2013 Volkswagen Routan Review by Cars.com Staff

2013 Volkswagen Routan

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2013 Volkswagen Routan


Expert Reviews

By Cars.com Staff

Cars.com National August 1, 2012

Vehicle Overview

The Routan, Volkswagen's version of the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans, is more upscale than both its siblings, but it skips some of their versatility. With seating for seven in three rows, competitors include the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna and Nissan Quest.

New for 2013

There are no changes for 2013.

Exterior

The Routan shares the same boxy shape as the Town & Country and Grand Caravan, but its face wears Volkswagen's sloping grille and lower air dam. The headlights incorporate rounded sections for the outboard bezels. Exterior features include:

  • Optional power sliding doors
  • Optional power liftgate
  • Optional xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights
  • Optional fog lights
  • Optional roof rack

Interior

The Routan's dashboard has two distinct sections separated by metallic trim. The Routan has a multifunction steering wheel, but it doesn't telescope. Interior features include:

  • Standard removable second-row captain's chairs fold onto themselves but not flat into the floor
  • Standard three-seat third row drops flat into the floor
  • Optional backseat entertainment system with two flip-down screens

Under the Hood

Volkswagen says it tuned the Routan's suspension and steering for a sportier, more European ride than the minivan's U.S.-brand counterparts. Like both of them, the Routan received a new 3.6-liter V-6 for 2011. An Eco dashboard button optimizes shift points for the six-speed automatic transmission for better gas mileage. Mechanical features include:

  • 3.6-liter V-6 with 283 horsepower and 260 pounds-feet of torque
  • Maximum towing capacity of 3,600 pounds

Safety

Safety features include:

  • Antilock brakes
  • Electronic stability system
  • Side-impact airbags for the front seats
  • Side curtain airbags
  • Active front head restraints
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