Volkswagen 2010 Routan Virtual Test Drive

2010 Routan aims to rule the minivan marketplace

Volkswagen bus for modern times

BostonHerald.com
By Jerry Kronenberg / Motor Mouth
Saturday, August 7, 2010

The Volkswagen minivan has come a long way since the days of the VW Microbus, that hippy favorite of the 1960s.
True, the 2010 VW Routan lacks the Microbus’ quirkiness.
But the $25,900 Routan offers performance, comfort and safety features that its 1960s ancestor could only dream about.
VW unveiled the Routan in 2009 and slightly updated the model for 2010, basing it on the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country - two minivans Motor Mouth happens to really like.
Unfortunately for VW, few other auto reviewers seem to, feeling that cash-strapped Chrysler hasn’t kept its minivans up to snuff in recent years.
Motor Mouth recently tested the Routan SEL Premium, the minivan’s top trim line.
On the outside, the Routan definitely resembles the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country - except, of course, for the big VW medallion in front.
The model’s large hood and grille sweep back to big front doors and standard five-spoke wheels.
My Routan also came standard with sliding side doors and a hatchback that open with the touch of a button on the model’s key fob.
Inside, my test car featured great stitched-leather upholstery along its seats, door interiors, steering wheel and shifter - which, rather akwardly, sits on the dashboard instead of between the front seats.
The SEL Premium’s front seats offer great headroom, legroom and hiproom.
So, too, do the two captain’s chairs that VW put in the second row instead of cramming a three-person bench seat into the same space.
My test car’s third-row seats likewise provided surprisingly good space. But while VW theoretically designed these seats for three adults, two would be more realistic. (Three small kids might be OK, though.)
All the way back, the Routan’s 32.7-cubic-foot cargo bay can hold one large suitcase and four or five knapsacks.
If that’s not enough cargo space for you, the SEL Premium’s third-row seats automatically fold down with the touch of a button.
You can also fold down (or even remove) the minivan’s second-row seats to create a massive 144 cubic feet of cargo room.


DAS MINIVAN: The 2010 Volkswagen Routan is VW’s latest entrant into the highly competitive minivan marketplace. Photo courtesy of Volkswagen.
My test car also came standard with a great touchscreen GPS, a nice power sunroof, an AM/FM/6CD/MP3/Sirius stereo and a rear-seat DVD player.
On the road, my test Routan’s 253-horsepower engine and six-speed automatic transmission teamed up to produce an impressive ride.
The minivan runs quietly, absorbs most road bumps and accelerates and brakes well.
The Routan also has good sightlines, as well as a bit of a sport utility vehicle’s “high-up” road view.
However, backing up and parking are a tad challenging given the vehicle’s large size. Fortunately, my test Routan came standard with a nice backup camera.
As for fuel efficiency, the EPA rates the Routan SEL Premium at 17 mpg/city and 23 mpg highway. During a week of test drives, Motor Mouth logged a combined 17.2 mpg city/highway.
As for pricing, the $25,900 Routan costs less than key rivals such as the Chrysler Town & Country ($26,025) and Honda Odyssey ($26,805).
However, the model does cost more than other competitors, such as the Dodge Grand Caravan ($21,800), Kia Sedona ($22,195) and Toyota Sienna ($24,540).
Of course, exact cost comparisons are hard to make because automakers have recently announced summer rebates and/or new 2011 pricing on some minivan models.
The bottom line: The 2010 Volkswagen Routan is a worthy successor to the 1960s Microbus - and an impressive player in the highly competitive minivan segment. While the Routan competes against plenty of fine rivals, minivan shoppers should definitely check this model out.

Volkswagen: CC, Tiguan Boost July Sales

Mario So Funny

Volkswagen of America Inc. sold 23,880 vehicles in July, a 16-percent jump from July sales a year ago.

While sales were favorable for many of the company’s models, the Volkswagen CC had a record month with 3,394 sales, a 140-percent increase over its June 2009 sales. The company sold 8,262 Jettas and more than 10,000 units when combined with its SportWagen model. Golf also had a record-breaking month with 1,889 sales. 

Sales of the company’s compact SUV Tiguan were 1,968, up 80.9 percent Image via Wikipediacompared with June 2009. The Routan experienced a 24.7 percent jump in sales.   
“A continued positive consumer response in July to our full line of vehicles has brought Volkswagen our thirteenth consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth and has provided another solid step in the right direction for our growth strategy,” said Mark Barnes, interim-president of Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We have been saying for some time that Volkswagen’s combination of design, fuel economy, safety and fun driving experience is perfect for the American market and it is clear that consumers are responding.”

Routan YTD July, 2010 Sales

This is not an official release from Volkswagen of America.

Volkswagen is not discontinuing the Routan. We will see how the current management positions the Routan--the van is frequently tied to the departed CEO Stefan Jacoby. However, the Routan's market share is in line with targets set at its introduction. See the article Get It Straight--the Routan Is a Phenomenal Seller on this blog for a discussion why the Routan would not be discontinued because of sales numbers.

Research by Truecar.com indicates that 23.3% of Routan owners are younger than 35. Only the Volkswagen GTI has more owners under 35 in the U.S. at 23.4%. It would appear that Gen Y views the Routan as the best choice if they have to drive a minivan. Once they buy it, they seem to love it, as seen by their entries on blogs and Twitter.

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." Jacoby has since left the company to go to Volvo, but the Routan is still doing what they expected it to do.

 

PRNewswire published the July and YTD sales figures of the auto-makers who sell in the U.S. From these reports, we glean the following data:

Image via Wikipedia

Brand YTD - 07/10

Chrysler     69,020
Dodge       57,678
Honda       62,278
Kia            13,312
Mazda       10,610
Nissan            169 (discontinued)
Toyota       53,482
Volkswagen 9,773
Total        276,322

Volkswagen's market share of van sales is 3.54%, up from June and still in the range Volkswagen of America was aiming for. This is, by the way, is nearly twice their overall market share.

VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES 16 PERCENT INCREASE FOR JULY SALES AND A 13TH CONSECUTIVE MONTH OF GROWTH

German Car Scene
Posted 3rd August, 2010 in Volkswagen | Leave a comment

HERNDON, Va., August 3, 2010″ Volkswagen of America, Inc. today reported July 2010 sales of 23,880 total units, for a 16 percent increase over July 2009, and its thirteenth consecutive month of sales growth. For the year-to-date, Volkswagen’s sales have risen 27.5% versus the same timeframe in 2009. With the exception of last August’s “Cash for Clunkers” sales, July marked the best sales month for Volkswagen of America since December 2005. …
Volkswagen’s line of Tiguan’s, the sporty compact SUV, showed its strongest month ever, with 1,968 units, up 80.9 percent compared with June 2009. Routan also had a strong performance in July with a 24.7 percent increase.
“A continued positive consumer response in July to our full line of vehicles has brought Volkswagen our thirteenth consecutive month of year-over-year sales growth and has provided another solid step in the right direction for our growth strategy,” said Mark Barnes, Interim-President, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “We have been saying for some time that Volkswagen’s combination of design, fuel economy, safety and fun driving experience is perfect for the American market and it is clear that consumers are responding.”

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
© Copyright (c) National Post

2011 ALV Entries (Routan is nominated)

The Carspondent

Entries for the 2011 Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year competition

ALV Co-founder, Jim Woodman at the 2010 Program
Urban
Vehicles have a base sticker price at or below $20,000, a small footprint, and cargo versatility for active lifestyles.
Dodge Caliber
Ford Fiesta
Hyundai Tucson
Jeep Patriot
Kia Soul
Mazda2 Touring
Nissan Cube
Suzuki SX4 AWD
Scion xB
Volkswagen Golf
Best Value On-Road
Vehicles have a base sticker price at or below $30,000, are are intended primarily for use on paved roads.
Dodge Nitro Detonator
Ford Mustang V-6
GMC Terrain
Nissan Rogue
Suzuki Kizashi
Volkswagen CC
Best Value Off-Road
Value-priced vehicles with true off-road capability.
Jeep Liberty Renegade
Kia Sorento
Kia Sportage
Nissan Xterra
Subaru Outback
Luxury On-Road
Vehicles with a base sticker price over $30,000, intended primarily for on-road use.
Audi A8
Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
Cadillac SRX
Lincoln MKX
Mercedes-Benz E-Wagon
Mercedes-Benz R-Class BlueTEC
Porsche Cayenne
Volvo XC60 R Design
Luxury Off-Road
Luxury vehicles with true off-road capability
Acura ZDX
Ford Raptor 6.2
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Land Rover LR4
Porsche Cayenne
Volkswagen XC60 R Design
Green ALV
Hybrid and alternative fuel active lifestyle vehicles
Audi A3 TDI
Ford Fiesta
Mercedes-Benz R-Class BlueTEC
Porsche Cayenne Hybrid
Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI
Family
Active lifestyle vehicles with three rows of seating
Acura MDX
Buick Enclave
Chevrolet Traverse
Chrysler Town & Country
Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring AWD
Mercedes-Benz E-Wagon
Toyota Sienna
Volkswagen Routan
Volkswagen Touareg TDI