The all-new 2009 Routan is Volkswagen’s new 7-passenger front-engine, front-wheel drive minivan. Based on the same platform as the Chrysler Town & Country and the Dodge Grand Caravan, the Routan will be built in the same plant in Windsor, Ontario Canada. Volkswagen partnered with Chrysler to enter the mainstream of the family vehicle market with the Routan. The front grille and exterior design identify the Routan as a Volkswagen and the interior styling and materials have been carefully chosen to deliver what the German brand describes as European sensibilities in design, fit and finish.

3.8-liter, V6, 197-horsepower engine that achieves 16-mpg in the city and 23-mpg on the highway. A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.

“The Routan’s suspension has been stiffened up and is more taut and composed than its Chrysler siblings. The wallowy ride typically found in American chassis is absent, yet it’s not a rough ride over uneven pavement.”