37+ mpg in a 2014 Honda Odyssey

[mpg_numbers_guy]

What year is your Chrysler? We averaged 21-23 mpg in out '06 Town & Country before we bought the Sienna. We also never hypermiled in the T&C. Before hypermiling in the Sienna my parents got 23-25 MPG, and now they get 27-28 MPG average. I generally average 29-32 when I drive it. Those new Pacifica minivans are quite fuel efficient I've heard though.

[jcp123]

Ours is a '14, first year with the Pentastar 3.6 (fabulous engine), it's paired with a 6-speed auto. Fairly tall gearing, too, IIRC around 1700ish rpm @ 60.

She'll hit 100k in the next couple of years, and since I don't trust Chryslers, at that point we will shop again. Either another TC, or an Odyssey are the only two on the list, and the Ody is scoring points in this thread.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Most minivans have taller gearing (at least all the many I've sat in or driven have). Imagine the FE in our Civics if we had that kind of gearing!

Odysseys are definitely my top choice among new minivans. The Pacifica's have their reliability concerns as do all Fiat/Chrysler/Dodge vehicles as you mentioned, and the Siennas haven't really improved their fuel efficiency that much to even try competing with the Odyssey. The Quest looks like a box, and the Kia? Forget it lol.

[jcp123]

Yeah, at the end of the day (we shopped used) it came down to the fact that we both liked the Chrysler's American swagger, and the same money gets a TC with half the miles and several years newer than the Ody. The Ody was better built, but it just lacked the flair of the bechromed TC. The Stow N Go seats are also a terrific feature we would definitely miss. Still this thread is good proof on why I will not overlook an Ody, though my wife's driving will probably never reveal any FE advantage.

I might actually put a current Kia on the list. I have a soft spot for Hyundai/Kia, and though the last Sedona was dreadful, we haven't touched a current gen and I'd like to at least put her in one before we say no. We did that with a few models last time, and caused us to say now to our original front runner, Ford Flex, so getting in a vehicle matters. Sienna is hideous inside and out and I'm still biased against the things. I actually like the boxy shape of the Quest, but that front fascia ruins it. I drove one years ago when I worked rental cars, and I hope they have reprogrammed or changed that CVT. It felt desperately overloaded, nervous, and entirely unable to settle on what gear band it wanted to be in. It was weird because it felt steady in the Sentra and Altima I had driven, even kind of pleasant.

[mpg_numbers_guy]

Yea, Honda's resale values are definitely higher their Chrysler or GM counterparts. Are you shopping new or used? Because I think--don't quote me on this--that the two are similarly priced when new.

The Kia Sedona has the lowest fuel economy ratings of any current minivan (that I know of), which is enough to turn me off completely lol. And of course being a Kia it's depreciation value is as bad as Chrysler's. The interior of the new ones feels like a truck, per reviews, good or bad depending on your preference.

But boxiness doesn't equate to higher MPGs! It's interesting though how the Quest went from an overly curvy body style to the boxiest minivan on the market.

Why not get an early 90s vacuum cleaner shaped Oldsmobile or Pontiac?

[jcp123]

Ha! Lumina APV! I actually wouldn't say no to a supercharged Previa. Mid-engine, baby! But that would be a toy for me more than a full-time family hauler. Ditto one of the turbo first-gen Caravans, with stick of course!

We're used shoppers, new doesn't make good financial sense. FE ratings...ehhh, she'll grind those into dust anyway. She got upset (ok, that's too strong a word) on the famous 85mph PSL toll road here in Texas because I wasn't doing 90. So, I'm just going to write her off as a lost cause.

At least she agrees with me that SUVs are annoying, wagons are clearly the best body style ever, and minivans are quite acceptable .

[mpg_numbers_guy]

end of threadjack lol

Yea, I can't imagine many people here on Ecomodder buy new.

85mph AND toll road? Sounds terrible! But yes, my dad gets impatient if we aren't driving 5 mph above the speed limit too lol.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by jcp123

Ours is a '14, first year with the Pentastar 3.6 (fabulous engine), it's paired with a 6-speed auto. Fairly tall gearing, too, IIRC around 1700ish rpm @ 60.

She'll hit 100k in the next couple of years, and since I don't trust Chryslers, at that point we will shop again. Either another TC, or an Odyssey are the only two on the list, and the Ody is scoring points in this thread.

Actually our 2011 has the 3.6 pentastar and 6 speed as well, that was the first year and it ended up in pretty much everything at that point. Jeeps, cars, Rams, box vans, etc. The 3.6 got a redesign for the 2016 model year on the Grand Cherokee, Durango, 300, and Charger. Then came in the new 2017 Pacifica, and the redesign 2018 Wrangler. It will be in the 2019 Ram when that comes out mid year with the v6. All of the ones you see now are 5.7 Hemi versions. In 2013 the 8 and 9 speeds started showing up on everything but the minivan and only the Pacifica has gotten one. 2017 is supposed to be the last year for the Caravan and T&C, I have seen the Pacificas now as low as $22,000 but you could get a basic 2017 Grand Caravan for more like $18,000 "american family value package" a steal considering all you get for that price. 2019 should get a minor Pacifica facelift and AWD versions.

Ironically the Pentastar as the backbone engine might be on it's way out. Replaced with a 4 called the Etorque (formerly Hurricane), and possibly a straight 6. They may keep the Pentastar around but in a more specialized roll, like a turbo version that replaces the Hemi in the cars. most everything currently with the 3.6 will get a 2.0 turbo that makes similar power instead.

All this info comes from allpar.com which is the go to source for all things Chrysler new and old.

[Andrey]

A cursory review of some mpg threads on that gen Odyssey shows some people getting mid to high twenties with some 30+ best trips but there are also plenty of <20....
Anybody drive for MPG? 26+ so far

[jcp123]

Huh, you're right. 2011, not 2014 was the entrance of the Pentastar into the vans. Whoops.

Something about the Pacifica bothers me...I'm not a big fan. Odyssey is way higher on my list.

Today, as I was looking over my Civic's numbers and got in a Honda mode. Yay Odyssey! I wonder another thing: I see a lot of minivans loaded up and rolling down the highway. Any idea if minivans see an unusually high share of their miles on roadtrips? My wife piles most of her miles on ours going to and from Western NY state to visit her sisters for the summer, for instance. If so that might be why posted mileage for a lot of minivans is higher than it "should" be for boxes with close to 5000lb curb weights.

EDIT: nope, at least over on Fuelly, I don't see anything higher than I'd expect.