From 1989 Consumer Reports  "The 1989 Cars" Issue:

"This rear-wheel drive van has plenty of room for passengers but it does
not convert to a flat-floor cargo carrier; the floor steps up over the
rear-mounted engine. In our previous tests, the van lacked power,
handled poorly, and wandered badly in crosswinds. Traction on slippery
pavement was poor. Heating and a/c were weak. Predicted reliability:
average to worse than average."

The 2WD Vanagon (1983-1986) was also listed in the "Used cars to avoid"
category.

Oddly, it was rated better than average in the "Would you buy that car
again?" poll for 1987.