If you are wondering why Volkswagen decided to base its minivan on a minivan made by Chrysler, it reflects the fact that Americans have already established what they like in a minivan, so it made sense to add Volkswagen values to an American van.

Volkswagen didn’t just pull the name Routan out of a hat. It was carefully invented to suggest a union of American and German ideas. The first part of the word comes from the English word "route.” The last part is derived from Volkswagen's European naming scheme for vans, the Sharan and the Touran. So there you have it - the all-new Routan seven-passenger minivan – an American-style minivan steeped in European standards of design, handling and build-quality.

So how has Volkswagen put its stamp on the Routan? The front end of the Routan is unmistakably VW with a grille and front fascia that could come from no other automotive family. Other distinctly Volkswagen elements include the headlamps, taillamps and side mirrors. Inside the Routan, Volkswagen customized the instruments with a unique tachometer. The materials and fit/finish have the feel of Volkswagen quality, and the décor is upscale continental, as one would expect from the Lords of Wolfsburg.

Knowing the difficulties involved in reinventing the wheel, Volkswagen made sure the Routan is well optioned with all the conveniences you would expect in a minivan. Cupholders? Check! There are 13 cupholders in all the right places. On the center console, two cupholders glow in the dark! Entertainment? Check! Kid-placating infotainment systems consist of two nine-inch screens for the second and third rows and a touchscreen navigation unit with hard drive at the top of the center stack. Seating? Check! Two second-row captains’ chairs and a third-row bench seat provide a passenger capacity of seven. Cargo? Check! Remove the third-row seat, and VW says you'll find a total of 83 cubic feet worth of storage space aft of the second row. In front of the second row, you have twin “basements” for hidden storage. The entire second row of seats can recline, fold flat or be removed. Conveniences? Check! You can have power sliding side doors, a power folding third row and a power liftgate. There are multiple 12-volt outlets and even a 115-volt AC outlet to charge phones, PDAs, laptops or favorite game consoles.

The Routan offers a choice of two power units, the standard engine being a 197 hp 3.8-liter V6 with 230 lb/ft of torque. If you need more, the upgrade V6 displaces 4.0 liters and develops 251 hp and 259 lb/ft of torque. VW pairs a six-speed automatic with both engines. The EPA says the Routan with either engine should get 16 mpg when driving in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.

Driving the Routan will be a distinctively pleasurable experience. That’s because VW tuned the suspension to match, as closely as possible, the handling characteristics of the Touareg crossover. For safety, the Routan is equipped with stability control, traction control and side-curtain airbags.

The Routan interior is done to Volkswagen’s high standards. The two-toned dash is composed of a light gray upper piece mated with a lower half in light beige. The molded pieces feel strong, and the seam between the sections is invisible. The shift lever is dash-mounted in the upper part to the right of the instrument cowl, a nicely curved piece that shades the chronometer-style, white-faced gauges. If you add a navigation screen, it’s set in the top half of the dash, projecting slightly and positioned for easy reference. The center stack is contained in the lower half of the dash with dual vents over an attractive control module done in black.

The seats in the Routan are impressively sewn either in fabric or the optional leather. The four captains’ chairs feature handsome horizontal pleats and have the look of sport seats and the comfort of luxury chairs. The second row folds and tucks into the hidden storage area under the floor, a nifty disappearing act that, when the third row is folded (again, into an underfloor storage area), results in a large flat floor that will carry sheets of plywood with ease.

The cabin technology in the Routan is quite impressive. The second- and third-row occupants can have their own screens for DVD entertainment with two programs or games shown on each. The nav system is a touchscreen unit with a 20-gigabyte hard drive that serves navigation purposes and stores music for quite a selection of high-end audio and multi-speaker setups. Satellite radio and TV in all of their high-tech glory are available, so you’ll never lack content.

If you need a minivan and only a Volkswagen will do, the 2009 Volkswagen Routan will let you have your space and branding, too.