Driving Impressions

Aside from styling and interior materials, Volkswagen was able to make this van its own with suspension tweaks. Changes to the springs, dampers, bushings and steering gear resulted. However, without any changes to the suspension geometry, the Routan still handles and rides much like the Town & Country. Volkswagen touts the Routan's European ride and handling, but we sensed little difference between the Routan and the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan. Like the Town & Country, the Routan is tall, heavy and long. Those traits make describe a good hauler but they make for cumbersome handling. With a bit quicker steering ratio over that of the Chrysler, the Routan reacts a little quicker to driver inputs. Still, the steering is very light and has lots of play on center. Drive it hard into a turn and it exhibits lots of body roll, leaning in turns. Pushed beyond the grip of the tires, it understeers. In other words, it prefers to keep going straight rather turning in quickly. Granted, most owners will never drive this aggressively, but the Honda, Toyota, and Nissan vans offer tighter, more responsive handling. What most people want is a smooth ride, and here the Routan delivers. Most bumps are handled without transmitting a jolt to passengers. Sharp ruts can crash through, though. While the Routan does have some of the Town & Country's floaty feel on the highway, it doesn't seem to sway as much and feels slightly better buttoned down. On the whole, the Routan isn't as luxurious as the Toyota Sienna and it isn't as carlike or a as sporty as the Honda Odyssey or Nissan Quest. The Routan also doesn't compete with the best in class when it comes to engine choices. That's a shame because the Volkswagen 3.6-liter V6 is competitive with any V6 on the market. However, the Routan uses Chrysler engines, which are simply behind the times. The 3.8-liter V6 is standard in S and SE models. It makes 197 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque, and it offers decent pep for daily commutes and most needs. Passing requires some planning and a lot of room. The six-speed automatic transmission sometimes hunts for gears. With a 0-60 mph time of 10.2 seconds and EPA fuel economy ratings of 16/23 mpg city/highway, the 3.8-liter engine is not competitive with the majority of V6s available today. The 4.0-liter V6 in the SEL is a better option. It delivers 253 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque, while getting better fuel mileage at 17/25 mpg City/Highway. The 4.0-liter gets the Routan moving nicely from a stop and teams with a six-speed automatic transmission to provide decent passing response. With a 0-60 time of 8.9 seconds, the 4.0-liter V6 is in the ballpark with the V6s offered by Nissan, Honda and Toyota, though it isn't as responsive or ultimately as quick. Properly equipped, the Town & Country is rated to tow up to 3500 pounds with either engine. We also found the 4.0-liter engine smoother than the 3.8-liter engine. Tire and wind noise are well controlled in all models. Both engines cruise quietly, but under full throttle the 3.8 can intrude on conversation.

Final Word

The Volkswagen Routan is a family friendly minivan with a higher quality interior than its parent, the Chrysler Town & Country. However, it lacks some of the best seating and storage features of the Chrysler. It rides smoothly, but handling and power are not as good as that of its competitors. And yet pricing matches the tops in the class, so the Routan may not be the best value in a very competitive market. The one advantage the Routan does have, however, is Volkswagen's three-year, 36,000-mile free maintenance plan. Kirk Bell filed this report to NewCarTestDrive.com from Chicago.