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VW Routan Comes with College Credit

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2009 Volkswagen Routan

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That 2009 Volkswagen Routan minivan you've had your eye one comes with a new standard feature as VW launches the minivan in the U.S. market: some college credit.

The Wall Street Journal reports VW will enter the shrinking U.S. minivan market with the Routan and with a $1,500 deposit into a uPromise account for new owners. UPromise is a college-savings Web site that allows users to deposit money, which can then be moved into a tax-advantaged 529 college savings account.

VW says more than 6,000 customers have signed up for the spiff. The German automaker hasn't sold a minivan in the States since it orphaned the Eurovan here back in 2004.

The Routan is built by Chrysler for VW, and has a choice of 3.8-liter and 4.0-liter V-6 engines, along with a specific VW exterior appearance and a VW-designed interior. It's taking on the titans of the class--the Chrysler minivans, the Honda Odyssey, and the Toyota Sienna--and VW hopes to sell more than 20,000 of them each year.

Stay tuned--we'll have our full review of the 2009 Routan soon.

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Comments (5)

Ed Posted: 8/25/2008 4:30am PDT

nice V|W styling, but apparently a damned chrysler underneath?
Will it handle as well as a VW?
Will it be as utterly unreliable as most VWs?
And WHY oh WHY doesn't it come with a diesel to give it 40 MPG highway???????????

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mikec Posted: 8/25/2008 8:31am PDT

It's a shame that my local VW dealer recently went out of business. I would like to take a look at one.

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JKD Posted: 8/25/2008 10:49pm PDT

mikec - Don't they have a Chrysler dealership nearby? T&C has a very nice interior for once - I can't see how VW can make it better forcing buyers to pay premium for it and its lousy service and dealer network. Get a Sienna, Odyssey, or even better, Mazda5 with manual if you need a "euro-handling" van.

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irogigroh Posted: 8/26/2008 12:25am PDT

I don't get this. Another rebadge. Its so obvious too! Who at VW thought this was a good idea? This is another saab/subaru, saab/GMC-chevy, honda/isuzu, suzuki/nissan, etc. These never work! Anyone with even a passing interest in cars immediately knows what it is, a rebadged vehicle. If I want a VW, why wouldn't I go and buy a proper VW and not some chrysler with a new grill and spiffed up interior? Since VW doesn't make a minivan then that tells me to go shop a company that makes one! Nobody can be that loyal to a brand! And if you are you need help, your missing some great vehicles. It would have been nice if VW changed more of the sheetmetal too, it looks way to similar. If they were going to do it, they could have done it right.
With all that said, buy the odyssey. What an amazing minivan! I wouldn't be caught dead in a minivan usually, but these are like having your own corporate jet. There clearly the best.
p.s. - why at VW comes up with these stupid names?! ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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JKD Posted: 8/26/2008 11:19am PDT

again... how is Honda the best minivan if everyone (including Consumer Reports) has the Sienna edging it slightly (reliability, value, availability of options, and power)? VW should have at least made the 4.0 liter standard. This thirsty 3.8 liter with 197 HP is so 80s. Even Jettas come with more power.