2010 Volkswagen Routan – The safest seven-passenger minivan

The Automotive Explorer

Posted in: Family Cars

21 Apr 2010

The VW Routan is seven-passenger wagon with excellent crash test scores conducted by the federal government and insurance industry. Built by Chrysler in a joint venture between the two manufacturers, the 2010 Routan available in four trims: S, SE, SEL and SEL Premium. The Routan S and SE trims come standard with a 197-hp 3.8-liter V6 combined with a six-speed automatic transmission. A 251-hp 4.0-liter V6 is standard on SEL trim levels. This family minivan features a European-tuned suspension and steering optimized for handling and improved driving dynamics. Standard safety features include all-season traction control and ESP, curtain airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and brake assist, and tire pressure monitoring. The Routan borrows element from its Chrysler counterparts, but adds some of its own personal flavor to the mix. Exterior options like power sliding doors and a power rear liftgate make the Routan family-friendly. Finally, the Routan is at the top of the minivan heap, from a vehicle dynamics viewpoint, and still has all of the amenities expected in the class. Price range: $25,900 – $42,400. [Source: Volkswagen USA]

Fake News: Volcano has hidden benefits

DavisW's Blog

Finally, the makers of Volkswagen — perhaps looking at an increase in auto travel for the duration of the eruption — announced a new model in their fleet will be named after the volcano.

“In the honorable tradition of the Touareg, the Tiguan, the Routan and the Eos, we are proud to unveil the ‘Eyjafjallajokull’,” said design vice president Werner Horst. “Like our other models, it rolls off the tongue as easily as it drives.”

Horst said the Eyjafjallajokull had been in development for several years before the Iceland disaster unfolded, but the original name for the new sedan, the “Hitlermobile,” could easily be set aside.

“Like the ash cloud now settling over most of Europe, our new car will spew noxious emissions, result in tremendous costs to the economy, and yet will strangely remain popular throughout the continent,” Horst said. “Test drive one today.”

"I'm not teaching my kid to hit"

I have gotten a couple of comments on posts relating to the Punch Dub game. In one of my previous posts I mused that Punch Dub might be a faux pas. Well, I don't know how strong the backlash is, but the campaign is getting people to notice Volkswagen and Routan.

If you play Punch Dub, you see how large a market share VW has. You also notice that Volkswagen is not just New Beetle or Jetta. They have vehicles in a number of segments, and there are a lot of older VWs still on the road. This was a masterful stroke on Deutch's part to get people to realize that VW is Americanized enough not to be a problem but European enough to let you feel you're in the same league as BMW, Porsche, and Ferrari.

The campaign has increased talk about VW as well. "Punch Dub is just bullying." "How did they get that baby to cry?" "They didn't have a brat punch an old man in the groin, did they?" "I'm not punching for Routans, that's just wrong." "Stevie Wonder knew what color that VW was--how did he do that." "Routan Dad takes his kids around the block twice so they can see their neighbors punch each other." "Tiguan, where?"

Compare that to talk about Toyota. "The new Lexus rolls over." "Man, Toyota can't build anything right." "Computer problem or not, they sure have a lot of trouble." "I'll never buy a Toyota." Toyota's sales numbers were not down last month. Toyota owners still have a lot of loyalty for the company.

But perceptions about the Toyota cars themselves are being formed. In the VW commercials, on the other hand, negative perceptions of the game and the commercials are being formed among some, but the cars themselves are getting noticed by people who wouldn't have given VW a thought otherwise. In a sense, if you hate Punch Dub it's not Volkswagen's fault.

Hitting for the game, social contact if you will, may be a good thing. People will touch and let themselves be touched in Punch Dub when they wouldn't otherwise. Social contact is good, even if not all social contact is pleasant. Those who turn the game pathologically violent didn't become pathologically violent because of the game. Society and their interaction with it warped them more profoundly than Punch Dub. (In a sense, Punch Dub helps us identify some pathologically violent so that we can get them help or avoid them.) Punch Dub can be an avenue to teach kids social boundaries.

I believe the physicality of Punch Dub can be socially acceptable. Can we say the same about toy guns and play shooting other people? So much of entertainment media feature violence. Gratuitous and excessive violence can be decried, and we must teach our children that violence is not socially acceptable. But what about the shows, movies, and games where the good guy accomplishes a good purpose by means of violence--often outside what is socially acceptable?

Bravo, Deutch. You got us talking and you got us seeing Volkswagens.

Oh--tap!--"Red one!"

Touran vs. Sharan vs. Routan

[Note-I updated this post after a reader pointed out that I had mis-identified the vehicles. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. I believe my viewpoint is still valid, however.]

The re-worked 2011 VW Touran was introduced at the Leipzig Auto show this week and is creating quite a stir.

The Sharan is another MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle) available in Europe. Both can seat 7.

People immediately compare these to the Routan, exclaiming that VW would have done much better to have imported the Touran or Sharan to America rather than commission the Routan.

The Touran and Sharan are smaller than the Routan. One of the criticisms of the Routan is that it doesn’t have as much hauling space as the Toyota or Honda. Do you think the mainstream minivan buying public would accept less space?

When you read Routan reviews written by “Minivan Moms,” the one feature they routinely praise is the power side doors and power lift gate. (I really appreciate these features on my Routan—I wish the driver door would power open for me.) The Touran and Sharan don’t offer a power lift gate.  I don’t believe the Touran can offer power side doors.

The rear seat of the Routan is reachable without moving either of the two middle seats. A rear seat passenger can enter or leave without another passenger having to get out of the vehicle. On the Touran and Sharan, however, one of the middle seat passengers has to move for a rear passenger to enter or exit. I see this as a major inconvenience—one of the reasons why I rejected 7-seat SUVs in my vehicle search.

The U.S. minivan market has changed considerably since 2003 when VW stopped importing the EuroVan. It would have been a market-demand mistake to clear the Touran or Sharan for the U.S.—they aren’t big enough or convenient enough. (As a case in point, Toyota stopped importing the Previa—about the same size as the Sharan—and created the Sienna to meet U.S. market demand.)

The one thing the Touran and Sharan have that I wish the Routan had was the TDI Diesel. Volkswagen, among others, has demonstrated that the new-generation diesels are cleaner and more economical than gas, and no longer make the sounds of your father’s diesel.

The European vehicles also come standard with a manual transmission. I would like that option for the Routan. However, many U.S. “Minivan Moms” don’t know how to drive a manual transmission—hence no minivan sold in America has one.

Volkswagen had the option of trying to convert the U.S. minivan market to be more European, or introduce a minivan that was more American but had some VW touches. While critics claim that the Routan isn’t “VW” enough (they don’t know the subtleties of the Routan over the T&C), it is American enough to be accepted with VW embellishments. Trying to change the U.S. taste is why Saab has remained a niche player.

The Sabol Family: A New Car!!!!!!

The Sabol Family

2 weeks ago we ventured to "Test Dr." to look at a few cars we had our eye on. As much as we love our Honda Element, it is just too small for two carseats (there are only 2 'real' seats in the back).

So we went & test drove a Honda Pilot, which we really liked- I have to admit I may have liked the leather seats, back up camera, dvd player, navigation system etc. a little more than the actual car.

It was a nice test drive, but we decided to check out the VW & Toyota place as well- we ended up getting sucked into the VW dealership & walking out proud owners of a new VW Routan.

Maybe it was the free pizza & soda or the fact that we got a sweet, fully-loaded car for about $15,000 less than the Pilot & the same car payment we have now (leather, back up camera, Sirius radio, 2 dvd players with wireless headphones, seating for 7 & back row seats that fold out of the way or turn around with a 'tailgating' option.

We got a great deal & felt good about it- despite doing no research and very little hard bargaining. Lily still calls it her 'cool new car" and we all LOVE riding in it.

We haven't taken a bunch of pictures yet, but here is one (along with my big ole belly).

YTD to March Routan Sales

This is not an official release from Volkswagen of America. March Routan sales increased year over year, and it increased it's market share % over 2009. Model awareness is building now that ad agency Deutch is placing Routan ads on TV. The Punch Dub ads not only feature the Routan, but by playing the game the public increases their awareness of the modern Volkswagen.

On February 6, 2008, Associated Press reported, in part: "[Volkswagen of America President and CEO Stefan] Jacoby said the minivan market still is approaching 1 million vehicles a year, and Volkswagen would like to capture 3 to 5 per cent of that."

PRNewswire published the March and YTD sales figures of the auto-makers who sell in the U.S. From these reports, we glean the following data:
Brand YTD - 03/10
Chrysler 24,580
Dodge 21,437
Honda 22,985
Kia 4,397
Mazda 5,217
Nissan 142(discontinued)
Toyota 14,390
Volkswagen 3,226
Total 96,374
Volkswagen's market share of van sales is 3.35%, right where Volkswagen of America was aiming for. Volkswagen has gained market share where they had none.

European Carmakers Offering Attractive Leases For April

PriceWheels Blog

Apr 2nd, 2010 by Ross Edwards

…Volkswagen is offering low interest rates on most of its cars during April, but the standouts are the CC, Passat and Routan, which are all available with 0.9% financing for up to 60 months. …