I wasn't aware that VW was getting back into the minivan business until I saw an ad for this new vehicle.

It suspiciously looks like a rebadged Honda Odyssey, which my better half drives. Just a brief glance at the option list shows everything that our Touring model has.

I know it's a "minivan", but does anyone have the scoop?

http://www.vw.com/routan/en/us/

Ha!

I answered my own question.

After reviewing the specs, I noticed familiar engines listed.

A search revealed that the new Routan IS a rebadged existing vehicle.

But not the Odyssey.

The Chrysler/Dodge minivan!

There's a twist for ya!

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/06/chicago-2008-volkswagen-unveils-the-newish-routan-minivan/

That's a really good rebadge job - it certainly doesn't look like a Dodge van and does look like a VW.

I agree Indy, that is the best rebadge I have ever seen! I'm not sure I would have ever guessed it was a Dodge. The shape of the glass, sort of is the same, but wow, everything else is different! Nice job Chrysler/VW!!!

Interesting. When I looked at the pic in the first link it looked to me like a Chrysler product. Then I found out it is/was a Chrysler.

I don't think that bit of info will help VW's sales. You can put lipstick on a pig, but nobody still wants to kiss it.

Au Contraire GFC. The Chrysler minivans are the industry standard. Everyone copies what they do. Honda and Toyota try very very hard to make their vans like Chrysler products. I don't see VW using them as a negative at all.

Then how come Chrysler dealers can't sell 'em?

On 2nd thought, Ford F-series are industry standards too, and Ford dealers can't sell those either...

Industry standard ?????? That there is funny.

They can't sell them, because they are not viewed as "economy" vehicle right now. And I have heard that indeed the 3.8 powered Caravans do not get very good mileage. Anyone experience that personally?

Glad you think it's funny, Capn. But ever since they started the minivan segment, Ford, GM, Honda, Toyota, and all the rest have been trying to match them. Some say the Odyssey is the best, but try asking the people that can't keep the transmissions in them. And ask the folks who's driver's door creaks and pops when they open it on their Sienna, but Toyota didn't actually recall it. See what they say.

Chrysler always seems to lead with the innovation of gadgetry on the soccermobiles. A friend of mine had a Chrysler and replaced it with a Honda, there is a big difference in quality, IMO, but i don't drive it everyday. Given they are extremely hard on vehicles, the Chrysler made it to around 70k and now they have 50k on the Honda. The Honda is holding up very well.

As for the VW thing, why?? Why would VW rebadge a Chrysler? Thier vanagon (or whatever it was called) was nice, but very utilitarian. A few upgrades and restyling would have brought that around nicely. If anything, rebadge a Sprinter and give it some nicer features, I'd even be interested in that.

The VW vanagon was originally designed in about 1985 and would never pass crash tests today - even though they sold them until about 2001.

There is nothing wrong with the chrysler minivans. To say their is a "big difference in quality" between Chrysler and Honda is unfair. Honda had quality problems on startup with their minivans, which dropped their overall corporate quality ratings significantly - I think they've fixed most of them over the past couple years.

The Sprinter is a truck and probably wouldn't be appropriate for selling as a passenger van, The driver sits way forward in the cab - like the vanagon.

Why is it unfair? Comparing thier two vehicles, IMO, the Honda is a better vehicle. But you also pay a premium over the Chrysler. The Honda is not without fault, but the amount of problems they had with the Chrysler well outweighed the small issues they have with the Honda. And the Honda has more "systems" to go wrong as well.

They weren't "small issues" on the Hondas. They had problems with power sliding doors. They had transmission issues. They had lots of electronic gremlins. And, no, the Honda doesn't have any more features than a loaded Chrysler. Chrysler has successfully built way more minivans than anybody else - I'm not necessarily a Chrylser fan, but you have to be fair to them.

I guess I should qualify my statement by saying I am comparing thier two vehicles, not the two lines overall. And yes, you are talking a 2002 Chrysler versus a 2006 Honda. Thier Honda has more features than thier T&C had. That's all i am saying.

D_P