Comments on: Key to Hybrid Minivans: Getting Small

By: Aruba

Aruba — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 10:48:36 +0000

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By: Bryn

Bryn — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 14:31:36 +0000

My 92 Olds Silhouette, at 200,000, is still rolling along.

I'd like something around the same size but as a plug-in hybrid.

I don't care about 0-60 and I don't expect 50+mpg.

As long as it can haul about 1/2 a ton (live or dead weight) and gets around 25-30 highway I'd be satisfied (ecstatic even).

The size is perfect and the van's just too versatile. For economy travel we use our Prius. Now all we need is economy haulage.

I'm seriously thinking of converting an electric van at this point.

By: starlightmica

starlightmica — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:04:50 +0000

What, no mention of the JDM Estima Hybrid? That vehicle is a size smaller than usual US market vans, but would probably do just fine.

As for minivans getting too big - that's what consumers wanted. The Mazda MPV and short-wheelbase Chrysler & GM vans are dead. The Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest, and Toyota Sienna all grew up.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:21:36 +0000

It is interesting how builders and contractors all believe they need a huge pickup truck to haul themselves around in. How many home builders transport their own lumber, roofing tiles, insulation, concrete, etc in their own truck? And do I, as their customer, have to pay for all that gas? I like the European way of doing things – small vans (like the Ford Transit) or large vans (Mercedes / Dodge Sprinter) that get good mileage and can actually haul something in a useful way.

Farmers driving a big truck – I sort of get that. Although when I grew up on the farm we used a tractor for most of that work, and a Chevy 2wd straight truck for everything else.

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:11:39 +0000

I have a 2005 Honda Oddysey with 255 HP, and it is a blast to drive. I get 20 mpg, in teh city and on the freeway. I always thought there is a market for a high performance minivan. It would be cool to take the new 380 horsepower twin turbo V6 motor Ford is putting in the Taurus SHO, and use it in a minivan. Too bad Ford quit making minivans in 2007, and it sucked.

As for minivans being too heavy for Hybrid, any car can be a hybrid. GM makes a truck, Lexus makes SUV's, they just are not as efficient as a Prius.

Minivans are the perfect candidate for a plug in hybrid, since a majority of their miles are used in taking kids to school, shopping for groceries, and soccer shuttles.

I am pushing for a diesel minivan myself. Hyundai has a nice diesel motor, and so does VW. They just need to put that combo together and I need to be convinced that the rest of car holds up to my standards, as far a quality of interior design is concerned.

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By: mahmoud odetallah

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By: b3nbr9nch

b3nbr9nch — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:49:32 +0000

There needs to be something between the Mazda 5 and behemoths such as the Odyssey and Sienna. My 1996 short-wheelbase Plymouth Voyager (not Grand Voyager) has plenty of room, especially when 3rd and/or 2nd row seats are removed. And guess what, its 3.3L V-6 generates a modest 155 HP. Seemed like a lot of ooomph in 1996! Today’s Sienna/Odyssey are 15 to 18 inches longer, weigh hundreds of pounds more, and have 230 to 250 HP engines. Give me a hybrid with the same footprint as my Voyager and a combined HP of 180 or so (Camry hybrid!) and I’m a happy camper!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:19:58 +0000

I can see how current Toyota and Honda hybrid drive trains may not be suited for larger vehicles. However that is not an excuse for Ford, They have large SUV hybrids, they should be able to put a similar drive train in a minivan.

By: BoilerCivicHy

BoilerCivicHy — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:27:58 +0000

First manufacturer to market for a hybrid mini-van that can seat 7 gets my money. The escape hybrid platform could easily support a van that would seat 7 and get 28-30 Mpg, stop making excuses for these car companies that don’t want to produce what consumers want, they produce what they want us to buy.