2009 VW Routan

PETER BLEAKNEY FOR THE TORONTO STAR

The 2009 VW Routan.

Peter Bleakney

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Minivans, few will argue, are totally uncool.

I, however, am a big fan of the minivan. Always have been. It is the most intelligent form of family transportation. Period. As such, I booked a 2009 Volkswagen Routan Execline for our annual family and friends ski excursion to Ellicottville, N.Y.

While VW can arguably be credited for creating (or at least popularizing) the minivan with nearly four decades of the iconic Microbus (1950-1989), the Wolfsburg, Germany, automaker has jumped into bed with Chrysler on this one – the other company that knows a thing or two about cubist family haulers.

Skeptics might be quick to dismiss the Routan as nothing more than a Chrysler Town & Country with a VW badge on the front. After all, it is built in the same Windsor plant and shares most of the mechanicals.

Yes, the profile is unmistakably Dodge/Chrysler, but a walk around reveals a distinctly Volkswagen visage and a softer, more attractive rear end treatment. In fact, the only body panels shared with the Chrysler are its side doors and roof.

The Canadian Routan lineup is powered by Chrysler's 251-hp 259 lb.-ft. 4.0-L V6 engine coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift mode. Trim levels are Trendline, starting at $27,975, Comfortline at $33,975, Highline at $39,975, and top out with this Execline at $49,975.

Time to load up and head south. The Routan's third-row split bench folds into the floor, but second-row Stow n' Go seating wasn't part of Chrysler's dowry. That's not so good for trips to the hardware store.

With the third seat stowed, storage space is a cavernous 2,400 litres. Fortunately, the betrothed didn't find any antiques to her liking while we were stateside, as there was plenty of space for a hutch and a couple of chairs along with our suitcases and ski equipment. Try that in a full-sized SUV.

The seats are pure VW in their firm euro support, and the dash is Routan-specific, adopting the attractive bi-level design seen in the Passat CC. The shift lever sprouts from the right of the gauge cluster.

It's a good look, and the materials and workmanship are a step up from the Chrysler products, although there are a number of cues from that company as well: soft-blue gauge illumination, LED ambient lighting, fingertip audio controls on the back of the steering wheel and the combo wiper/signal stalk.

You'd expect the Execline to be wallowing in kit for this kind of money. It is. Most important to the progeny was the rear-seat entertainment system with two flip-down screens. With two 115V outlets on board, the kids could have brought their game systems. They also appreciated the heated chairs, sun shades, powered doors and back-seat climate controls.

Up front, we were groovin' to satellite radio on the 500-watt 10-speaker sound system. The touch-screen navigation, coupled with 30-gig media storage and rear-view camera, is intuitive and easy to program. Other niceties include Bluetooth, voice recognition, three-zone climate control, power adjustable pedals, powered lift gate, large sunroof, auto dimming mirrors, xenon headlights and remote start. No park assist, though.

The interior does get some demerit points for the flimsy removable front centre console (Highline and Execline) and non-sliding second row captains chairs.

As luck would have it, we left in a snowstorm, so our two-hour trip turned into a four-hour slog. Gee, snow in Buffalo. Who woulda thought? With snow tires on the 17-inch Soho alloys, the Routan felt secure, though the wipers kept icing up. To be fair, other vehicles in our convoy suffered similarly.

Once in charming Ellicottville, our ski vacation progressed swimmingly. That is to say nobody broke anything and the resort allowed beer in the hot tub.

It was on the first leg of our drive home over the dry and curvy Route 219 that I was able to assess the Routan's road manners. Volkswagen has extensively reworked the Chrysler underpinnings with firmer dampers, springs and revised bushings. It has also injected some decent steering feel and tightened the turning circle. Yep, this leather-lined 2,100-kg packing crate leaps to the head of the class in minivan dynamics, with no apparent loss to ride comfort.

Fun? Well, I wouldn't go that far, but kudos to VW for making the Routan feel part of the family.

Put your foot in it, and the van moves out with authority. Volkswagen is positioning the Routan against other premium "offshore" vans: the Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest and Toyota Sienna.

The base Trendline slightly undercuts the Japanese entry level models, and this premium Execline lines up with the Honda Odyssey Touring ($48,890), Nissan Quest 3.5 SE with navigation ($47,948) and the Toyota Sienna Limited AWD Navigation ($50,370). A loaded Chrysler Town & Country with navigation comes in around $45,000.

Yes, 50 large is a lot to spend on a minivan, but when you consider many buyers happily drop that on an SUV that is dynamically inferior, thirstier and considerably less space efficient, the euro-flavoured Routan Execline makes sense.

Freelance auto writer Peter Bleakney can be reached at pebleakney@sympatico.ca

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