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"   SAN FRANCISCO \u2014 Volkswagen, like every carmaker these days, is trying to do more with less and still deliver a car at a competitive price tag. Call it corporate belt-tightening, or with a positive spin, efficiency. So when VW heard its traditional customers\u2014the young American couples\u2014have apparently been deserting their Golfs, Jettas and Passats for Mommy-vans\u2014VW knew it needed a traditional American-style minivan, a segment VW considers essential to growing its market share in the US.   Why not use the new VW Eurovan already on sale overseas? Too expensive, says VW. So Volkswagen went to the folks that have had a bit of success with American minivans\u2014Chrysler. Yes, the seven seat VW Routan minivan, which in base &amp;quot;S&amp;quot; trim wears a sticker price of just $25,390, is really a re-designed version of the Chrysler-built vans, the Dodge Grand Caravan and the Chrysler Town and Country. That&amp;#039;s even more remarkable when you reflect on the fact that VW was responsible for the Microbus\u2014arguably the progenitor of all minivans.   To contradict any allegations of badge engineering, VW personnel on-hand here stressed that the Routan has had millions of dollars and much time spent making it look, feel and drive like a real European product. Let&amp;#039;s see if we can find that German engineering under the sheet metal. \u2014Barry Winfield  The Specs  Like the vehicle from which it borrows so much mechanical DNA, the base Routan is powered by a 3.8-liter V6 producing 197 hp at 5,200 rpm and 230 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm, driving through a six-speed automatic transmission with manual override. Select the upscale SEL model and you get a 4.0-liter V6 with 253 hp and 262 lb-ft. But after driving the 3.8-liter version, we&amp;#039;d suggest that you forego the 4.0-liter option unless you plan to tow something substantial, or need to convey the entire soccer team from Chunky Charter middle school.   VW conducted an extensive chassis-retuning exercise, changing spring, shock and bushing values to lend a more poised and responsive demeanor. The company also fiddled with the steering gear to bring that in line with Euro expectations. Interior fittings were upgraded to raise the perceived quality level, with better seats and softer surfaces along with a VW-specific steering wheel and touch-screen media-interface equipment (on models thus-equipped).   An optional 30GB JoyBox (we are not making this up) multi-media entertainment system is an optional extra, along with 9-in. screens for second and third row passengers. Dual-powered sliding doors and power-folding third-row seats are available as options. But the base car is pretty well equipped if you don&amp;#039;t mind the extra exercise entailed in opening doors and stashing seats. And all models are equipped with VW&amp;#039;s ESP stability-control system as standard.  The Drive  Without driving a Chrysler equivalent back-to-back in the same environment, it&amp;#039;s difficult to quantify the differences between this &amp;quot;Euro-tuned&amp;quot; minivan and its Chrysler cousin. Still, our first subjective impressions were that it steers with a pleasing degree of precision and inhibits undesirable ride motions reasonably well for a vehicle with a necessarily comfortable ride. It was also commendably quiet inside.   Once rolling in its very low first gear, the Routan&amp;#039;s six-speed transmission snaps off crisp shifts at quick intervals\u2014a sure sign of closely stacked ratios\u2014then abruptly jumps to a wider gap between the last couple of gears. Although it feels occasionally peculiar, this arrangement allows for a very low first gear for loaded launches as well as a long-striding sixth gear for good economy.   The manual shift mode is easily accessed and used, since the selector is positioned in the dashboard mere inches from one&amp;#039;s right fingers. It&amp;#039;s just a pity VW did not tighten up the lever&amp;#039;s inherited slackness at rest in the way it improved the car&amp;#039;s overall poise. Because it is the subtle overlay of tactile and aesthetic quality that sets a Routan apart from a Chrysler more than it is the overall experience of minivan use; these are important differentiators.   We think VW did a nice job on the restyled exterior. The front has a more sculpted sense to it, while the tail lights do quite a bit to diminish the overall boxiness of the rear aspect. There&amp;#039;s not much one can do to alleviate the monolithic profile, but hey, this is a roomy minivan with all the convenience that entails. From a driver&amp;#039;s viewpoint, the seats seem a little more supportive than we remember of the Chrysler&amp;#039;s equipment, and the all-around visibility is excellent.   As these things go, this Routan will perform all the tasks associated with minivans, and perhaps add a little more personal involvement than was included in the original recipe.  The Bottom Line  Volkswagen sees Acura, Toyota and Honda as its direct competitors in this segment, on the assumption that its brand (and the various tweaks to the Chrysler platform) set it apart from actual Chrysler products. We&amp;#039;ll have to see about that. It&amp;#039;s certainly true that most consumers are unaware of platform-sharing (even badge-engineering), and may see the Routan as genuinely imbued with European appeal. And if that stops young couples from abandoning Volkswagen in their course through life, the gamble will have been worth it.   Even for those of us in the know, the Routan&amp;#039;s improved steering feel, handling and ride are serious considerations for the choice of one&amp;#039;s family vehicle. Particularly when the model in question comes with VW&amp;#039;s free scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles.   RELATED STORIES \u2022 EARLIER: VW Looks to Modern Design, Not Hippie Nostalgia, for American Van  \u2022 PLUS: Is the U.S. Ready for the New VW Scirocco?  \u2022 TEST DRIVE: 2009 Golf Brings Same Style, But New TDI Engine  \u2022 MINIVANS: Quirky Mazda5 Refreshed for 2008  \u2022 HONDA FIT: Mini Minivan Sacrifices Fuel Economy to Bulk Up   2009 VW Routan 2009 VW Routan 2009 VW Routan "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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