2009 Volkswagen Routan vs 2008 Chrysler Town & Country

From the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, Cars.com's Mike Hanley compares the 2009 Volkswagen Routan and the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country.

Shot and produced by: Sarah Gersh
Edited by: Lindsay Bjerregaard

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• cars
• carscom
• 2008
• chicago
• auto
• show
• volkswagen
• vw
• routan
• chrysler
• town
• country
• dodge
• caravan
• honda
• odyssey

[bgoldrock]

I have no idea why VW got involved with Chrysler. They lost money on the Routan; and it's not selling. The front and rear fascia are "VW" and not much else. VW had very little to do with the Routan. The steering wheel is a "VW" design. The dash is very poorly thought out, in my opinion. I don't understand why VW does not bring back the "Vanagon"? People expect that "euro" look and feel in a VW; if you want an American Van, buy a Ford, GM or Chrysler.

[masterlee123]

Chrysler Town & Country is ugly

[myles13awsome]

I have a 2010 Chrysler town and country limited and I must say that we drove it from Detroit to Washington D.C. And the captain chairs are more comfortable than what he says. I fell asleep in them easily. Plus my dad is 6'2 and he thinks they're pretty good

[jason123456789210]

all that changed was the exterior the interior is the same

except for no stow n go

you get the easy out sears from the 90s

[albion2742]

Yes and because its got a German name it costs a lot more that the Dodge & T&C.Do you also know that the Mitsubishi mid size P/U truck is a Dodge Dakota.Seems like the Japs & Germans know the USA makes better mini vans & P/Ups.

[bazouli50]

If you are thinking about getting one of these, do your self a favor and rent one for a week. I just got back from Washington where I had one of these for a week. It was a LONG week. The turning radius is HUGE! It steers like a cruise ship in a desert. It had 31K miles on it, it felt like it had 90k. The interior was cheap, the power doors usually worked, the power train was sluggish and jerky and loud. DO NOT BUY THIS VAN. You will regret it within a month.

[k2sb20033]

A majority of you couldn't be more wrong about the two. appearance and spec wise they are very similar... however once VW got the van, they invested 10 million dollars into the quality and more importantly the suspension! drive both back to back and feel the difference. hate to say it like this but the Routan is the better choice, but its only the stepping stone to prepare the public for something better.

[angusandleigh]

@puneet9212 because the Routan is built by Chrysler. VW just has them change a few things (ie grill and tail lights, the headlights looked the same to me) and I don't think the reason behind VW not having Stow and Go because of comfort, I believe it was maybe because that's a Chrysler/Dodge van thing.

[markkjay]

So does the Routan actually have better quality materials than the Chrysler vans? As in.. better use of plastics that are more pleasing both to the eye and to the touch.

[deedundone]

idk. im glad chysler and dodge came out with an angular van their round one was just unappealing. but for vw to make a van, i never knew that they just copied it. originality? and its not a true vw if its just a copy!  no one can seem to get the van right. the nissan quest 2000 was great. the high end model. but then nissan revamped it and all i can say is ewwwwwwww!..........Im no van designer, but as a person who loves vans and knows what they should look and feel like, come on people!

[puneet9212]

gay. y did Volkswagen use dodge moter??? y not a moter from a s4 or someting

[rhinojive]

I think I just found my new sleeping medication. Watching this video!