2013 Volkswagen Routan vs. Its Competition
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A de facto class leader among minivans--thanks to its family tree--the Volkswagen Routan has some stiff competition from the likes of the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna, not to mention the Chrysler minivans themselves.
The Grand Caravan and Town & Country are almost the Routan's carbon copies, but have added features like stow-away second-row seats and in-car wireless internet.
The Honda Odyssey scores for its very large interior and good handling; it has the best gas mileage in the class, but only on the most expensive, six-speed-automatic version.
The Toyota Sienna now comes only with a V-6, which raises its price and drops fuel economy across the lineup, but it's still a functional winner, with excellent safety features and quite good road manners.
The same is true for the Nissan Quest, but in most other ways, the Nissan minivan has fallen behind the rest of the class, with a smaller interior, less flexible seating, and fewer tech features--not to mention a lower score in the IIHS' roof-strength test.
 2013 Volkswagen RoutanGet FREE Price Quote |  2013 Chrysler Town & CountryGet FREE Price Quote |  2013 Dodge Grand CaravanGet FREE Price Quote |  2013 Nissan QuestGet FREE Price Quote |  2012 Honda OdysseyGet FREE Price Quote |  2012 Toyota SiennaGet FREE Price Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Specs | |||||
Top safety scores and spaciousness are in place, even if the VW Routan doesn't have all the same utility and tech options of the related Chrysler minivans. | The 2013 Chrysler Town & Country is tops in safety, flexibility, and features--the things that matter in minivans--though it's pricey. | Function reigns supreme in the Dodge Grand Caravan: it has the best seating system and infotainment features of any minivan, and gas mileage and safety scores are excellent. | Road manners are good--but when it comes to core minivan duties like seating and safety, the 2013 Nissan Quest falls behind every other minivan on the market. | The 2012 Honda Odyssey is the priciest of the minivans, but innovative seating and excellent handling set it apart from all the rest. | It's not as flexible as some minivans, but the 2012 Toyota Sienna is large, safe, and still has options for four-cylinder power and all-wheel drive. |
| MSRP From | |||||
| N/A | $30,530 | $19,995 | $25,990 | $28,375 | $25,060 |
| Gas Mileage | |||||
| 17 MPG City / 25 MPG Hwy | 17 MPG City / 25 MPG Hwy | 19 MPG City / 25 MPG Hwy | 18 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy | 16 MPG City / 24 MPG Hwy | |
| Engine | |||||
| N/A | Gas V6 | Gas/Ethanol V6 | Gas V6 | Gas V6 | Gas I4 |
| EPA Class | |||||
| N/A | 2WD Minivan | 2WD Minivan | 2WD Minivans | 2WD Minivan | 2WD Minivan |
| Style Name | |||||
| N/A | 4-Door Wagon Touring | 4-Door Wagon American Value Pkg | 4-Door S | 5-Door LX | 5-Door 7-Pass Van I4 FWD (Natl) |
| Drivetrain | |||||
| N/A | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||||
| N/A | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Passenger Doors | |||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | |||||
| N/A | Passenger Van | Passenger Van | 4 Door Minivan | 4 Door | 5 Door Reg WB |
| Transmission | |||||
| N/A | Automatic w/Manual Shift | Automatic | Continuously variable ratio | Automatic | Automatic |
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