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The 2010 Volkswagen Routan ranks 5 out of 7 Minivans. This ranking is based on our analysis of 13 published reviews and test drives of the Volkswagen Routan, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.
Volkswagen teamed up with Chrysler to produce the Routan. Like the partnership that created it, the Routan is something of a mixed bag.
The Routan is a VW, albeit one that’s heavily based on the Chrysler minivans — the Chrysler Town & Country and the Dodge Grand Caravan. With the Routan, VW tried to reverse that trend, taking a tried and true minivan platform, retuning the suspension for more exciting driving and upgrading the interior with nicer materials from VW’s parts bin.
Reviewers say that while the Routan drives slightly better than the Chrysler minivans, it still lags the Honda Odyssey. 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.
Despite these setbacks, however, the Routan has some strong points. Though reviewers say the Odyssey outperforms the Routan, it’s only by a matter of degrees, and the Routan has a lower starting price. Finally, the Routan has very good crash test scores. And while the Routan’s warranty isn’t longer than its competitors, it’s the only minivan to offer free scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles.
The bottom line is, if you’re shopping minivans, the Routan is a solid choice, but so is almost every other van in the class. The Routan comes in four trims: the S base model, the SE, the SEL and the SEL Premium. The Routan was all-new in 2009.
