Although the Routan body shape has been around now for a number of years, Volkswagen show no signs of changing it any time soon, meaning that the 2012 version remains much the same especially in its S, SE, SEL modes. The only major change is in the SEL Premium, which comes fitted with Volkswagen's innovative Rear Cross-Path Detection blind-spot warning system.
The basic version of the Volkswagen Routan, the S, comes with keyless entry , manual climate control, CD player, auxiliary audio input jack, six speaker sound system, captain's chairs for the second-row, a third row folding bench seat , heated mirrors, power rear vent windows and sixteen inch steel wheels with 225/65R16 all weather tires as standard.
The Routan SE version comes with so much more in the way of creature comforts starting from an upgrade to the exterior trim including a roof rack, power operated sliding side doors, dummy leather vinyl upholstery, heated front seats eight way power adjustable driver seat, trip computer, six CD changer, sunshades for the second and third rows and seventeen inch alloy wheels with 225/65R17 weather tires. The SE also has more than its fair share of optional extras, including single-CD player, second and third row dual video screens, power rear lift gate, rearview camera, user friendly touchscreen and audio interface.
Real leather upholstery, second row seats that can be heated, third row seats that can be power folded are just some of the standard features that come with the Routan SEL version. Other standards include remote ignition, automatically adjustable headlights, sunroof, three zone climate controls, rearview camera, as well as an iPod interface. Other options take in such niceties as rain sensing windshield wipers.
Top of the range SEL Premium comes with all of the above standards and options as well as chrome exterior trim, xenon headlights, fog lights, keyless entry and ignition, memory functionable driver seat, eight way power adjustable passenger seat, trip computer and nine speakers for the audio system.
Standard safety features for the 2012 Volkswagen Routan include antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front side-impact airbags, a driver side knee airbag and side curtain airbags that cover all three rows.
The 2012 Volkswagen Routan's 3.6-liter V6 engine on six speed automatic transmission covers 21 miles per gallon on average, with 17 miles per gallon in the city and 25 miles per gallon on the highway, according to ETA reports.
As a crossover minivan, the 2012 Volkswagen Routan's has many rivals both from its \"siblings\", the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country as well as the Nissan Quest, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.