Volkswagen bills the Routan as a “stylish alternative to the minivan,” and we have it from no less an authority than actress Brooke Shields, who in Routan ads claims that its German engineering drives women to motherhood (to qualify for ownership).
The TV spots starring Ms. Shields, herself a mom, were clearly zunge in der wange (German for tongue in cheek), but we confess that this minivan alternative looks a lot like a real minivan (German for minivan) to us. If it weren’t for the VW fascia and big VW logo (six inches in diameter), you might even mistake it for, say, a Dodge Grand Caravan. Which, of course, it is. Mostly.
Chrysler builds Routans for VW at its plant in Windsor, Ontario. Canada. Not in Germany. And the hardware that makes it a Routan comes from Chrysler suppliers.
Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 5-door van
PRICE AS TESTED: $32,435 (base price: $30,450)
ENGINE TYPE: pushrod 12-valve V-6, iron block and aluminum heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 231 cu in, 3778cc
Power (SAE net): 197 bhp @ 5200 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 230 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manumatic shifting
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 121.2 in Length: 202.5 in Width: 76.9 in Height: 68.9 in
Curb weight: 4616 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 9.5 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 30.4 sec
Street start, 5–60 mph: 9.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 17.2 sec @ 81 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 178 ft
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 16/23 mpg
C/D observed: 14 mpg
Keep Reading: 2009 Volkswagen Routan SE - Short Take Road Test
0 comments:
Post a Comment