Surely you have seen at least one television commercial with Brooke Shields imploring you not to have children strictly so you have an excuse to purchase the Volkswagen Routan minivan. I’m not sure the new kid on the minivan block will have you rushing to procreate, but I think it will definitely make it easier to opt for a minivan in the garage, especially if you have fond memories of a VW Cabrio, Jetta or New Beetle. The Routan (say roo-TAHN) brings the charm and character many of us associate with VW to a vehicle segment with a droll ‘mommy car’ image. They wisely partnered with Chrysler to built a German-esque version of the venerable Town ‘n Country / Dodge Caravan. Yep, the company who brought us the first minibus is paired with the company that created the minivan craze. The Routan is a decidedly fun twist on a practical solution. For me, minivans make the most sense if you need space for hauling people and things. You get the cargo and kid room of a large SUV for the same price and fuel economy of many compact or mid-size SUVs. But nowadays, minivans aren’t ‘cool’ or ‘fun’. I wouldn’t put the Routan (or any minivan) in the ‘cool’ category, but it’s definitely on the fun side, both to look at and drive. We’ll get back to the drive shortly. The Chrysler donor it’s based on was well-engineered for its latest generation, but came out looking somewhat plain (my opinion). Not so with the VeeDub. Its nose resembles an attractively scaled-up version of the VW Eos convertible (a good thing). It has sculpted sides that wrap into a stylish rear end similar to many SUVs. Then there’s the interior. VW artisans redesigned much of the dash, seats, and materials to give the vehicle a decidedly German feel and look. Gone are many of the cheap-feeling plastic and textures. Sliding into the sturdy, well-bolstered, seats is like getting into a Passat wagon on steroids. The wide dash looks and feels European, and the dash-mounted shifter hints at sporty character with the ‘+’ and ‘-‘ symbols of a manual shift mode. Opting for the VW over the Chrysler means you won’t have the option for swivel or stowable second row seats, but you get the floor storage area as well as large captain-style seats that fold and flip up. Like the Chrysler, the third row folds into the floor or flips back for tailgating, and you get about a jillion cup holders—eight for the front passengers alone. All the high-tech goodies are available Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society