Autoblog

Cars.com performs ultimate minivan shootout. Guess who won...

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 29 May 2011 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Chrysler, Dodge, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen

Cars.com rounded up the year's crop of new minivans for a comparison, the rare thrill being that minivans from every major maker are completely fresh for 2011. The entrants were the Nissan Quest (pictured), Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town & Country, Volkswagen Routan and Dodge Grand Caravan.

The testing format was also novel, in that Cars.com paired its own editors with reviewers from USA Today and the MotorWeek television show, plus the Weatherby family, an 'average' family of five - husband, wife and three kids.

After three days of testing and the tallying of numerous criteria, there was, of course, one 7-seater to rule them all. We won't tell you which one it is, but its reviews included both "It doesn't look like such a mommy car" and "Distressingly ugly in profile." The Cars.com video review is after the jump, or head over to the link for the long-form skinny.

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Continue reading Cars.com performs ultimate minivan shootout. Guess who won...

Cars.com performs ultimate minivan shootout. Guess who won... originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 May 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mommies on Minivans: Practical, but where's the style?

Zach Bowman — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Detroit Auto Show, Minivan/Van, Etc.

2012 Ford C-Max - Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota can call the Sienna a swagger wagon all it wants, but the slogan isn't going to make moms any happier about hopping behind the wheel. According to The Detroit Free Press, most mothers aren't fooled by gimmicky marketing or the latest attempts to redesign the minivan as a stylish piece of transportation. Reporter Krista Jahnke followed a group of mothers from Detroit.MomsLikeMe.com as they toured the Detroit Auto Show to critique the latest wave of minivans.

What did they think? While the vast majority appreciated the added creature comforts of the newest generation of family haulers, they still seemed to feel that the minivan was always going to be a practical choice first and an aesthetic one dead last.

One woman even admitted that she cried the first time she had to drive a minivan. Admittedly, we feel her pain.

The crew took the time to check out the all-new Ford C-Max, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Dodge Grand Caravan and Volkswagen Routan, and was kind enough share its opinion on each. Despite its significantly smaller size, the C-Max fared well amongst those who know minivans best, while the Grand Caravan was penalized for its cavernous, grime-trapping center console. Head over to The Detroit Free Press to see all of their impressions.

Gallery: 2012 Ford C-Max

[Source: The Detroit Free Press]

Mommies on Minivans: Practical, but where's the style? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Volkswagen Routan might not be back for an encore

Dan Roth — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Volkswagen, Earnings/Financials, Rumormill

Volkswagen Routan - Click above for high-res image gallery

"No decisions have been made regarding the Routan." This according to a source from Volkswagen. Unsurprisingly, the re-branded Chrysler minivan is rumored to be receiving less-than-enthusiastic support from Volkswagen's current management, and the ambivalence might spell doom for the Routan. Volkswagen's sales are down, though it's not necessarily the Routan's fault. The people mover has a consistent four percent of the minivan market and Volkswagen thinks that can be grown.

For now, Volkswagen's concentrating on launching its latest Jetta and building a factory in Tennessee to assemble the majority of its U.S.-market cars. The Phaeton will also be returning to the U.S. market, indicating an intent to foster growth on the top and bottom of its model offerings. Volkswagen has set a goal for itself of tripling U.S. sales numbers, and the Routan puts the brand in a segment it would not otherwise be in here in the U.S., though its small market share may not make it worth the effort.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Routan

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

Report: Volkswagen Routan might not be back for an encore originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW recalls nearly 16,000 Routan minivans on heels of Chrysler callback for same

Chris Shunk — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Volkswagen

2009 Volkswagen Routan - Click above for high-res image gallery

Chrysler recently announced the recall of 285,000 2008 and 2009 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans because of an improperly routed wiring harness in the sliding doors. If you were thinking that your Volkswagen Routan, which is almost completely identical to the Chrysler minivans, was somehow immune to this issue, think again.

VW is recalling 15,902 Routans built between June 2008 and July 2009 for the exact same issue as it's domestic-branded siblings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that the minivan's lower sliding door hinge bracket can make contact with the harness. That contact could eventually wear through the wire insulation, potentially causing a "high resistive short circuit within the latch mechanism located inside the sliding door." As a result of the condition, the latch can overheat, leading to the possibility of a fire inside the rear sliding door.

Affected owners can take their Routan to the nearest VW dealer for a free inspection. Any damaged parts will be repaired or replaced as necessary. Hit the jump to read over the NHTSA press release.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Routan

[Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration]

Continue reading VW recalls nearly 16,000 Routan minivans on heels of Chrysler callback for same

VW recalls nearly 16,000 Routan minivans on heels of Chrysler callback for same originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler decides to keep third shift at Windsor minivan plant, VW Routan to live on

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:25:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler, Volkswagen

2009 Volkswagen Routan - click above for a high res image gallery

Earlier this spring as Chrysler stumbled toward bankruptcy court, one of the announced cost-cutting decisions was the elimination of the third shift at the Windsor assembly plant. That's the factory that produces the Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Caravan and Volkswagen Routan minivans. According to Ken Lewenza, president of the Canadian Auto Workers union, the company has reversed course and will keep the third shift operational. Preserving the final shift will prevent 1,200 layoffs at the factory.

The change was made possible by a revised labor deal agreed to this spring, which cut $207 million in annual costs. Earlier this year, the plant "temporarily" ceased building the Routan for Volkswagen due to slow sales. According to VW of America communications director Steve Keyes, the Routan will live on as well. Keyes tells Autoblog "We will be introducing the 2010 MY vehicle this Fall and continue work on future models. Our goal was to capture 5 percent of the segment and we're meeting that target."

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Routan

[Source: Reuters, Volkswagen]

Chrysler decides to keep third shift at Windsor minivan plant, VW Routan to live on originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Goodbye, Routan? VW minivan reportedly not long for this world

Noah Joseph — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:22:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Volkswagen, Earnings/Financials

Volkswagen Routan - Click above for high-res gallery

That the Volkswagen Routan has been a dismal failure is probably one of the worst kept secrets in the industry, but until now, few have taken stock of just how poorly the badge-engineered minivan was selling.

The idea was fairly straightforward, if a tad ill-conceived: take a Dodge Caravan, slap on a fresh face and a VW badge and give it an unpronounceable name. The minivan is built alongside its Chrysler and Dodge counterparts at Chrysler's Windsor, Ontario, plant... or at least it was until Wolfsburg asked Auburn Hills to stop production. Apparently, not a single Routan has rolled off the assembly line since last December, and there are no immediate plans to resume production.

Nor should they, necessarily: Of the 22,037 Routans produced between its introduction in September and the cessation of production just a few months later, only 5,582 (less than a quarter of those made) have actually been sold. With that much back-stock, Volkswagen Group of America has been offering some attractive incentives, and dealers are likely super-motivated to sell, but the Routan's retail price is still a couple grand higher than a Dodge Caravan's, part of which goes towards recouping Brooke Shields' paycheck for that ridiculous advertising campaign. And with no sign of the remaining Routans' value going anywhere but down, there's little motivation for VW (to ask Chrysler) to resume production, much less green-light its replacement.

If there's a bright spot here, it's that the Routan actually isn't a bad minivan, particularly now that good deals are available. It's been said that it is the best-driving Chrysler minivan (with the best interior of the bunch), and that's probably true - even if the name, marketing and idea that this is a proper VW has never managed to resonate with consumers.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Routan

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Goodbye, Routan? VW minivan reportedly not long for this world originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nein, danke: VW not interested in buying Chrysler minivan business

Noah Joseph — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:03:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Chrysler, Volkswagen

Click above to view high-resolution images from our first drive of the Volkswagen Routan

With Chrysler's fortunes swirling around the drain, it's widely expected that the only way it will survive is as individual parts swallowed by other automakers. But while the costly Viper operation may find a new home, the most likely buyer for its minivan operation, the product that put the company back on the map over two decades ago, isn't interested.

Chrysler has been rebadging its Town & Country minivans as Routans for Volkswagen in a deal struck by Wolfgang Bernhard, a former top exec at both automakers. But while Chrysler sold 232,000 of its Town & Country and Dodge Caravan minivans last year, Volkswagen sold a paltry 3387 Routans, which may go a long way towards explaining why Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, says they're not interested. The weak sales come despite a costly ad campaign featuring Brooke Shields: If they spent $1 million on the commercials - including Brooke's big fat paycheck (the only time "fat" and "Brooke Shields" ever belong in the same sentence) - that means the advertising cost $294 per Routan sold. Which is more than what we'd pay for a badge-engineered minivan being passed off as German engineering.

Still, for your viewing enjoyment, we've included a video of Brooke's Routan mocumentary/commercial after the jump, because we'll take any excuse to watch Brooke Shields talk about making babies. Just be prepared to yell "but it's not German engineering!" at your computer screen repeatedly.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Routan

[Source: Business Week]

Continue reading Nein, danke: VW not interested in buying Chrysler minivan business

Nein, danke: VW not interested in buying Chrysler minivan business originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Routan

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Volkswagen, First Drives

2009 Volkswagen Routan - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Volkswagen Routan's "German Engineering" ad campaign has provided plenty of irony-laced comedic fodder for the Autoblog water-cooler, and VW's own press release doesn't help, heralding the Routan as "a stylish alternative to the minivan." An alternative to what?

In a perfect world, VW would have revolutionized the moribund minivan segment with a production version of the 2001 Microbus concept, thereby capitalizing on V-Dub's cheeky heritage in the same way the new Beetle did in the late '90s, and perpetuated by other vehicles like the MINI Cooper and Fiat 500 today.

Thankfully, all is not lost. According to VW's Product Planning Manager, Bret Scott, "We would never say 'no' to the possibility of a Microbus revival." But in the meantime, we have to make due with this: the 2009 Volkswagen Routan, a reworked Chrysler Town & Country that VW execs call (with a straight face) "The Beetle of minivans."

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Routan

Continue reading First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Routan

First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Routan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Brooke Shields pretending VW Routan is NOT a Dodge Caravan

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Volkswagen

Click above to watch video after the jump

In what could very possibly be the worst auto-related commercial we have ever seen, Volkswagen has somehow convinced Brooke Shields (really Brooke, are things this bad?) to shill its new, at least to VW showrooms, ~~Caravan~~ Routan minivan. Apparently, what the people want is a badge-engineered Volkswagen version of the Pentastar minivan platform. In the extended commercial, Shields attempts to explain with a straight face that Americans are getting pregnant just so they can buy a Routan and enjoy its German engineering. Except that it's not German engineered, unless you count the fact that Daimler was still married to Chrysler when the van was developed. We certainly don't. Sure, the Routan's Chrysler-sourced suspension was probably tweaked by Volkswagen, and it's got softer styling up front to differentiate it from its Auburn Hills-based brothers, but those credentials are far from enough to call it "German engineered". It's likely that the Routan is a perfectly fine minivan, maybe even markedly better than the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country, but does VW honestly think people won't realize it's true origins? To watch the absurdness unfold, click past the break.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading VIDEO: Brooke Shields pretending VW Routan is NOT a Dodge Caravan

VIDEO: Brooke Shields pretending VW Routan is NOT a Dodge Caravan originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More creative incentives: Buy a VW Routan and get $1,500 for college

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:14:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Minivan/Van, Marketing/Advertising, Volkswagen

Click above for high-res gallery of the Volkswagen Routan

The new Volkswagen Routan minivan hasn't even gone on sale yet and there is already an incentive on its hood. This one, however, is not your typical cash back deal. Instead, Volkswagen is working under the assumption that the people likely to actually purchase a Routan are those with kids to haul. As such, VW of America is teaming up with Upromise to provide buyers with $1,500 towards a higher education savings plan. Upromise is a company that works with retailers to provide cash back bonuses when one of their registered credit card is used for purchases. Those rebates can then be transferred to a 529 education savings plan. To be eligible for the college bonus, you have to pre-order the Chrysler-built Routan by the end of August and take delivery by the end of November.

Gallery: Volkswagen Routan

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading More creative incentives: Buy a VW Routan and get $1,500 for college

More creative incentives: Buy a VW Routan and get $1,500 for college originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 May 2008 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2008: Volkswagen unveils the newish Routan minivan

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:13:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Minivan/Van, Volkswagen

click above to view more high-res pics of the VW Routan

Fumbling out of the "why bother" category here at the Chicago Auto Show is the 2009 Volkswagen Routan, which is their new minivan based on the Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Caravan platform. Oddly, Volkswagen opened up its presentation by showing pics and videos of its classic vehicles, such as the old Beetle and the old-style rear-engined vans. What's odd is that those classics share absolutely no heritage with the new Chrysler minivan-based Routan. Why conjure up favorable memories of the old VW van before letting us down with this new one?

Moving on to better things, the new van does have a pretty attractive face, more attractive than the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country, at least. Standard features are many, including traction and stability controls, a 6-speed automatic transmission and Chrysler's 3.8L V6, though a 4.0L V6 producing 251 hp is also available. The interior is nicer in the Routan than in its Chrysler counterparts, though that's not necessarily saying much. We'll reserve final judgment until we get a chance to live with it, though.

Volkswagen believes that it has struck a better ride and handling compromise on the Routan than Chrysler was able to achieve with either of its vans, which is a bit like biting the hands that feeds you. Nothing on the Routan is all that bad, so we think that any potential minivan customer will consider it. What it will cost is unknown, but VW said the Routan will start around $25,000. We still question whether this is the best that Volkswagen could do with such a great history of vans to draw upon. As we see it, all this vehicle does is give VW dealers a vehicle to sell to large families.

Gallery: Volkswagen Routan

Continue reading Chicago 2008: Volkswagen unveils the newish Routan minivan

Chicago 2008: Volkswagen unveils the newish Routan minivan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chicago 2008 preview: Volkswagen Routan leaks out

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Minivan/Van, Volkswagen

Click above for high-res gallery of the Volkswagen Routan.

Well, thanks to the German pub Autobild you can now see the collaborative efforts of Chrysler and Volkswagen in the form of the VW Routan. Unfortunately, the V-Dub van hardly harkens back to the time of the mini-bus, as everything between the A- and D-pillar is a dead ringer for the Chrysler/Dodge on which it's built. The new front fascia is attractive enough, with swooping headlamps, well-proportioned air dams and a chrome grille fitted with the VW logo, while the rear benefits from a similar tail lamp design as seen on the Touareg and Golf.

Power comes courtesy of a 3.6-liter V6, with 197 hp and 230 lb.-ft. of torque routed through a six-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can upgrade what's under the hood with a 4.0-liter V6 producing 251 hp and 259 lb.-ft. of torque. Traction control and ESP will be standard, along with dual power sliding doors, power windows and thirteen (13!) cupholders. Some of the options include a touch screen nav with a 20 gig hard-drive, power lift gate and a rear seat entertainment system with two, nine-inch screens.

Volkswagen plans to price the base Routan below the $25,000 mark and sales are expected to begin later this year.

Volkswagen's press release is available in full after the jump.

Gallery: Volkswagen Routan

Continue reading Chicago 2008 preview: Volkswagen Routan leaks out

Chicago 2008 preview: Volkswagen Routan leaks out originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Volkswagen Routan vannin' around

Dan Roth — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Spy Photos, Minivan/Van, Volkswagen

Priddy and Company stumbled across a dolled up VW Routan and managed to capture a shot. Earth shattering revelation here: it looks like a Grand Caravan. It'd be natural to assume some similarities, there's only so much you can do to the basic body shell when badge engineering, but when the spy photogs almost pass it right by, that says something. The boys in the camoflage department deserve a little something extra in their envelope this week, because there aren't too many clues as to what the undisguised version will look like (besides, say, a Chrysler minivan.)

The most noticeable element that we can discern are taillights that are subtly reshaped and have different lenses. It might just be the angle, but it's possible that the rear quarter windows and back hatch are reshaped, as well. It almost looks like there's a little more rake in the aft pillars and you can be sure that the bumper and back hatch have been redone. Ever since a '74 Kombi stole my heart, I've been waiting for a new Microbus, especially with Volkswagen's penchant for the retro. We'll wait until Chicago to pass final judgement, and give props to Chrysler for finding someone to take some of their production volume and keep the lines rolling.

[Source: Jalopnik, Photo: Brenda Priddy & Co.]

Spy Shots: Volkswagen Routan vannin' around originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen's Chrysler-based minivan to be called Routan

John Neff — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:40:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Minivan/Van, Chrysler, Volkswagen

Volkswagen has announced that it will unveils its version of the Chrysler LLC minivan at the Chicago Auto Show in early February, and that its name will be Routan. As with most of the names that VW chooses for its vehicles, we had to look up the meaning of the word. We didn't find anything because VW made up the word "Routan" by combining the words "route" and "an". The German automaker adds an "an" at the end of all its vans in Europe.

The Routan is good news for Chrysler, which will use up some excess production capacity at its Windsor, Ontario plant by building VW's minivan alongside the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country. We're very eager to see the VW aesthetic applied to the exterior of the Chrysler minivans, which, despite incorporating a number of innovative features not offered by their competition, is often panned for its bread-box styling.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Volkswagen's Chrysler-based minivan to be called Routan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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