Confused! Which van has the best gas mileage?
 

I been doing a ton of research, been going online as well as asking around.

And once I think Im on to something, someone says otherwise.

Ive been looking at getting a van to travel in. (1995-2005)


Which van has the best gas mileage?


Please post your input so I can finally lay this question to rest.
:thumbup:

Aaahh, vans come in many sizes and weights, from baby vans to long wheelbase high roof monsters.

I had a 1300cc toyota litace on cng that was awesome...equivalent to 70mpgUS as cng was half price of petrol...

Obviously the smaller and lighter the better. And a aero nose like previa front too. Low roof better than high. Some vans are higher sprung/larger ground clearance for loading considerations...find a lower one.

Also, gear ratio's...some vans are geared low for heavy loading, if you dont carry much weight, find one that is geared higher and/or will take a larger diameter tyre/rim on the driven axle/s ( make sure it doesnt rub against the fenders or bottom out on a pot hole....

Manual transmission for coasting down the mountain.

Alohaspirit, have you tried looking here?

Side-by-Side Comparison

I believe so

I "searched by MPG"
then I plugged in "2000, minivans"
and went down the mpg list

No results :confused:


Thats why Im asking you pros. :)

All 2000 Mini-vans had a Combined EPA of less than 20 MPG. :(

Same basic link Search by Class for Fuel Efficient Cars, but use "Search by Class" to get a list of 2000 Mini-vans.

Once you have that list, use User Estimated MPG - Select Make
to see what people who actually care about MPG were able to eek out.

that list is great, thank you :)

although there are still people who make higher/lower claims

i was hoping some would chime in :o

Not that this is what you are looking for but the older 5cyl Dodge Sprinters with the Mercedes diesel in the SMALL configuration not the high top type or the extended or the HD but just the uncommon vanilla manilla bottom configuration would give

28mpg highway without much trying

Thus far except for an odd Toyota I have never seen any of the Minivan offerings get real good mileage, most top out in the mid to lower 20's (even with effort)

Although if you are willing to mess with a pre 1984 vehicle the old Sambars in both the 360cc and the 550cc were in the 30-50mpg area some are called Subaru 360 sambars. (think Mystery Van)

Good Luck

You're welcome.

I've never owned a mini-van so I can't chime in about that. But I will chime in about the user estimates.

Be sure to us the Show All links to see individual user averages the average for all users. Here is an example for 2000 Dodge Caravan 2WD 4 Cylinder, 2.4 Liter, Automatic 3-spd
Trying to read between the lines.

If user #3 didn't just imagine that he got 31 mpg, it seems reasonable to assume he must have hypermiled the heck out of it. A great target to shoot for but not something I'd want to count on.

Users #1 and #5 have close to the same MPG even though #1 claims 100% highway miles. Maybe user #1 drove faster than #5??? (After all, Oklahoma is kinda like Texas, nothin' but miles and miles of nothin' but miles and miles.) So dialing in on user #5, 25.1 mpg is an average and it's not just a round number. Maybe user #5 actually kept good records?

If you look at similar Dodge Caravans (2WD 4 Cylinder, 2.4 Liter, Automatic 3-spd) for 1998-2002 and find similar user estimates ...

This data cannot be confirmed -- but in general, it is a good reference from the average reporting driver.

My experience with that generation of Chrysler-branded 3-speed auto Minivans is 18-24 MPG, without hypermiling efforts. At that particular site, any user can report any value, so beware.

RH77

Just by doing basic math and watching my fuel gauge, knowing what the tank holds, etc... I figured 20-24 MPG on the "free" tank of old gas (6+ months) that was in my Van when I bought it. I just replaced the water pump and put it on the road legally, so I haven't had a chance to get actual data with it, hence the reason for the broad estimate.

After I burn out the rest of my crap gas laying around, fix the leaks, and do one more oil change with 0w30, I'll have better tank-to-tank figures. Still can't really afford a ScanGauge yet, but now I'm equipped with something that can use it once I can afford it.

Rick - Was that the long or short wheelbase model? Did you ever make an attempt at hypermiling it?

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

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


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.

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.

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.

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.

I got a toyota townace
 

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.

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.

MPV, MP5, now it's the Mazda 5. I firmly believe a standard can see highway MPG anytime it's driven, with the exception of NYC type driving of literally constant stop and go. I do see the reasoning behind it. Size wise, the Mazda doesn't compare- and the Odyssey definitely has some guts to it, ~245 hp, compared to the mid 100s of the Mazda.

wouldnt a 2003 caravan for $3000-5000 be a better option in the long run?

then you just do aeromods

Looking at the financial big picture, you have a solid point there. Low purchase price can overcome a lot. It would take many miles to make up the price difference in fuel savings.

Caravan: 18/25 mpg
New Ody: 19/28 mpg

FWIW, the 1st gen Oddy is still EPA rated at 21mpg combined, with a 25mpg average from users. It has a 4cyl Accord drivetrain.

Hondas cost a lot because they're great cars, Honda knows it, and people will pay it.

I looked at the Mazda, but went with the Dodge. The Mazda checked off the box with seating, had a better mpg rating and cost more. The Dodge has the seats that drop into the floor, I'm not afraid to tow our camper with it and the price was great.

I was looking at the 01-07 minivan platform for the price, but my wife wanted something newer than that. It's a good platform.

True, And my Dad paid $1,800 for the Caravan we have without the A/C belt on it.

And that's part of why my parents and I have the 1984 Caprice Classic; It was given to us from a family member at no charge. It's just sitting there most of the time, Though.

thanks. it would take a lot to make up that difference


ive looked at a few vans and this is what i found

hondas have transmission problems
toyotas have sludge problems
dodge have belt slip problems


sounds good

I can speak for the newer MZ5(technically Mazda Mazda5 haha). The rated 22/28 is accurate. I have seen MPG in the teens driving it super short distances around town when driven aggressively short distance(not me) or moving items or shuttling people. But it is capable of low 30's at highway speeds(55MPH). The older ones have the 2.3L MZR. I have the 2012 with the 2.5L MZR. It is basically the same engine/transmission as in the Mazda3 S trims. MT is only on the base Sport trim and super rare. But it is the only Mini-van with a 6 speed standard. If you find one cheap enough or with a bad transmission there might be an advantage to swapping in the Mazdaspeed3 transmission.

The one issue I always seem to have is cargo room with 6 passengers. We're used to fitting snugly as it is but we typically have to stuff backpacks and other cargo inbetween the middle seats and all along the floor. I have moved sofas, dressers, and desks with it. And we have made overnight trips with 6 people. When hauling furniture I usually have to leave the rear hatch open and tie it down with a cargo strap. I've looked into getting a tow hitch since it could really come in handy. It would look really nice with a drop, pizzapans, tint, antenna delete, hatch spoiler, and LRR summer tires. Many of the Mazdaspeed3 or regular Mazda3 parts swap right over so I have looked at used parts for things like sway bars and exhaust. :D

I pumped up the tires to 40 PSI and holy Carp is the handling good, for a mini-van. ;)

I'm waiting eagerly to see how the new 5 turns out. If they give it upgrades like the CX-5 (26/35 mpg) and 3 (29/40), it'll be a home run. I'd expect maybe 24/32 mpg and six passenger capability, and of course Mazda handling. :D