2012 Volkswagen Routan: What's New, Specs & Features

About the 2012 Volkswagen Routan

First and only generation (2009-2012 as the full retail run), late-cycle year and the last full retail model year before the 2013 fleet-only wind-down.

Volkswagen pitched the Routan as a family minivan that still felt more like a Volkswagen from the driver’s seat. The core idea was simple: room for seven, lots of cargo flexibility, removable second-row seats, and a strong V6, but with firmer steering and suspension tuning than its Chrysler relatives. For most shoppers, the Routan’s identity was practical family hauling with a slightly more controlled, carlike feel and a more upscale look inside and out.

The 2012 Routan is a seven-passenger, front-wheel-drive minivan with a 3.6-liter V6, a six-speed automatic, removable second-row captain’s chairs, and a third-row seat that folds into the floor. SE adds family-friendly conveniences such as power sliding doors and heated front seats, while SEL brings leather, automatic climate control, and a power-folding third row. SEL Premium sits at the top with upgraded lighting and audio, plus the newly added blind-spot and rear cross-path safety systems.