Toyota & Chevy Hybrid Minivan Coming in 2011

[gone-ot]

which? -- (a) Minivan, (b) Compact Utility Vehicle (CUV), or (c) re-incarnated Station Wagon (SW).

...seen any "station wagon" name plates recently?

[ChristyRZ]

It's about time! Mini-vans are great, in spite of the "uncool" factor. (They are practical.) And now at least we can be practical AND fuel efficient!

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by Rokeby

The Chevy hybrid mini-van is bound for the Chinese market only.

What's up with that?

The Chinese are better negotiators than the average USA customer?

Bob Wilson

[Rokeby]

And then, maybe the Chevy Orlando hybrid mini-van is not yet ready for the
big time.

[gone-ot]

...are the words "...MADE IN CHINA..." printed on the bottom?

[payne171]

I have to disagree on several points. Sure, the Mazda5's fuel economy is not that good. But wait, go look at other minivans. Not so bad now, eh? The other side of that is that Mazda doesn't build their drivetrains to the EPA test like some carmakers, so they frequently exceed the EPA's #'s. My other thought is that those who think winter tires are plenty must live in the 'burbs. I had a Mazda Miata (very economical, btw, and unlike driving most efficient vehicles, driving it was more fun than watching paint dry). The Miata was great with snow tires, until the snow got up to the frame. Then it got stuck. This is true of any vehicle without a plow on it. I do a fair bit of my driving on country roads. On these roads in the winter, utility is not being stuck. I do understand there are different definitions of utility; mine is being able to use an automobile year round.

[redyaris]

[QUOTE=payne171;205277] My other thought is that those who think winter tires are plenty must live in the 'burbs.

The 'burbs I live in are called the Rocky Mountains and I've been told that people come here to ski on snow. I drive to work before the roads are plowed in the morning. I do this in a 2007 Yaris hatch back [5" ground clearance] with a set of snow tires for the winter. I have plowed snow on some winter mornings and have yet to be stuck in three winters. I have managed to spin out into the ditch once at slow speed in 8" of snow and simple put the car in 1st gear and drove back onto the road with no fuss or bother. Most recently I drove over the Highwood Pass in a snow storm with about 4" of snow on the road and the only other vehical I saw in over an hour of driving was a 4x4 Pickup with a camper. But no SUV's. In fact if you want to see a SUV in the winter around here, all you have to do is look in the ditch, and thier they are stuck!
As for minivans I am happey to see Toyota is going to market a prius hybrid minivan. In fact I have always thought that a aero minivan could be very good on fuel. One of my planed ecomodded projects is on a Ford aerostar minivan, but if the Toyota is good enough on fuel and not out of my price range I may buy one.