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w w w . o a kv ill eb ea ve r.c o m O A KV IL LE B EA V ER W e dn es da y, Se pt em be r 1 5, 2 01 0 2 8 Volkswagen thinking ahead with 2010 Routan Continued from page 26 Canada will get four trim levels: the base Trendline starting at $28,075; the Comfortline starting at $34,375; the Highline (as tested) starting at $40,575 and the Execline starting at $50,575. Each model has a large number of standard and optional fea- tures that cover five printed pages in the brouchure. Probably the best way to get a deeper look is to go to www.vw.ca and build one for yourself. FYI, the model tested here included just two options, the 17-inch alloy wheels at $700 and the infotainment system at $2,425. Not including the $100 air conditioning tax and the $1,580 shipping tax, (which seems like a lot from Windsor to Toronto) the as-tested price was $43,700. While this is classified as a small mini- van, it is anything but and will fill any stan- dard-size garage. But when it comes to pick- ing a seat, there wont be any quibbling because there is room for all in the Routan. With all three rows of seats up, there is 930 litres of cargo space behind the third row. Total cargo area is an astounding four square meters. Fold the third row seat beneath the cargo floor and there is 2,400 litres. The third row, by the way, has three positions including tip- ping it over backwards to have a tailgate party seating. The second row seats either fold or can be taken out completely for even more cargo space. The Stow-n-Go feature in the Chrysler is not available on the Routan. Instead, the cavity below the floor where the Stow-n-Go seats would go are purely two extra large stowage bins. Standard features in the all-new 2010 Routan include three-zone climate control, CD player with six speakers, dual sliding side doors, front and side curtain airbags, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP). My time with the Routan came at one of those watersheds in life with my son moving off to college residence. It was not a move to be taken lightly with clothes, computer, printer, George Forman Grille, cereal, milk, cheese, coats, and that all makes up to a sizeable amount of stuff to transport. During the move, I kept thinking about what VW Canada president John White had said about certain times when seven-seat util- ity could not be beat. I later learned that at the same time I was moving my son, White was using a Routan to move his daughter into university residence. At the same time I note Honda is bringing its next generation Odyssey to market and Nissan is about to re-bow with the full-size Quest minivan. So while the pundits say the minivan is dead, from what I saw on college move-in day with my son, at least a third of the vehicles were vans. So when I asked at the top, what must Volkswagen have been thinking with the Routan; it looks to me like they were think- ing ahead. The Volkswagen seven-seat 2010 Routan minivan is aimed to compete head-on with Honda and Toyota. Built on the same platform and on the same assembly line in Windsor beside the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country, the Routan will be offered in four trim levels. Styling cues take much from current VW products like the Tiguan-esque front treatment. Volkswagen Routan 2010 At A Glance:BODY STYLE:Seven-seat minivan.DRIVE METHOD:front-engine, front- wheel-drive.ENGINE:4.0-litre SOHC V6 (251 hp, 259 lb/ft).FUEL ECONOMY:12.2L/100L/100 km city, 7.9L/100 km highway.PRICE:Base, $40,575 not including $100 air conditioning tax and $1,580 shipping fee.WEB:www.vw.ca