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2010 Volkswagen Routan
- Roomy interior
- Plusher than its Chrysler/Dodge cousins
- Available DVD screens for each row
- "Marginal" safety rating in a rear-end crash
- Looks like a Chrysler or Dodge (because it is)
- Controls seem cheap, like Chrysler's
- Shares Chrysler's sloppy handling
- May share Chrysler's poor reliability
- No Stow 'n Go seats
- Less for the money than a Grand Caravan
Free Price Quote for 2010 Volkswagen RoutanReviewers continue to refer to the 2010 Volkswagen Routan, now in its sophomore year, as a "rebadged version" of the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country (Base MSRP: $25,175 to $35,575) and Dodge Grand Caravan (Base MSRP: $21,800 to $27,975) -- and not in a good way -- even though critics say the VW's essentially well optioned and possesses all the requisite conveniences. Still, road tests continue to show that the Routan shares the clumsy handling and marginal rear-crash ratings of its American cousins. And, as TheTruthAboutCars.com points out, "For those who remember the original Microbus, it's a constant reminder of the innovative, iconoclastic vehicle that the Routan is not."
Other than some additional color and trim options, the 2010 Volkswagen Routan is carried over unchanged from 2009. For a detailed review of that minivan, consult our page on the 2009 Volkswagen Routan (*Est. $24,700 to $38,400)
Fuel economy for the VW Routan is the same as its American-branded counterparts: 16 mpg city/23 mpg highway with the 3.8-liter V6, and 17 city/25 highway with the 4.0-liter V6. Both engines take regular-grade gas.
A full suite of safety features is included, and in crash tests, the 2010 Volkswagen Routan performs well. The Insurance Industry for Highway Safety awards its highest ratings of "Good" in frontal- and side-impact collisions. In rear impacts, the Routan with manual cloth seats (pre-April, 2010 models) earns a Marginal rating. With power cloth seats, the rear-impact rating improves to Good. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awards its highest rating, 5 stars, to the Routan for front- and side-impact protection. The Routan earns a 4-star rating for rollover protection.
In giving their bottom-line assessment, Edmunds.com editors say, "The 2010 Volkswagen Routan is an improvement over the Chrysler minivans it's based on. But with rivals like the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna, we can't recommend this tarted-up Dodge Caravan clone."
Our Sources
1. Edmunds.com
Editors of Edmunds.com provide a comprehensive review of the Volkswagen Routan, while discussing the vehicle's pros and cons and providing an informative overview of vehicle features, trim levels and options.
Review: 2010 Volkswagen Routan Review, Editors of Edmunds.com
2. SaferCar.gov
The Volkswagen Routan earns 5-star impact and 4-star rollover ratings in official government crash tests. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration posts details in this searchable database.
Review: 5-Star Safety Ratings, Editors of SaferCar.gov
3. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Like the Chrysler minivans upon which it is based, the Volkswagen Routan's ability to protect passengers in a rear-end collision is rated as "Marginal," Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests indicate. (That's for models with manual cloth seats built before April 2010.) Routans with power cloth seats earn a rating of "Good" in rear-impact tests. Additionally, the VW Routan -- like the Chrysler minivans it's based on -- gets the highest possible front- and side-impact ratings.
Review: Volkswagen Routan, Editors of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The 2010 Volkswagen Routan averages an Environmental Protection Agency-estimated 18 to 20 mpg in overall use, depending on which V6 engine is powering it. Both available engines run on regular-grade gasoline.
Review: 2010 Volkswagen Routan, Editors of FuelEconomy.gov
The 2010 VW Routan minivan carries forward essentially unchanged from 2009, so the observations in this detailed review continue to apply. Professional reviewers' insights are relayed, and links to a number of credible third-party reviews are provided.
Review: 2009 Volkswagen Routan, Editors of ConsumerSearch, February 2009
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