Volkswagen says the 2009 Routan is “the only minivan in America with German engineering.” This is accurate insomuch as Volkswagen has made specific changes to the exterior styling, suspension, steering, interior materials, seats, and other minor bits and pieces of the donor vehicle upon which the Routan is based. Made in Windsor, Ontario with a U.S./Canadian parts content figure of 72 percent, the new 2009 Volkswagen Routan is based upon the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan. The roof, doors, and glass are the only exterior elements shared between the three models. Inside, Volkswagen has swapped out the seats and upgraded most of the materials, though the dashboard and door panels look almost exactly like those found in the Chrysler and Dodge, and the gauge cluster is straight out of the Town & Country. What about under the hood? A Chrysler powertrain with a plastic VW-badged shroud and an inferior warranty drives the front wheels. But the Volkswagen does include free schedule maintenance for the first three years or 36,000 miles.

Here are the major elements that make the 2009 Volkswagen Routan different from the Chrysler and Dodge:
•Unique styling, except the doors, roof, and glass
•Most interior materials look and feel more upscale
•Recalibrated steering for more road feel
•Tauter suspension tuning
•Different front seats
•Different second-row seats without Stow N’ Go or Swivel N’ Go capability
•No-charge scheduled maintenance for the first three years and 36,000 miles
•Inferior powertrain warranty compared to Chrysler’s Lifetime Powertrain Warranty
•The names of color choices. Our test van was Blonde Maple on the outside and Gobi Beige on the inside.

Volkswagen sells the Routan in S, SE and SEL trim levels. Choosing the SE model adds many additional features, chief among them: triple-zone air conditioning, heated outside mirrors, 8-way power driver’s seat, second-row captain’s chairs, integrated sunshades for the second- and third-rows, LED reading lights for all three rows of seats, a Homelink universal transmitter, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, an MP3-compatible audio system with a CD changer and an auxiliary input jack, dual power sliding side doors, 17-inch alloy wheels, upgraded cloth and carpet, body color exterior trim, and an alarm system. The Routan SEL includes Nappa leather seating with heated front and second-row seats, automatic climate control, power adjustable pedals, a power liftgate, Bluetooth hands-free cell phone linking, automatic headlights, and cabin upgrades.

Options for the Routan are offered in packages, with the more upscale features reserved for the more expensive trim levels. Buyers choosing the Routan S can get a Rear Seat Entertainment package that includes a DVD player with a 9-inch rear screen, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, an upgraded audio system with Sirius satellite radio and a free one-year subscription, and a triple-zone air conditioning system. Alloy wheels, a towing preparation package, and an engine block heater are also available.

The Routan SE is offered in a wider range of colors, and is offered with a Climate package including heated front seats and a remote starting system. The SE can also be equipped with a power sunroof, power adjustable pedals, an automatically adjusting rear suspension, a rear backup camera, a power liftgate, and dual rear DVD screens when the entertainment system is specified.

Routan SEL buyers can opt for a power folding third-row seat, a DVD navigation system with a Joy Box music hard drive, and a Premium package with a rear park assist system, upgraded gauges with a trip computer, HID headlights, 8-way power front seats, and a 506-watt audio system with 9 speakers.

The Volkswagen Routan is powered by Chrysler engines and transmissions. The standard and only engine in the Routan S and Routan SE is a 3.8-liter V-6 mustering 197 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 230 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm. The Routan SEL is equipped with a 4.0-liter V-6 making 251 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 259 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,100 rpm. Interestingly, the more powerful engine is also more fuel efficient, delivering up to 25 mpg on the highway while the smaller engine returns 23 mpg. Both engines are connected to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability, driving the front wheels. The Volkswagen Routan can tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped, and is rated to carry up to 1,200 pounds of payload.

Safety features include standard dual front airbags, dual front seat side-impact airbags, and side curtain airbags for all three rows of seats. The Routan also comes with antilock brakes with brake assist, traction control, and stability control. Depending on which trim level the buyer selects, the Routan can also be equipped with a reversing camera and a rear park assist sonar system.

J.D. Power and Associates says the 2009 Volkswagen Routan competes against other minivans like the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, and Toyota Sienna.