Volkswagen Routan tied with BMW750i in Motor Trend Car of the Year ratings

Although a mini-van, the Routan held its own in the subjective ratings. It shares 15th place with BMW 750i, Honda Insight EX, Kia Soul Sport, and Nissan 370Z. The competition was tough: Ford Fusion is Motor Trend's 2010 COTY. The Routan competed against such other fine motor cars as the Prius, VW GTI, Porsche Panamera, Mustang GT, BMW Z4, Mercedes Benz E550 Sedan, and Chevrolet Camaro among others.

Besides being in very good company, the 2010 Volkswagen Routan SE (with the lesser of two engines and lesser appointments) beat out the likes of the Ford Taurus, Mercedes Benz E350 Coupe, Kia Forte Koup SX, and Suzuki Kixashi SLS. Before you go bad mouthing those that Volkswagen beat, consider: the Routan beat a Mercedes E-class.

The 2010 Contenders were rated on Engineering, Design, Interior, Performance, Ease of Use, Safety, and Value. How the cars were evaluated can be found at Motor Trend Car of the Year. Of the cars rated better than the Routan overall, Routan is considered to have strengths in areas.

Engineering-equal to Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 GT (8th), Buick LaCrosse CXS (11th), Chevrolet Camaro RS (12th), and Nissan Cube (12th).

Design-equal to Porsche Panamera S (3rd), Ford Mustang GT (3rd), Mazdaspeed3 (8th), Lexus HS 250h (12th) and Nissan Cube (12th); and better than Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Limited (6th) and Mercedes-Benz E550 Sedan (8th).

Interior-equal to Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 GT (8th), and Lexus HS 250h (12th); and better than the Chevrolet Camaro RS (12th).

Performance-equal to a Nissan Cube (12th).

Ease of Use-equal to Toyota Prius (2nd), Volkswagen GTI (3rd), Porsche Panamera S (3rd), Ford Mustang GT (3rd), Mercedes-Benz E550 Sedan (8th), Mazdaspeed3 (8th), Lexus HS 250h (12th), and Nissan Cube SL (12th); and better than BMW Z4 sDrive 35i (6th), Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 GT (8th), Buick LaCrosse CXS (11th), and Chevrolet Camaro RS (12th).

Safety-equal to Toyota Prius (2nd), Porsche Panamera S (3rd), Mercedes-Benz E550 Sedan (8th), Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 GT (8th), and Lexus HS 250h (12th); and better than Volkswagen GTI (3rd), Ford Mustang GT (3rd), Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Limited (6th), BMW Z4 sDrive 35i (6th), Mazdaspeed3 (8th), Buick LaCrosse CXS (11th), Chevrolet Camaro RS (12th), and Nissan Cube SL (12th).

Value-equal to Volkswagen GTI (3rd), and Porsche Panamera S (3rd); and better than BMW Z4 sDrive 35i (6th), Mercedes-Benz E550 Sedan (8th), and Lexus HS 250h (12th).

The Volkswagen shares the most ratings (57%) with the Porsche Panamera S (3rd), Lexus HS 250h (12), and Nissan Cube SL (12th).

It shares no ratings with the Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT Limited (6th) and BMW Z4 sDrive 351 (6th).