June 24, 6:14 AM
Denis Flierl
2010 VW Routan SE
2010 VW Routan SE Review: Options- Day 4
The best part of the Routan is the interior options that turn this minivan into a rolling entertainment room on wheels. The first thing I did was turn on the radio and was surprised at the quality of sound from the AM/FM/CD/DVD/MP3 sound system that comes with one year of Sirius satellite radio. From a drivers perspective you also get a rear view camera to see those hidden objects when backing up. A nice little feature my moms liked was a drop down wide angle mirror to see all the kid’s activity in the rear without having to turn around. Our kids always thought mom had eyes in the back of her head.
The radio is conveniently set high on the center of the dash making it easy for the driver to reach. VW offers a version of Chrysler's UConnect Tunes and UConnect GPS hard-drive radios called JoyBox. JoyBox is also offered in two versions, one with a navigation system and one without. Both include a touchscreen, and both versions have a 30-gigabyte hard drive that holds thousands of song and picture files. Those files can be burned from a CD or downloaded into the vehicle's USB outlet. When navigation is ordered, the hard drive also holds navigation map information. The navigation system has voice activation, and comes with one year of Sirius satellite radio.
Moving to the back we get the kids and moms excited. My test vehicle came with the dual rear DVD entertainment system. There is a nine-inch DVD screen in the second row and one for the third row also. When the vehicle is in Park, video can be sent to the front navigation screen. In addition, video game systems can be plugged in, and each row can watch or play something different. Four sets of headphones are provided. My moms all agreed that this would keep things relatively quiet on long trips.
Routan SE ($33,500) has three-zone manual climate control, six-disc CD changer, eight-way power adjustable driver's seat with lumbar adjustment, lumbar adjustment for front passenger seat, second-row captain's chairs, power side doors, overhead storage system, steering wheel audio controls, second- and third-row sunshades, universal garage door opener, security alarm, and P225/65R17 tires on alloy wheels. The SE also comes with USB connection, auto-dimming rearview mirror, Bluetooth wireless cell phone link, rearview camera, power liftgate, and automatic headlights.Safety equipment includes dual-stage front airbags, head-protecting curtain side airbags, tire-pressure monitor, ABS with brake assist, traction control, and electronic stability control. …
2010 VW Routan SE Review: Driving- Day 5
Minivans are not known for their great driving or performance characteristics. And most people who purchase these vehicles are not looking for that anyway. …
Volkswagen did make some suspension tweaks to make this van its own. They made changes to the springs, dampers, bushings and steering gear. However, without any changes to the suspension geometry, the Routan still handles and rides much like any other minivan. Volkswagen says that the Routan has a European ride and handling, but its hard to tell if there is a big difference between the Routan and the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan.
There is only so much a manufacturer can do with a vehicle that is tall, heavy and long. … They are designed to haul people and do it in comfort. One thing we can do is compare it to other minivans in its class like Honda, Toyota, and Nissan. The steering ratio has been tweaked to that of the Chrysler, but it still has lots of body roll when driven hard into a corner. Granted, most owners will never drive this aggressively, but the Honda Odyssey or Nissan Quest minivans offer tighter, more responsive handling.
But the majority of people are looking for a smooth ride and reasonable performance. This is where the Routan can deliver. Normal bumps and driving conditions are handled without transmitting a jolt to passengers. Like any tall and long vehicle, it does have a little bit of a floaty feel on the highway, but doesn’t seem to have as much as the Town & Country. It has less sway and feels tighter at high speeds.
The Routan I tested offers acceptable performance for its segment, with the six-cylinder, 3.8-liter engine delivering 197 horsepower. Volkswagen Routan also comes with a powerful 4.0-liter, 251-horsepower engine in the SEL and SEL Premium models.The Volkswagen Routan has always been a safety superstar, earning excellent grades in government and insurance industry crash tests. Safety features on the 2010 Routan include dual front airbags, front/rear side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, an electronic stabilization program, an Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS), and a tire-pressure monitoring system….
Mechanical- Day 6
The Routan uses the same engines that Chrysler uses in the Town & country and Dodge Caravan. …
The 3.8-liter V6 is the standard engine in S and SE models. It makes 197 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque and it offers decent performance for daily commutes and most needs. This is a heavy vehicle weighing in at 4621 pounds. Passing requires some planning and a lot of room. The six-speed automatic transmission works well with the 3.8 liter V6. But with a 0-60 mph time of 10.2 seconds and EPA fuel economy ratings of 16/23 mpg city/highway, the 3.8-liter engine is not as competitive as some other V6s available today.
The 4.0-liter V6 in the SEL would probably be a better choice. It delivers 251 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque, while getting better fuel mileage with EPA estimates of 17/25 mpg City/Highway and has a lower octane requirement. With a 0-60 time of 8.9 seconds, the 4.0-liter V6 is in the ballpark with the V6s offered by Nissan, Honda and Toyota. A properly equipped Routan is rated to tow up to 3500 pounds with either engine. The 4.0-liter will get the Routan moving quicker from a stop and with the six-speed automatic transmission should provide a better passing response than the 3.8 liter V6.
The Routan has a fairly tight turning radius and maneuvers nicely around town. For a big vehicle it has very good visibility and with the rear view camera, makes it easy to back out of tight parking spots in the city. Out on the open road, tire and wind noise are well controlled and don’t notice much engine noise unless you are under full throttle. The 3.8 liter V6 should be good for most peoples needs, but if you live in high country like I do, you might want to think about getting the more powerful 4.0 in the SEL.
Overall, the Routan offers a good driving experience for the kind of vehicle it is. It will get you from point A to point B in the time that you need to. I’m not sure if it reminds me of "European ride and handling characteristics", like Volkswagen says, but for such a large vehicle, the Routan cruises well on the open road, does fairly well on twisty roads, and handles most bumps and ruts without complaint.
2010 VW Routan SE Review: Summary-Day 7
From a mom’s stand point the 2010 Volkswagen Routan SE scored high and they were impressed with the available features and technology to make their life easier. From a dad’s standpoint, this minivan is not going to excite you. But moms are generally the ones who are hauling the kids and the dog around town taking them to the games and practices during the week. They are the ones wanting this type of vehicle and what it has to offer.
And it offers a lot. The first is the higher quality interior than its parent, the Chrysler Town & Country. It may not offer all the different seating arrangements that Chrysler offers, but it has all the options available to make it fun for the kids. All the entertainment features will definitely keep the kids' attention. The Routan SE offers dual screen DVD rear-seat entertainment systems. Video game systems can be plugged in, and each screen can show something different, including the front navigation screen. Also offered is VW's JoyBox hard-drive radio. It has a 30-gigabyte hard drive that will hold thousands of songs and picture files.
Moms like the underfloor storage areas that come with Stow 'n Go that keep the cabin free of clutter. The third-row seats fold into the floor, and the second-row seats can be removed to create a flat load floor that is big enough for 4' x 8' sheets of plywood. When the third-row seats are up, there is a handy well behind them that's great for groceries and sports equipment.The Routan is offered with two engines, the Chrysler 3.8-liter V6 and the Chrysler 4.0-liter V6. The 3.8-liter V6 is adequate for around-town, and the 4.0-liter V6 offers better fuel mileage, decent pickup and passing power. It rides smoothly, and the driver enjoys a commanding view of the road. The Routan has some stiff competition from Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Nissan Quest in the area of performance. The one advantage the Routan has over the competition is Volkswagen's three-year, 36,000-mile free maintenance plan.
The Routan is priced about a thousand dollars more model for the model than the Chrysler Town & Country but has a much nicer interior than the Chrysler. Overall, the Routan has all the features to make moms life easier and is a great rolling living room that they will love. My three moms gave the Routan a thumbs up.
