Minivans: The Preferred Rides For Generation X?

Driver's Seat - WSJ

By Jonathan Welsh

Getty Images

The once-obscure Volkswagen Routan ninivan is a top pick among Generation X car shoppers, a survey says.

If you have noticed a lot of minivans on the road lately it may be because parents in their 30s and 40s are snapping them up. A survey of car buyers indicates the once-edgy demographic group known as Generation X is looking for safety, space and other family values in their vehicles.

Image via CrunchBaseThe study by TrueCar.com, an auto industry research company, looked at the purchases of more than 200,000 car buyers from 2009 and 2010. TrueCar.com said the resulting data helped it compile a list of the most popular brands and models of shoppers in the 28 to 45 age range. Officially the Gen-X group includes people born from 1965 to 1980.

The most popular brands included Volkswagen, Land Rover and Audi. Surprisingly — or not so surprisingly — minivans dominated the roster of top models.

“Generation X buyers have a work hard/play hard mentality and chose cars that were comfortable and convenient for their lifestyle. They chose larger, more luxurious cars to take their families on vacations or kids to play soccer with ample room to store equipment and luggage,” said Kristen Andersson, an analyst with TrueCar.

The top brands for Generation X buyers (ages 28-45) in 2009 and 2010 were:
Rank
Brands
Percentage of Gen X Buyers
1  
Volkswagen  
43.3% 
2  
Land Rover  
41.5% 
3  
Audi  
40.8% 
4  
Mazda  
38.4% 
5  
Jeep  
38.3% 
6  
Infiniti  
37.8% 
7  
Acura  
37.4% 
8  
Nissan  
37.1% 
9  
Honda  
36.7% 
10  
MINI  
36.0% 
The top models for Generation X buyers (ages 28-45) in 2009 and 2010 and the current percentage discount from MSRP are:
Rank
Make/Model
Percentage of Gen X Buyers
MSRP (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price)
Average Paid*
Percentage Discount from MSRP**

Image via Wikipedia1  
Volkswagen Routan  
66.0%  
$27,750  
$26,536  
4.4% 

2  
BMW M3 Sedan  
63.6%  
$56,775  
$53,544  
5.7% 
3  
Nissan Quest  
60.0%  
$28,560  
$26,362  
7.7% 

Image via Wikipedia4  
Nissan Armada  
59.9%  
$39,465  
$33,640  
14.8% 

5  
Honda Odyssey  
58.9%  
$28,885  
$28,195  
2.4% 

Image via Wikipedia6  
Toyota Land Cruiser  
57.9%  
$69,895  
$67,404  
3.6% 

7  
Toyota Sienna  
53.9%  
$25,870  
$23,953  
7.4% 

Image via Wikipedia8  
Volvo XC90  
51.5%  
$39,275  
$37,165  
5.4% 

Image via Wikipedia9  
Infiniti QX56  
49.9%  
$59,690  
$57,138  
4.3% 

10  
Chevrolet Aveo  
48.5%  
$12,725  
$10,886  
14.4% 
  *Average paid is the estimated average transaction price of a vehicle after incentives. 
** Percent Discount from MSRP is rounded to the nearest tenth.

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VW Routan cool enough for the gang

Minivan outdoes hippie-mobiles

Image via Wikipedia

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Wednesday, June 15, 2011
By Richard Williamson, Scripps Howard News Service
Some would argue that the first minivan was a Volkswagen Microbus.
The ubiquitous hippie-mobile that crisscrossed the country in various patterns of paint in the 1960s showed that baby boomers would bond with a car that looked and ran like a loaf of bread.
When it came time to raise a family, however, the boomers were looking for something with more status, safety and functionality….
Volkswagen never made much of a dent in the U.S. market with its Vanagon and Eurovan, minivans that sometimes seemed unnecessarily eccentric.

Image via Wikipedia

Other than its name, there's nothing eccentric about Volkswagen's current minivan, the Routan. That's because it is a rebadged version of the Dodge Grand Caravan built on Chrysler's Windsor, Ontario, assembly line. …

With its first minivan since it discontinued the Eurovan in 2003, Volkswagen aimed for 5 percent of the U.S. minivan market. But economic travail sidelined those goals.
Recalls also have caused some distress. The 2009 models were recalled along with their Chrysler platform mates last June for a fire hazard stemming from an improperly routed wire harness.
Those issues aside, the Routan, like its Chrysler cousins, is a terrific vehicle that deflects "soccer-mom" aspersions with a long, flat-roofed profile, brusque front end and blunt tail. In dark paint, this minivan could accommodate a crew of gangsters without hurting their rep. …
Designed to seat seven in three rows, the Routan comes with Chrysler's amazingly simple stow-and-go third-row seats that flip into a container to create a large, flat storage surface. The loops that you pull are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4. In a few seconds, the seats are gone and the floor is utterly flat.
All Routans are powered by a new 3.6-liter engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that deliver 283 horsepower and 260 lbs./ft. of torque to the front wheels.
With fuel economy of 17 city and 25 highway mpg, the estimated annual fuel cost is $2,250. And the Routan does not require premium unleaded.
Standard 12-volt power outlets are provided for cell phones, MP3 players and game consoles.
The comfortable seats are covered in leatherette with pillow-top armrests. The second row is a set of captain's chairs, while the third row is a split-folding bench.
All 2011 Routan models include an all-new leather-wrapped steering wheel with multifunction controls, a leather-wrapped shift knob and a full array of gauges.
Storage includes dual glove boxes, a floor console with cup holders, an optional highline console with a large storage compartment, ceiling storage, door sill and rear quarter storage bins, various cargo nets and a variety of coat and bag and purse hooks.
All three seating rows get LED reading lights, while sunshades filter harsh light.
A Garmin Navigation system is optional for the SE, while Sirius Travel Link and integrated iPod interface are added to Routan SEL with Navigation.
Dual power sliding doors with power windows are standard, along with a power lift gate.
Remote keyless entry can be upgraded to a remote vehicle start system.
The Routan's ride and handling are deft and comfortable, making the minivan an outstanding road car.
Passenger protection includes front, side and head-curtain air bags, along with a knee airbag for the driver.
Active safety features include anti-lock brakes and engine braking control, along with electronic stability control.

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Magical Moments (Part 1)

Completely Bananas

So much has happened since my last blog, 2 weeks ago. Currently we are enduring blizzard conditions that decided to strike Asheville on Christmas day...This blog will focus on a much happier subject, namely the best week of my life thus far.
On Friday December 17th at 4:45am, we loaded two toddlers, half of our house and a ton of Image via Wikipediasnacks into the Vdub van and set our GPS for Lake Buena Vista, Florida- the home of the most magical place on earth, Disney World. After making only ONE stop for gas at the Florida Welcome Center we pulled into our condo 10 hours, 15 minutes and 6 Disney movies later. The trip, all things considered, really wasn't too bad. Ah, the luxuries of two DVD players, a minivan and my own private row in the back where no one can see me. The Volkswagon Routan makes certain that parents and kids get to travel in complete comfort, even for 10 hours and 15 minutes.

Our 2009 VW Routan Review

 The Sayo Family Blog

Posted by darwin on December 28, 2010
I really like it.  …
The Drive
It’s smooth. It goes from one gear to another very smoothly. It doesn’t roar to life and accelerate in an explosive way like our old Xterra but that’s not why we bought it for. I keep seeing reviews putting down it’s 197 hp but if you want more horsepower and performance buy a car! I recently took it to San Francisco for the first time and it performed quite well. I didn’t once in frustration say “Come on go!” going up Van Ness. There’s a “manual” mode to where you can shift up or down.  It gets a little getting used to but handy.  It’s supposedly VW tuned so the drive is a little more responsive.
Driver

• I feel very comfortable in the drivers seat. The windshield seems so huge.
• It took a couple days to get the seat just right because there is so much play in the seat settings.
• The steering wheel seems so much bigger. I do like the leather wrapped steering wheel on this van as opposed to a non leather wrapped one. It feels very nice and smooth. I never thought I’d ever appreciate such a thing.
• All the controls are in arms reach. … The Routan has [auto] up and down on the drivers and passenger side windows.
• On the other side of the steering wheel are controls for the radio. I like this so much better because it doesn’t make you look for the buttons thus taking your eyes off the road. The Stereo is a bit far away so the buttons are very handy.
• The stereo is not bluetooth enabled, a feature I told myself I absolutely needed, so I can’t connect my phone to it … [Bluetooth was standard on some models in 2009, and is standard on all models in 2010.—DMW]

Passengers

• Seats six passegers or three cars seats.  Can only take one car seat in the third row with room for a passenger next to the car seat.  So if you have four kids that need to be in car seats this car is not for you.
• I like that the passenger windows go down and the rear windows will slightly wedge open too for more ventilation.
• Cabin noise is so much better than our Xterra.  That’s also due to the fact that it has less horsepower.

Conclusion
I’m not a great car reviewer but I really do like this van.  The two things I would change if I could would have been adding the OEM entertainment system and an automatic lift gate.

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2010 Volkswagen Routan Long Term Update 2

Motor Trend
November 03, 2010
/ By Allyson Harwood
/ Photography by Mike Shaffer
|



Click to view Gallery
Executive editor Ed Loh recently used the Routan as a tour bus, lugging six friends to major tourist spots in the Los Angeles area, including Philippe's the Original (best French dip sandwiches in town), Olvera Street, and Chinatown, plus Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Rodeo Drive, and the Farmers Market.

Image via WikipediaThe visitors, a family from France, own a Renault Espace and are familiar with the Euro-market Volkswagen Touran (swap the T and the R and you know where VW got the name Routan). They were impressed by the dual fold-down LCD screens, headphones, remote controls, and power sliding doors and cargo door. "The Routan was admired by our French friends. Though access to the backseat for the three kids was a bit inelegant, we were able to fit nearly 6-foot-tall Antoine, 11-year-old Nicolas, and 6-year-old Louise in the third row."

2010 Volkswagen Routan
Months/miles in service
5/10,399
Avg econ/CO2
18.0 mpg/1.08 lb/mile
Unresolved problems
None
Maintenance cost
$0 (oil change/inspection/rotate tires, plus machined warped brake rotors)
Normal-wear cost
$0

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The six-year wait is over

and then there were four… blog

Okay, so I was never “waiting”, but, after six years of being a one-car family, about three weeks ago we finally went out and not only got a second vehicle, but became a mini-van family.

Image by harry_nl via FlickrPlus, I finally fulfilled my dream of owning a Volkswagen. True, it isn’t the Jetta I always dreamed of having, but dreams change, and I couldn’t be happier with our decision.

We have been talking of getting a second car probably since we got pregnant with Olivia. On and off we would say “well, eventually we’ll need a second car”. But if you know anything about Bill and I, you know that we are incredibly indecisive about the simplest of things:… So you can only imagine how we are when it comes to something as huge as a new (or, new to us) car. So for the past four years we have gotten by on running errands on the weekends and at night when Bill got home. He has been able to take time off for doctor appointments and I have been able to walk within a 1.5 mile radius of our home to get to the park, swimming lessons; … We often relied on friends and family in situations where Bill couldn’t get away from work. While not exactly convenient at times, it worked and I didn’t feel that I was missing out on too much….
But, I knew that I couldn’t rely on [them]forever, so Bill and I got down to business and after going through a lot of ads online and thinking I would NEVER find a car we could A.) Afford and B.) Live with; we saw that a dealership about an hour away from us had three pre-owned 2009 VW Routans available for just under our budget.
Bill had test driven a new Routan a few months back and we both LOVED it, had almost gotten one, but the deal that was promised was not what they ended up offering and we walked away. While I was a little disappointed, I couldn’t fathom spending what they wanted us to spend, so when we saw this online special Bill told me to not get my hopes up. I was cautiously optimistic.
Still, we drove the hour to the dealership, I test drove the Routan, loved it and then Bill and the dealer went to work. I swear to you, my husband impressed me so much with his ability to negotiate. I never knew he had it in him! I actually walked away and took the girls back to our car because I knew he had it under control and everything would be fine.

And it was!
Now the girls are asking me when we are having more babies since we have room “for two more!”

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Here goes nothing...

With a Little Luc

Here goes nothing...

Image via WikipediaI have always been one of those people that go on and on about how I will NEVER drive a minivan because ewww and shit. Who needs all that room? Who wants to look like a douchebag? I mean, minivans are for moms and old people with lots of grandchildren. "I won't give in!" I say. "I won't lose my cool!" There's "plenty of room in my Jetta!" "SUV's are totally enough!" You get the idea.
I 'pshawed' the car dealer when she suggested that I check out a Routan when I surprisingly declared how super tiny the Tiguan crossover was. "Nope. Never. Don't even talk to me about it" I said. After a little coaxing and a huge "what the hell!" I hopped up into the mom-mobile. "At least this will shut them up" I thought.
You know what? It wasn't so bad. The seats were leather...and soft. The touchscreen was FUN! I love touchscreens! It has how many DVD screens? You can watch 2 videos at once, you say? The doors do WHAT with the click of a button? Damn. Look at all that room! I could fit all of my photography equipment in here PLUS leave Mason's carseat and still have tons of room. There's plenty of space for another baby (when we have one) and a bigger stroller. It's comfortable. I don't feel like I am sitting on the dashboard and simultaniously smelling the backseat passenger's breath. It has a V6. It drives like a car.
Was I *gasp* losing my cool? Was I going to drive a minvan. Was I going to look like a mom? Wait.
Hold it.
I am a mom. I run a business that requires me to lug around all sorts of equipment and chairs and reflectors and props. What's the problem? Suddenly, I couldn't even tell you why I thought minivans were so bad? A "soccer mom" stigma? Maybe. But again, I am a mom. Doesn't everything have a stigma? You drive a 4 door sedan...you must be slow. And old. You drive an SUV? You must hate the environment. You drive a big truck? You must be overcompensating. You drive an expensive car? You must be snobby. Why do you need a HUGE SUV when you are a childless couple? Yadda yadda yadda.
Cover of The Italian JobNo. I think you drive your car because you like it. Imagine that. My husband never bought a sportscar because he was going to take it somewhere and race it. My in-laws didn't buy Mini Coopers because they plan on re-enacting a scene from the Italian Job (that I know of). My mom didn't buy an SUV because she is short and couldn't see the road in a smaller car. Love you, mom! And your T-Rex arms!
I guess I never thought about all this before. I thought I knew what I liked. Maybe I was trying to hold on to someone that I am not. I am a mom, but I am still Tiff. Just because I drive a bigger car that has self-opening doors doesn't mean I am someone different. I still like to drink wine! I still like to dance and watch bad reality shows! I am the same boring, child-toting, vertically challenged, cackle-laughing person...I just drive a car that has more room for your judgemental ass. So hop on in! Pop in the Hangover and let's go out on the town! I will even let you take a nap in the back if you like!

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Hertz Rent2Buy Review - Part 3 - Colleen to the Rescue

Mirthful Moose Musings

... We talked about the fact that I was looking for a VW Routan, and that I wanted the SE model that came with 2 packages, key among them was the towing package which allows you to tow up to 3500 pounds.  It included air shocks in the back and an automatic leveling feature that helps accomplish this.  …

Image by crazytales562 via Flickr...  The seats were uber comfortable.  The Routan is a rebadged Chrysler Town and Country.  In fact, my new name for it is the Grand Caravagen.  It's tweaked a little from the standard Dodge/Chrysler faire... some reviews say it's suspension and steering are much tighter.  … But it does sport some nice VW type interior items and probably most importantly, they DO NOT have the Stow 'n Go middle seats.  The VW seats are removable but not stowable.  The bins that they fold into are still there, and these are spacious and will get use.  But most importantly, the seats are COMFORTABLE... it's like a Lazy Boy... The front seats are heated, there are power windows everywhere, including the vents in the back... The rear seats have the same Tailgate seating option, and the cargo room behind them is amazing... A trip to the warehouse club with a full cart equates to filling up the bins the rear seats fold flat into... TONS of room.  I'm very happy with the van.  But back to the test drive...

Image via WikipediaOn Sunday, the family piled in and took a beautiful ride through the Berkshires to look at the foliage.  Everyone was impressed with the van, and all agreed it was a great car.  So the family gave it a thumbs up.  I averaged 23 MPG on that cruise, …  Fairly impressive for such a big and heavy van.

…  And the nice thing is that I can go to a Chrysler/Dodge dealership for that, or the VW dealership, and bid them against each other on it!
Anyway, I decided that the car was a good deal, ...

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My New Love.... My Volkswagon Routan

Six in the Suburbs | Same Family. Different Stories. One Blog

Image via WikipediaAlong with most new mothers I had vowed to never ever get a MINI-VAN.
   However, with both the kids in clunky car seats, the 5-seater SUV just wasn't cuttin' it anymore. That is where my love story begins with my new mini-van, and I couldn't be any prouder. Not only can you change & feed a baby on the back bench- you can change & eat back there yourself! When that back bench isn't needed it can be stored in the floor giving you space equal to that of a pick-up truck for shopping trips to your local wholesale club or hardware superstore.
   Our first day together my 3 year old helped me to stock it with everything we'd need in our travels. There was a spot for each and every item I already had two of in the linen closet and a spare outfit for each of us just in case. First-Aid kit, an old-but-still-good towel, a roll of paper towels & toilet paper, snacks, movies, juice boxes, yadda-yadda-yadda. …

Image via Wikipedia[The blog post goes on about toileting matters that only a Mommy could love] …in a nice little compartment that my precious VW Routan is equipped with! …

   I am by genetics a napper. Both of my parents love a good nap, and I was raised to take it as it comes. So when the two kids are napping and I have accomplished anything that can be accomplished by drive-thru window I crawl on back and AHHHHHH......get snuggled in. Of course I've got blankets and a pillow always on reserve so comfort is a given. When you've got the room of a mini-van you can easily be prepared for those opened opportunities to get a little R & R.
Needless to say: There is no way I would have been able to do all this in anything other than a mini-van!
- M.L.E

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Baby This and That

A Creative Leak

Katie asked in the comments somewhere when I'm due, …
I'm due around Nov 3. If you ask me in person I'll say around Halloween. And the oldest daughter around here has a birthday the day before Halloween. So she's concerned.
What if I'm in the hospital on her birthday? Who will make her a cake? What about having a birthday party? All the attention is going to be on the baby and not on her birthday. Yes, she's said it. I cringe - but at the same time I applaud her honesty.
Cakes out of the freezer taste delicious. I'm sure she'll get a fabulous birthday cake. I've tried to assure her that she'll always be special and we won't forget her birthday. …
Maybe when the time comes, she'll change her tune a little. Maybe that depends on how close their birthdays are.
Moving on... someone took my picture the other day. I usually move out of range when the camera comes out. …
And in other preparations for Baby... we bought a minivan. A Volkswagen Routan. It's nice. It's comfortable. The kids like having more space than they had in the CRV. They still load up their more space with Stuff.

Driving it feels kind of like driving the Pilot. … One nice thing is the doors stay locked until the driver opens his/her door. One thing that bothers me a little is that the radio stays on until the driver opens his/her door. It's the little things in life I guess.

Here they make the VW symbol with their fingers. Some with more dexterity than others.
Posted by joanna at 5:13 AM

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Living for Two: Routan

Fashion for Two blog

Posted by Nerissa at 10:50 AM
My husband has been plying me to get a minivan since we heard the news about baby #2.  I have been extremely resistant to say the least.  Until I met the VW Routan.  As far as minivan panache goes, it pretty much tops the pile. 
I must admit, it is super easy getting the little one into her seat without bending and bumping my head on the door frame.  I'm also a sucker for the remote sliding doors and remote start.  It is sheer decadence to step into an already cool car on a 105 degree day! 

The Volkswagen Routan: The Soccer Mom's Minivan

The Routan Offers Features and Options for a Wide Range of Buyers

Associated Content
Published August 24, 2010 by:
James J. Hilt
There are times when a sport utility vehicle just isn't big enough for a family of six, and you are forced to go with purchasing a minivan. In my four years of selling cars, I have noticed that most mothers frown on the idea of having to drive a minivan. The fact is that they just don't like them over the SUV. The number one complaint I hear is that they just don't like the way minivans look. That perspective held true until Volkswagen launched the Routan in 2009.

Image via WikipediaMy wife drove our four kids in a SUV, though we had minivans a few times over the years to her disliking, the last two years before we decided to lease a 2009 Volkswagen Routan. My dealership had an S model on the lot for several months when I called my wife and told her that I was seriously thinking about leasing this Routan S. She wasn't sure that she wanted a minivan. But after convincing her that is was in our best interest, I leased it and brought it home. I'll never forget the excitement on her face when I pulled up in the driveway. She told me that it looked awesome!

We liked the Routan so much that this past spring I traded our Routan S in for a Routan SE w/ Rear DVD, mainly for the upgraded features the SE provides. We went from having clothed seats to leatherette w/ heated seats, dual DVD players (an absolute must with having kids), back up camera, Sirius Satellite Radio, power sliding doors and rear tailgate, and power driver's seat, to name a few of the upgraded features. The sticker price on the S model was $25,300, and the SE w/ rear DVD was $33,400, a significant increase for the features but well worth it.

Volkswagen offers such great incentives on the Routan that it makes it seem a little more attractive than its rivals Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey. Volkswagen has offered 0.0% for 60 and 72 months and rebates of up to $6000 on several occasions since the 2009 model launched. The 36 month lease is also highly attractive for the low payments and for the bumper to bumper warranty and free scheduled maintenance for 3 years or 36,000 miles. The powertrain warranty is for 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
In closing, the Volkswagen Routan has everything one would want in a minivan. With over $15,000 disparity from the S model to the SEL Premium model, the Routan offers features and options for a wide range of buyers. On trips to Disney and Myrtle Beach, our two Routans provided driving enjoyment each time and, most of all, the Routan makes my wife proud to be a soccer mom.

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Volkswagen Takes Family Road Trip with TLC

MediaPost Publications
by Karl Greenberg, Yesterday, 3:28 PM

Volkswagen of America is touting its Routan minivan via a partnership with Discovery's TLC.com around family and travel. The Herndon, Va.-based automaker will be premier sponsor of family travel content on TLC.com, and will feature an original Webisode series titled "The Great Getaway," plus family-related travel information from destinations to tips for packing powered by Discovery-owned website HowStuffWorks.com.
"The Great Getaway," which launched on Wednesday, follows the seven-member Woods family on a road trip through Sedona, Ariz. The series, done reality-show style, begins with a segment showing the family bouncing around their ranchy house trying to get their act together, find iPods and the like, before hitting the road.
The automaker and TLC.com say the webisode series will run throughout the next three months, highlighting the family's travels and associated foibles as well as the antediluvian wonders of the Southwest, petrified trees, fossils, deserts and all. According to TLC, the Woods family was chosen through a casting call by TLC's talent resource center. The series was a joint project of TLC.com, Volkswagen and VW’s AOR for media, Deutsch.
The Routan minivan gets a starring role in the series, with the vehicle's features, such as roomy seating, foldaway seats, and storage capacity, and getting special attention when, for instance, the family is loading up and rolling out with their "Fun not foolish, safe not sorry" Tony Robbins-esque motto floating on the breeze as the car rolls away to Sedona.
Volkswagen will bookend the series with 30-second Routan TV spots before the segment, a drive to VW.com after, and a banner next to the video window. The Family Travel section on the TLC Family vertical will be VW-branded as well. The destination offers family-related tips and advice.
Harold Morgenstern, SVP advertising sales at Discovery Communications, tells Marketing Daily that VW is advertising on all Discovery's digital properties, including contextual and behavioral targeting. 
VW launched the Routan in 2008 under the Das Auto banner with Brooke Shields as spokesperson. The campaign has continued with "Dub Punch" ads suggesting the minivan has a soul of a VW bug.
Morgenstern says Discovery has a long-standing relationship with Volkswagen. “Volkswagen approached the marketplace to help launch the Routan. Similarly, TLC.com was introducing their TLC Family vertical, which provided a perfect promotional platform for the Routan,” he says. “We proposed and created the webisode series specifically to and for the Routan.” 

The Kohlers: Serious Updates...

Kohler Keepsakes Blog

this BEAUTY!
We call her Rudy. She's a 2010 Volkswagen Routan and we LOVE her! Actually, my love was more slow growing than Eric's. The man who swore he'd never drive a minivan couldn't leave the dealership without her. He's infatuated. I refused to drive her for about 3 days, terrified that I'd wreck her, but Eric finally left me no choice. The Monday after we got her, Eric took Braden to work with him and Brielle and I ran errands all over town in the van. That's when my love began. We're definitely spoiled. They kids love her too. I think Brielle's favorite part is just that she can see out the windows. She went spastic the first time we drove to Grandma Sharon's and she saw the horses by her house. Who knew? And everyone at the dealership kept telling us we got a killer deal, they've never seen a van go that cheap before, yadda-yadda, but I think that's what they all say to make you feel better about giving them such insane amounts of money.

Road Test: 2010 Volkswagen Routan Highline

Image via Wikipedia

National Post

By Brian Harper, July 30, 2010 10:58 AM

The Routan has different sheetmetal, but it is essentially the same as the Dodge Caravan/Chrysler Town & Country.

Photograph by: Brian Harper for National Post, National Post

When it comes to seven-seat (or more) people movers, one thing I know for sure: I am not, nor have I ever been, a minivan person. Of Volkswagen's Routan, one other thing I know for sure -- it isn't your hippie cousin's Microbus.

Now, I have nothing against minivans per se. I live in the suburbs. … In years to come, they will be remembered by the Gen-X and Millennial generations with the same fondness Baby Boomers have for the family station wagon. Almost all of our friends with two or more children had one parked in their driveways, when they weren't in use transporting the progeny to after-hours activity programs (hockey, soccer, dance, etc.). Equally, all of our friends with two or more children got rid of them as soon as the kids grew up. In short, discounting their use by those in the trades, minivans were/are highly pragmatic grudge purchases. But, let's face it, in terms of excitement, they border on somnolence.

As for the Routan, despite the Volkswagen logos affixed to its slab-sided body, it is as Canadian as maple syrup. That's because it is manufactured in Windsor, Ont. by the good folks at Chrysler. Oh, the sheetmetal has been tweaked slightly and there are certain specific VW cues inside, but the Routan is essentially the more familiar Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler Town & Country. Why? Well, because Volkswagen didn't have a seven-passenger vehicle in its North American lineup for customers who wanted to move up to something larger. And, since the minivan market is in a decline, why go to the expense of building and/or certifying your own when you can have someone else do it for you?

So, the Routan comes with same 4.0-litre SOHC V6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission as in the Town & Country …, churning out a solid 251 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque, which means the 2,096-kilogram minivan has more than enough juice to get out of its own way. Testing of the Chrysler by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada turned up numbers of 8.6 seconds to get from zero to 100 kilometres an hour and 7.6 seconds to accelerate to 120 km/h from 80, which is pretty quick for a two-ton brick. The V6 is also fairly quiet in operation and, considering the mass it's moving, it is not overly swinish at the pumps. I averaged 12.8 litres per 100 km for a week, combining highway and suburban commuting, on par or better than many of the smaller SUVs and crossovers that are replacing minivans in the driveways of suburbia.
VW says the Routan features a unique European-tuned suspension and steering "matched for handling and improved driving dynamics in the tradition of Volkswagen's German engineering heritage." Apparently, this is public relations bumph for stiffer springs, dampers and bushings to quell unwanted body motion and impart a measure of connectivity with the road. While the Routan won't tackle a highway on-ramp with the same aplomb as VW's GTI uber-hatch, neither does it wallow like a trawler in the North Sea. Stopping short of fun to drive, it is nonetheless competent enough to impress. Said suspension doesn't compromise ride quality, either, as bumps, potholes and other tarmac irregularities are equally dismissed.
The raison d'etre of all passenger minivans is to haul people and stuff. The Routan offers seating for seven in three rows with 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. For carrying more cargo, stow the third-row seats into the floor and the space increases to a cavernous 84.7 cu. ft. The seatbacks in the second row can be folded flat if even more room is required for longer items, with storage compartments and cup holders aplenty throughout the van.
Chrysler has to keep a few things proprietary, so the Routan doesn't get the cool second-row Stow 'n Go or optional Swivel 'n Go seats. In all but the base Trendline version (which gets a bench seat), the Routan counters with front and middle-row captain's chairs. Big and comfy, they sit high off the floor, providing a commanding view out. Legroom can be a mite tight for taller folk in the second row if those in the front are equally of the long-legged variety.
Along with the Trendline, there are three other trim levels--Comfortline, Highline and Execline, with increasingly more content. Standard features in all Routans include three-zone climate control, a CD player with six speakers, dual sliding side doors, front and side curtain air bags, tire pressure monitoring system and Electronic Stabilization Program. …bharper@nationalpost.com---------
THE SPECS:
Type of vehicle: Front-wheel-drive minivan
Engine: 4.0L SOHC V6
Power: 251 hp @ 6,000 rpm; 259 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS
Tires: P225/65R17 (optional)
Price: base/as tested $40,575/$43,700
Destination charge: $1,580
Transport Canada fuel economy L/100 km: 12.2 city, 7.9 hwy.
Standard features: Automatic three-zone climate control, cruise control, dual power sliding doors, leather seats, heated front and second-row seats, second-row fold-flat captain's chairs, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, power windows and mirrors, power vent windows, power sunroof, power-adjustable floor pedals, power tailgate, AM/FM/six-CD audio system with satellite radio and six speakers, automatic headlights, front fog lights, trip computer, manual second-and third-row sunshades, rear overhead storage compartments, removable front centre floor console, UConnect hands-free phone system, tire pressure monitoring system
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