Last updated August 4, 2026
The Volkswagen Routan lineup starts with the S, the practical seven-seat version with flexible rear seating and three-zone cooling. The SE is the family-convenience step, known for power sliding doors, heated front seats, navigation, and rear entertainment. The SEL shifts toward upscale comfort with leather, automatic climate control, heated second-row seats, and power seat-folding. The SEL Premium is the fully equipped trim, adding memory seating, stronger audio, rear entertainment, and blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts. Exact equipment can vary by model year, but this basic hierarchy stays consistent.
The Base Model trim level, sold as the S, is the straightforward family-and-fleet Routan, built around seven-seat flexibility rather than powered doors or premium cabin technology.
Best for: Families and passenger-carrying fleets that want useful space and simple controls.
Highlights
The Mid-Level trim level, sold as the SE, is the convenience-and-entertainment upgrade, known for easier passenger access and a more comfortable front cabin.
Best for: Families that frequently load passengers or want more road-trip convenience.
Highlights
Adds power sliding doors and a power liftgate, heated synthetic-leather front seats, a power driver’s seat, navigation, rear entertainment, and a rearview camera over the S.
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The Premium Comfort trim level, sold as the SEL, is the upscale comfort choice, adding leather and easier climate and seating operation without making entertainment technology the whole point.
Best for: Families that prioritize a more comfortable cabin and easier daily seat operation.
Highlights
Moves beyond the SE with leather, automatic climate control, a heated second row, a power-folding third row, a sunroof, and keyless push-button start.
0 in stockThe Top Tier trim level, sold as the SEL Premium, is the fully equipped Routan, blending family entertainment, powered seating, richer audio, and added traffic awareness.
Best for: Shoppers who want the Routan’s broadest mix of comfort, entertainment, and driver-awareness features.
Highlights
Adds driver-seat memory, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts, a stronger sound system, and a more extensive rear-entertainment setup over the SEL.
0 in stock| Feature | Top Tier | Mid-Level | Base Model | Premium Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Includes | SEL Premium0 in stock | SEL0 in stock | ||
| Seat finish | Leather seating | Synthetic-leather front seats | Utility-focused seating | Leather seating |
| Heated seating | Front and second rows | Front seats | — | Front and second rows |
| Third-row operation | Power-folding | Core fold-flat layout | Fold-flat split bench | Power-folding |
| Powered access | Powered access hardware | Power sliding doors + liftgate | Manual sliding doors | Power liftgate |
| Navigation and rear video | Navigation + dual-screen rear video | Navigation + rear video | Not part of its core setup | Comfort is the main focus |
| Parking and traffic awareness | Blind-spot + rear cross-traffic alerts | Rearview camera | — | Rearview camera |
The main trim ladder is S, SE, SEL, and SEL Premium. S covers the basics, SE adds family conveniences, SEL emphasizes cabin comfort, and SEL Premium combines the broadest comfort, entertainment, and driver-assistance equipment. The lineup narrowed late in production.
The S is the straightforward Routan trim. On later models, it has seven seats, removable second-row captain’s chairs, a fold-flat third row, three-zone manual air conditioning, keyless door locks, and the same V6 as higher trims.
In later configurations, the SE adds dual power sliding doors, heated synthetic-leather front seats, a power driver’s seat, navigation, rear video entertainment, a rear camera, and a power liftgate. Exact equipment varies across the Routan’s production run.
The SE focuses on powered access and family entertainment, while the SEL shifts toward comfort. During the SEL’s 2009–2012 run, its defining features included leather, three-zone automatic climate control, heated first- and second-row seats, a sunroof, and a power-folding third row.
The SEL Premium is the more fully equipped trim. In later years it combines leather, heated first- and second-row seats, front-seat power adjustment with driver memory, a power-folding third row, navigation, rear entertainment, stronger audio, and added blind-spot awareness.
The S is the sensible fit if seating and cargo flexibility matter more than powered doors or premium cabin features. It keeps the seven-seat layout, removable second-row chairs, fold-flat third row, and core V6 powertrain.
The SE is the family-convenience choice in later Routans. Its dual power sliding doors make access easier, while the rear video screen supports longer trips. Later examples also pair those features with navigation, a rear camera, and a power liftgate.
The SEL and SEL Premium are the comfort-focused choices with leather and heated second-row seats in their documented configurations. The SEL ran through 2012, while the SEL Premium continued into the narrowed late-production lineup.
No. The SEL appeared from 2009 through 2012, while the Routan itself continued through 2014. Late-production lineups were narrower, so shoppers comparing later vans will more often see S, SE, and SEL Premium names.
It depends on the year. For 2009 and 2010, lower trims used a 3.8-liter V6 and upper trims used a 4.0-liter V6. From 2011 onward, every trim used the same 283-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 and six-speed automatic.
The SEL Premium gained blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert in the later part of the run. These systems help flag a vehicle beside the van or crossing behind it while backing up.
The SEL and SEL Premium are the trims associated with a power-folding split third row. The S and SE use the Routan’s fold-flat third-row design without that upper-trim power operation in the documented later configurations.