Large Family Hauler Ideas? 35+ MPG Wanted

[Hersbird]

I would bet the 2009-2015 Q7 with the 3.0 TDI would get 30 mpg driven reasonably. Probably about $23,000 used but just off the buyback with a new 4 year warranty on most parts. Under $20,000 if it's been off the buyback for some of that 4 years already. Depending on where you are diesel might be more or less than unleaded, here it's a little less. It may cost $55 to fill up from empty around here but once full will go over 700 miles before needing more. Your kids won't last that long.

I bought a 2012 Touareg over a year ago and like it. Touareg doesn't have the 3rd row of the stretched Q7. That warranty has come in handy though with the dealer doing probably $5000 of work on it. All new injectors and a new adblue pump. We also have a 2011 Chrysler minivan which does ride nice but not the level of the Touareg. The van we can massage a 28 mpg tank out of if you drive 55, but the Touareg will do 30 mpg at 70 and diesel costs $.20 less a gallon. At 55 I bet it goes more like 33.

I bet a Pacifica hybrid would rock too. They run the atkins cycle on the 3.6 and have better aero than my 2011. Add in the electric and hybrid and I bet over 30 mpg is pretty possible in those.

I wouldn't really consider anything much smaller than a Q7 comfortable for a long trip with 6 and a dog. Maybe that's just me.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

I would bet the 2009-2015 Q7 with the 3.0 TDI would get 30 mpg driven reasonably.

I'd take it with a grain of salt, not to mention its engine is too complex. Sure its aerodynamics are better than the Cummins-powered '07 F-250 I drove a couple of times, which might offset any negative impact of the Q7 having an automatic transmission while the F-250 had a manual.

On a sidenote, hadn't it been for cost, complexity and emissions compliance in order to keep it road-legal, a Cummins swap into some large luxury SUV would be tempting...

[Hersbird]

I didn't know about the 2021 Sienna until the above posting. That is the ticket right there. That $32k version will ultimately be available at $30k or a little under with discounts and of course probably around $15k used in 2026.

[Istas]

My roommate just got an automatic 2017 VW Golf Alltrack; it seats 5 and also has enough room behind the second row of seats for even a big dog. Preliminary testing seems to indicate it gets around 35mpg at around 60mph.

Maybe the other Golf wagons would be worth taking a look at? Dropping the AWD (of the Alltrack) would probably help efficiency.

[veloman]

I towed a 4x8 utility trailer with 1500lbs in it, AC on, 60mph highway, about 40mpg. (37mpg one way loaded, 48mpg the other way with empty trailer).

You can can put the family and dog in the car, and your stuff in the small trailer. Easy to do aero mods on the trailer for even better mpg.

You might even get away with just a hitch cargo carrier instead of a trailer.

[EcoVan]

I have a 2017 Chevy Express full size with the 2.8 diesel we use for boiler service. With our standard vehicle weight around 7500 lbs ( about 2500 lbs of equipment on board) we get about 20 city and between 30 and 33.3 highway with A/C on at about 68 mph. 33 can be had with careful driving and some drafting behind semis. The 8 speed trans won't go into high gear until about 66mph, so you have to moving this speed. We've done no mods at all, and there is lots of room for improvement for aero efficiency ( bottom of vehicle is the usual mess, for instance). The engine produces just as much torque at 1500 rpm as the biggest gas v-8 at 3500 rpm so, it has plenty of grunt to get all that weight moving. This could give you plenty of room (up to 9 passengers) and a tank driving range ( standard 33 gal tank) of around 1000 miles. The "Diesel Place" Forum has some more info on this combo. These engine is also available in the Colorado/ Canyon SUV with similiar fuel economy. These other 2 don't have the Allison 8 speed trans the van does.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

It did surprise me at first when GM fitted that engine to the full-size vans. On a sidenote, even though GM is retreating from Thailand which was the manufacturing hub for this engine, IIRC it's still being made in Brazil and there are also marine versions made in Italy.

[PressEnter[]]

VW Tiguan will easily do 35 mpg on the highway. Available with a 3rd row.

[Piotrsko]

Diesel tig does even better

[PressEnter[]]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

Diesel tig does even better

Sadly we only get one engine option in the US