2011 Volkswagen Routan – Not the Best Minivan, , http://www.automotivecraze.com/2011-volkswagen-routan-not-the-best-minivan/,
First Look:
If you thought that you’ve seen 2011 Volkswagen Routan somewhere, you are absolutely right and we’ll tell you why. But let’s have a first look at the Routan. Volkswagen vans have been the first choice for hippies and camping fanatics for decades, so when the 2011 Volkswagen Routan entered the market people were delighted to see a Volkswagen van. But now although the 2011 Volkswagen Routan does have a VW in its grille, but considering the fact that its more of a mainstream van and is intended for modern families, many of the of people will be disappointed.
Though, they might be solaced from the fact that the Routan is actually a Volkswagen Van, but that too only in name. Positioned behind the exclusive front façade and underneath the faintly higher-quality interiors of the Routan, there actually is a Dodge Grand Caravan. And this is why it looked familiar to you, isn’t it? This legacy introduces a wide number of advantages and disadvantages.
Starting on a positive node, we would like to say that the 2011 Volkswagen Routan accedes to the Chrysler Town & Country’s and Dodge’s all new 3.6 ltr V6 engine that generates more power and even delivers a lot better fuel economy than both the Chrysler-sourced V6 engines powering the Routan last year. In addition to this the Volkswagen Routan offers the space and interiors expected by the American minivan customers, while at the same time offering family-friendly features such as a DVD entertainment system, power sliding doors, an iPod interface and heated rear seats. The vehicle also has a brand new integrated Garmin-sourced navigation system for the people who want route guidance at affordable prices.
In general, there actually are not many reasons why one actually should consider a 2011 Volkswagen Routan over many of its potent American siblings. But even if you are considering 2011 VW Routan please keep your expectations realistic, to avoid any sort of disappointments.
What’s New for 2011 Volkswagen Routan?
The 2011 Volkswagen Routan comes with a more efficient and more powerful 3.6 ltr V6 engine, which at present powers its Chrysler and Dodge minivan siblings. Some other enhancements for the family oriented buyers include an affordable navigation system option and expanded trip computer functionality. The navigation system has been sourced from Garmin but has been incorporated into the stereo’s touchscreen interface.
Body Styling and Features:
The 2011 Volkswagen Routan comes in a single body style of a minivan and is available in four trims namely: SE, S, SEL Premium and SEL trims. The standard equipments for the base S includes heated mirrors, rear air-conditioning controls, 16 in steel wheels, cruise control, power rear vent windows, a leather-swathed shifter and steering wheel, a tilt-only steering wheel, second-row captain’s chairs, and a 6-speaker sound system having an auxiliary audio jack and a CD player.
The SE trim on the other hand comes with 17 in alloy wheels, improved exterior trim, a roof rack, power-adjustable pedals, power sliding doors, leatherette premium vinyl upholstery, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, an 8-way power driver seat having lumbar adjustment, 2nd- and 3rd-row sunshades, a trip computer, an overhead storage console, a 6-CD changer and Bluetooth.
When equipped with the Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) package, the VW Routan SE gets a rearview camera, a power tailgate, a single-CD player instead of the six-disc, a Chrysler-sourced touchscreen audio interface, satellite radio, video screens for the 2nd and 3rd rows and digital music storage. You can get the Garmin navigation system into the touchscreen audio interface offered with the RSE package.
The SEL trim gets all the SE’s equipment and in addition gets a sunroof, automatic headlamps, a rearview camera, heated second-row seats, a remote ignition, a power-folding third-row seat, leather upholstery, automatic three-zone climate control, a Chrysler-sourced navigation system, the touchscreen audio interface, voice controls, digital music storage, real-time traffic, an iPod interface and satellite radio.
The SEL trim gets the rear-seat DVD entertainment as its optional equipment. The SEL Premium gets fog lamps, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, xenon headlamps, keyless entry/ignition, driver memory functions, and additional chrome exterior trim, interior wood trim, an 8-way power passenger seat, a 9-speaker sound system and an advanced trip computer.
Under The Hood:
The 2011 Volkswagen Routan gets its power from a 3.6 ltr V6 engine generating maximum power of 283 hp and 260 lbs-ft of maximum torque. The power then is transmitted to the front wheels by means of a 6 speed automatic transmission.
Performance:
In our performance testing the 2011 VW Routan delivered a smooth ride and respectable acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds, which might look decent, but is a tad slower than its mainstream rivals.
Safety Equipments:
Being a family centered minivan the 2011 Volkswagen Routan comes loaded with safety equipments such as stability and traction control, brake assist and antilock disc brakes, a driver knee airbag, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. You can also get a rearview camera.
Verdict:
The 2011 Volkswagen Routan might be having certain advantages over the Chrysler minivans on which it is based, but despite this the VW Routan doesn’t stack up to some of the top-in-class models.
, Automotive Craze, Ricky, , ,
Van Petten was kind enough to give us some insight as to what it has been like living with a hydrogen vehicle for the past several months. Long story short, the F-Cell's three high-pressure hydrogen gas cylinders (holding about 8.2 pounds of fuel) are good for about 150 "real world" miles between fill-ups in the Los Angeles basin, says Van Petten. While that operation circle isn't bad (especially compared to the pure-EV offerings), consumers will likely demand at least 250 miles between fuel stops if the technology is to replace combustion engines. Van Petten says his F-Cell (thankfully painted silver, not fluorescent green like the World Drive models) has been fun to drive and perfectly reliable. It also gets more than its share of attention - he spends a lot of time explaining the difference between his F-Cell's fuel cell technology and hydrogen vehicles that consume liquid hydrogen via combustion (like the BMW Hydrogen 7).
