for one, but it's also a pretty pure example of badge engineering, something that's largely gone away with the demise of Plymouth, Oldsmobile and Mercury.