Best 12 passenger van for fuel economy?

[Frank Lee]

Put one of the breeding gender in the van and the other in the trailer. That way you won't be looking at used school busses a few years down the road.

[Hersbird]

I was actually just looking at camper vans or conversion vans and really like the 1998 up Dodge full size with the 5.2 and 4 speed auto. You could go back as far as 1994 and get the same look and powertrain but they made the engine cover smaller and improved the dash in 1998. The Magnum 5.2 that came out in 1992 is a real reliable motor and the 4 speed is usually the overdrive version of the old torqueflight 727 one of the most reliable automatics of all time. I think the 5.3 or 6.0 Chevy has more power but doubt it gets better mileage and the van itself will cost twice as much as a 98-03 Dodge. They kept using the old 5.0 and 5.7 in the Chevy van long after the stopped putting it in pickups so you have to look newer to find a 5.3.

I have also seen a few good prices on used sprinters and the older ones actually get better mileage, but the vans were a mess and seem to be rust buckets. I don't know what you get for the Mercedes engineering in those things but apparently corrosion prevention isn't part of it. Maybe those van were just hauling fresh seafood or something LOL!

[nemobuscaptain]

Just a thought, I've seen the fullsize van guys running overdrive/underdrive on their vans for mpg.

https://www.gearvendors.com/f2wd4s.html

[nemobuscaptain]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Ive been looking at the prius v as a larger fuel efficient vehicle to seat several large adults.

Hmmmm... I guess it depends on what large means to you. I'm only 6'0" and I can't see out of a Prius V without lowering my head which would be quite a pain while driving any distance at all.

[Cortttt]

This is an old thread but my 2010 GMC Savana does get 17 and sometimes 18 on the highway...

[Hersbird]

Yep old thread, the new full size van MPG champ is a newer (2016 up?) GM with that optional baby Duramax diesel that also put in the smaller pickups. There is somebody here with one that gets almost 30 mpg on the highway.

[Cortttt]

Amazing!

[rmay635703]

Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter got mid to high 20”s in extended 12 passengerform

[Hersbird]

Cortttt found the thread, 2017 GM that ran over 33 mpg pure highway. Really good for that many passengers. Not that I would want to be one of 12 passengers in one but 12 passengers getting 33 mpg is the same as 2 passengers getting 198 mpg if you think about it.

[redpoint5]

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto...

sayounara