Confused! Which van has the best gas mileage?

[101Volts]

I know this is an old thread but the 2003 4-Cylinder (2.4 Litre) Dodge Caravan has higher economy than the 2000 models but the 2001 or 2002 model years have economy about as comparable to a 3 Litre 2000 model.

Also, I've been driving a 2000 3-Litre model and we've managed over 25 MPG in it on multiple occasions with little stop and go driving, In hilly Pennsylvania so getting 31 MPG in a 2.4-Litre model sounds very close, And the EPA figures rate the 2.4 Litre model 1 MPG Combined higher than the 3-Litre model.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by 101Volts

I know this is an old thread but the 2003 4-Cylinder (2.4 Litre) Dodge Caravan has higher economy than the 2000 models but the 2001 or 2002 model years have economy about as comparable to a 3 Litre 2000 model.

Also, I've been driving a 2000 3-Litre model and we've managed over 25 MPG in it on multiple occasions with little stop and go driving, In hilly Pennsylvania so getting 31 MPG in a 2.4-Litre model sounds very close, And the EPA figures rate the 2.4 Litre model 1 MPG Combined higher than the 3-Litre model.

My father owns a 2005 Miles ZX40 kei van, it gets in the neighborhood of 157mpg or .02 cents per mile but its electric

The next best is a Ford Escape Hybrid which seats 7 if purchased in the right configuration, it gets 28-50mpg depending on how well you can drive

The 1968-1978 Subaru 360 Sambar kei van gets 30-50mpg

The very old Chrysler Mini vans came with an optional stick, they were good for the high 20's and low 30's if you were carefull.

Now if you want a new Chrysler van, sorry only Mitsubishi VW and Toyo vans came stick shift in any recent times

[alohaspirit]

Originally Posted by 101Volts

I know this is an old thread but the 2003 4-Cylinder (2.4 Litre) Dodge Caravan has higher economy than the 2000 models but the 2001 or 2002 model years have economy about as comparable to a 3 Litre 2000 model.

i had considered a caravan. wonder why just the 2003 shows better mpg?

Originally Posted by rmay635703

The next best is a Ford Escape Hybrid which seats 7 if purchased in the right configuration, it gets 28-50mpg depending on how well you can drive

50mpg?

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by alohaspirit

50mpg?

WIth a prius like drivetrain the Escape can net very high numbers P&G at low speeds, much the same as the prius.

Mid 30's are childs play and 40's not much more difficult but only at slow speed.

[UltArc]

Originally Posted by rmay635703

My father owns a 2005 Miles ZX40 kei van, it gets in the neighborhood of 157mpg or .02 cents per mile but its electric

The next best is a Ford Escape Hybrid which seats 7 if purchased in the right configuration, it gets 28-50mpg depending on how well you can drive

The 1968-1978 Subaru 360 Sambar kei van gets 30-50mpg

The very old Chrysler Mini vans came with an optional stick, they were good for the high 20's and low 30's if you were carefull.

Now if you want a new Chrysler van, sorry only Mitsubishi VW and Toyo vans came stick shift in any recent times

The VW (in the States) is just a rebadged chrysler- which is why the aren't selling but are falling apart. The only van I know of with a standard is the Mazda.

[PaleMelanesian]

Good news! As of 2014 model year, all trim levels of Odyssey get the fuel-saving 6-speed automatic. EPA 19/28 mpg, starting at $28k.

[UltArc]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

Good news! As of 2014 model year, all trim levels of Odyssey get the fuel-saving 6-speed automatic. EPA 19/28 mpg, starting at $28k.

That's just so much money. Maybe I am too infatuated with the MP5** starting just under 20, with a 5 speed, 21-22/28. I haven't seen anything on the 2014 models (haven't looked, though) of it.

**It sounds weird, but the MP5 is one of my top vehicles on the market. I spend the most time sitting in this than any other vehicle at the CAS (I never notice them at NAIAS), and I often daydream about modifying one to a ecomodded coach to travel the country

To someone who has only talked about the Odyssey w/ people & dealers, is it worth the money? The only one I could have looked at at a dealership was in the 40's, and I was too perplexed by that amount of money for a basic* mini van to look at it lol (I was also high off of a CX-5 a half hour before). To be clear, I am sincere on this- I am not educated on these. I know Honda's traditionally hold their value well, but I think I'd rather payless for a vehicle and have lower resale value later, myself, since most vehicles get to a terminal price point.

*Not a hybrid, nothing revolutionary, not high performance/super efficient, nothing to make it pop from any other.

[PaleMelanesian]

What's an MP5? You mean the Mazda5 true-mini van? I like it, but it is small.

As someone who needs the seat to carry people, the Odyssey has way more space. If you use all the seats, there's next to no cargo space. (pic) Mazda's website won't even list it. It offers 45 cu ft with the 3rd row folded. The Odyssey offers 38 cu ft with all seats up, 93 behind row 2. My grandmother has one and I borrowed it for a couple days. It'd work well for my car and occasional family duty, but as a primary family car, no.

The basic Odyssey you can get for 28 is just a van. Besides the Mazda, it's the best "driver's car" van. I don't need most of the junk that bloats the price to $45,000. That's why I'm glad the economy options are now available on the base model. To my mind, paying that much for "features" is just stupid.

To sum up, for $8k more you get a lot more vehicle and equal mileage. If you don't need the size, the Mazda is a good choice. If you do, I'm glad the Ody is there.

[flying kurmaster]

1993 2ltr engine 5 speed manual with over 250,000 kms with a carburator, over the last 15 years I average around high 9s to 10 litres per 100kms. about 28 m per imperial gallons. I installed a partial belly pan, grill block, small fender skirts, and a kamback. last test on a 300km run mixed driving, some gravel roads, not many stops, I averaged 8.8 ltrs per 100kms, around 33 miles per imperial gallon. I have since installed low rolling resistance tires but have not tested.

[PaleMelanesian]

I did a cross-country trip at 30 mpg in my old-model 16/23 rated Odyssey. The new one is rated 19/28. US gallons, so that would be 36 imperial.