2012 Routan compared with 2012 Toyota Sienna

Safety
The Routan SEL’s optional blind spot warning system uses digital cameras monitored by computer to alert the driver to moving objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The Sienna doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver's blind spots.

To help make backing safer, the Routan SEL’s optional cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Sienna doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Routan and the Sienna have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four wheel antilock brakes, traction control and electronic stability systems to prevent skidding.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen Routan is safer than the Toyota Sienna:

	Routan	Sienna
Overall Stars	4 Stars	3 stars
	Passenger
Stars	4 Stars	2 Stars
HIC	130	567
Chest Compression	.5 inches	1.1 inches
Neck Injury Risk	37%	72%
Neck Stress	143 lbs.	246 lbs.
Neck Compression	20 lbs.	40 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen Routan is safer than the Toyota Sienna:

	Routan	Sienna
	Front Seat
Stars	5 Stars	5 stars
Hip Force	625 lbs.	653 lbs.
	Into Pole
Stars	5 Stars	4 Stars
Max Damage Depth	15 inches	15 inches
HIC	294	413
Spine Acceleration	47 G's	59 G's
Hip Force	788 lbs.	1182 lbs

Warranty
The Routan’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Sienna’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Routan for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Sienna (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

Reliability
To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Routan has a standard 700 amp battery. The Sienna’s 582 amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine
The Routan’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 96 more horsepower (283 vs. 187) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 186) than the Sienna’s standard 2.7 DOHC 4 cyl. The Routan’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 17 more horsepower (283 vs. 266) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 245) than the Sienna’s optional 3.5 DOHC V6.

Environmental Friendliness
In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Routan higher (6 out of 10) than the Toyota Sienna (5 to 6). This means the Routan produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Sienna every 15,000 miles.

Suspension and Handling
The Routan offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Sienna doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Routan’s wheelbase is 1.9 inches longer than on the Sienna (121.2 inches vs. 119.3 inches).

Chassis
The design of the Volkswagen Routan amounts to more than styling. The Routan has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .298 Cd. That is lower than the Sienna (.308 to .319) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Routan get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space
The Routan has .1 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.3 inches more third row legroom and .9 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sienna.

The Routan has a standard rear tailgate seat that can be flipped rearward and used for tailgate picnics. (Do not use seat reversed while vehicle in motion.) The Sienna doesn’t offer a rear tailgate seat.

Cargo Capacity
The Routan’s cargo area is larger than the Sienna’s in almost every dimension:

	Routan	Sienna
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	24”/58.6”/98.1”	23.5”/54”/74”
Max Width	69”	51.5”
Min Width	49”	47.5”
Height	48.6”	45”

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Routan SEL’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Sienna doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing
The Routan’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sienna’s (1600 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Sienna is only 3500 pounds. The Routan offers up to a 3600 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics
The Routan’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The Sienna Base doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

The Routan’s standard power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Sienna’s standard power mirror controls are on the dash, hidden behind the steering wheel, where they are awkward to manipulate.

Both the Routan and the Sienna offer available heated front seats. The Routan SEL also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Sienna.

Economic Advantages
According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Routan is less expensive to operate than the Sienna because it costs $322 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Routan than the Sienna, including $12 less for a water pump, $222 less for an alternator, $130 less for front brake pads, $319 less for a starter, $281 less for fuel injection and $1288 less for a fuel pump.

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