Introduction

Volkswagen, Van and Volume go together very well, and have for the half-century since the first VW Transporter was made. The VW van may not have had the capacity of a full-size American van, but there was a lot of room on the inside compared to the space it took up on the road. The V-word that has never been associated with Volkswagen vans is Velocity. After years of building a van with what German engineers think drivers need, they finally built one with what American drivers want: power, 201 horsepower, to be exact. While they were at it, they lowered the price more than $5000, which brings in another V-word: Value. The price-performance ratio that had kept American buyers away in droves has been flipped, and if all is right with the world, customers should be beating down dealers' doors for this better mousetrap. Perfect it's not, but this Van has Volume, Velocity and Value, and yes, it's a Volkswagen.

Walkaround

The VW EuroVan is easy to find in a parking lot. It towers over just about everything, not only cars but also Caravans and Windstars and even pickup trucks. Even from afar, it's apparent that this is not just any minivan. While all the others have gone "car-like" with swoopy lines and rounded exteriors, the EuroVan's sides and tailgate are almost perfectly vertical, while the hood and windshield have the same rake though with the glass set back slightly. It's functional to the extreme, with a semi-corrugated roof (to add strength) that's only noticeable from above; if you can see it from ground level, the NBA is looking for you. The van is that tall. Although the EuroVan bears some outward similarity to the VW microbuses of old, it is completely different mechanically. The water-cooled narrow-angle V6 is mounted up front and drives the front wheels (unlike the old air-cooled flat four mounted out back and driving the rear wheels).

Interior Features

Climbing into the driver's seat of the EuroVan reveals a commanding view. Not only does one sit higher than in other minivans, the dash is low, so there's a panoramic sweep of the road ahead. Foot room is limited, encroached by the front wheelwells and tight packaging, but there is room to stretch your legs. The front seats, in the optional light-gray velour, are chair-height and a good compromise between softness and support. Both have armrests and are a good place to watch the miles go by. The steering wheel has no tilt function, and some may be put off the by the somewhat bus-like angle of the steering wheel. It isn't the Ralph Kramden special like the wheel on the old microbus, however. The fully automatic dual zone climate control system is adjustable in one degree increments. It adjusts side to side, with separate rear control. An ambient air thermometer is included, which is useful in changing weather conditions. The ventilation system includes a dust/pollen filter, beneficial for hay fever sufferers. The interior is plain, but it's comfortable. The ambiance is one of functionality rather than style, with straight lines serving where straight lines will fit. The dash now has the blue and red lighting that has become a VW trademark; it's a love it or hate it thing. There's walkthrough space to the rear passenger area, and the space between the seats can accommodate a small cooler. Alas, there's no console, just a small tray with dual cupholders down at ankle level. There's no conventional glove box either. The owners manual, in a tidy black leather zipper case, resides in the right door pocket; the armrest on the left door opens to reveal a locking receptacle for vehicle documents and whatever. The shift lever for the automatic transmission is mounted on the floor like a large industrial switch, about knee high, in black plastic. Our 2002 GLS's conventional forward-facing middle-row seats were a comfy pair of chairs, well off the floor and with right and left armrests, giving up nothing in comfort to the front seats. Cup holders are integrated into the seat bases, but hold cans and small cups only; the average fast food "medium" drink cup doesn't fit. The third-row seat was comfortable as well, with no lack of legroom and wide enough for three adults. A test of an MV model found its face-to-face seating in the second and third row a novelty that could grow old. Foot room is shared, and even with cooperation and coordination there will be accidentally kicked ankles. After dark, backwards-facing passengers have headlights from following cars shining irritatingly in their eyes. The good news is that raising the tray table in the MV is great for roadside lunches, impromptu card games and tailgate parties, with the light from an overhead fluorescent lamp adding to the regular dome lights. The MV's rear seat converts to a passable bed and privacy curtains snap all around the interior. A cargo shelf splits the cargo area in half. Depending on the nature of the cargo that is either a blessing or a pain in the neck. It bolts in and requires a wrench to remove. It does fold forward with the rear seatback, however, and with the middle-row seatbacks folded forward, the GLS accepts 4x8-foot sheets of plywood or similar cargo. For maximum volume, however, the seats are difficult to remove. This older design requires that the rear seat must be literally unbolted from the floor using the lug wrench, the seat tipped this way and that for access to the bolts, and then wrestled sideways to remove it through the rear hatch. The middle row seats are easier, unclipping from studs on the floor but are anything but state of the art. On the other hand, with seats removed the EuroVan will cause owners of other minivan to emit expressions of awe usually reserved for blimp hangers; it presents an enormous amount of cargo space. The EuroVan comes equipped with a high level of standard equipment that includes electronic clim