VW ultimately was the first company to produce a minivan. First named the 'Microbus,' in the late 1940s with its 30 horsepower engine moving over 3,000lbs when fully loaded. Despite this odd combination of weight and power, VW gained a 'VW Bus' fan club from all around the world. When the Eurovan was first introduced in the early 1990's it was far from being like the Microbus, But still had VW's traditional power to weight ratio. The only engine was a 125 horsepower 2.5 liter 4-cylinder that was made to move almost 5,000 lbs. Sounds a little silly? I think so.


Driving Impressions:

Well Like the saying goes "you've come a long way baby.: For the 2002 model year the anemic 4-cylinder is gone, and the 140 horsepower VR6 engine has been updated. The V6 is now an 'almost' adequate match for the weight of this vehicle; producing 201 horse power for this year. The Eurovan comes in two models, the GLS (a very generic VW model name plastered on a plethora of VW vehicles) and the MV (multi van).
While driving on straight stretches, the 2002 VW Eurovan GLS is smooth as butter. Hills however are a different story. Even with its 201 horse power, and 181 lb-ft of torque, the 2.8 just doesn't have what it takes to make the Eurovan a world class mini van. The only transmission available is a four speed adaptive automatic. Climbing hills is not this vans forte', in-fact down-shifting on almost any incline is inevitable. Accelerating from a stop light seems strong at first, but after 30 MPH aerodynamics and the heavy curb weight come into dramatic play. The sales manager who sat in the passenger seat actually pretended to snap his head back as I floored the gas pedal in an unsuccessful attempt to prove to me that this van was some sort of sports car. Volkswagen says the Eurovan will do 0-60 in slightly less than 12 seconds, hardly a sports car spec, actually that is more in the line of a Geo Metro 3-cylinder spec.
Handling is also not this van's charm; sway, and a feeling of tipping over is felt while turning sharp corners at high speeds; as with the old models. I really felt like I was driving a mini school bus (yes I have driven one).

The VW Eurovan rides on a 115" wheelbase, and has an overall length of slightly less than 189". The VW Eurovan in both trim lines can pull up to 4,500lbs.

Interior Accommodation:

The interior of the VW Eurovan is not really what I expected. While not cheap looking, it also was not as well equipped as a top of the line Chevy Venture, or Ford Windstar, which both are faster, more luxurious, better looking and cost less. Apparently VW had to cut costs with the engine, and took it out on the interior. The ergonomics are fair, amenities include power everything, automatic climate control, and an electronic stability program. The sunroof on my test van was an almost $1,000 dollar option.. Yikes! The Eurovan does although boast tons of room!

Exterior Innovation:

The exterior looks almost like the old models. So it's very boxy and sits high. At first glance I thought the new models looked a little smaller, and leaner, but I could be mistaken. The Eurovan comes with 16" rims, and my test van had white paint that already had chips in it!(now there is an option you don't see everyday:p ).

The price for a 2002 Eurovan GLS is around $27,000. A MV is around $29,000. With the gas mileage, and lack of performance you get with the Eurovan, you might as well buy a super loaded conversion van. While much improved, the 2002 Eurovan is still one of the worst minivans (for the price) that I have driven recently, despite VW's performance improvements.


Conclusion:

The VW Eurovan would be recommended if VW could cut $4,000 off the MSRP, add a much larger engine, improve fuel economy, and update the interior and exterior with a more modern design.

Looking for a more refined minivan? Check out my review on the 2003 Kia Sedona

-Happy Car Shopping!



Amount Paid (US$): Test drive02
Model Year: 2002
Model and Options: Eurovan GLS , 4 speed automatic.