Love 'em or hate 'em, minivans are the
people-mover of choice for budget-concious families around the globe.
While the minivan was pioneered here in the USA, our current selection
of high-MPG minivans is sadly limited. The Dodge Caravan, Chrysler
Voyager, Chyrsler Town and Country, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna
top the MPG charts at 17 city and 24 highway. Unfortunately, that's
not much to crow about when you stop to consider what's available
elsewhere. Who would have ever thought that high mileage minivans
would be forbidden fruit?
Egg-shaped
Minivans can be relatively aerodynamic when compared to boxy SUVs.
Yet the highest-mileage SUVs trump the minivans when it comes to
fuel efficiency. So what's the problem?
The difference is drivetrain.
The front-wheel drive Ford Escape Hybrid
delivers 31 city and 29 highway, while the Mercedes-Benz R320 CDI
diesel achieves 19 city and 26 highway. Ålas, there isn't
a single hybrid- or diesel-powered minivan available in America.
So we're going out on a limb. We're giving
the 2007 Best Mileage Minivan crown to the diesel-powered Ford S-Max
... a minivan that you simply cannot buy here in the States. Runner-up
goes to the maxi-sized Dodge
Sprinter Van.
By all accounts, the Ford S-Max is one of
the sweetest minivans ever to roll off an assembly line ... but
sadly, none of those assembly lines can be found in North America.
The Ford S-Max is currently being produced in Belgium and China.
For whatever reason, Ford has not committed to bringing the sleek
seven-passenger to the good old USA.
Testing has shown that a S-Max equipped with the 125 PS 1.8 Duratorq
TDCi diesel engine and Durashift 6-speed manual delivered 35.8 city
("urban") and 54.3 highway ("extra-urban") miles
per British gallon. The 2.0 liter diesel models achieved impressive
results, as well. A S-Max equipped with the 140 PS 2.0 Duratorq
TDCi diesel engine and Durashift 6-speed manual produced 34.9 city
and 52.3 highway miles per British gallon, while the130 PS 2.0 Duratorq
and Durashift 6-speed automatic version netted 28.5 city and 48.7
highway. These are lovely numbers, even considering the 20 percent
difference in volume between the British and American gallon.
Take a look at the fed's 2007 mileage figures
listed below. Imagine how many of these sweet minivans Ford could
sell here, should they choose to accept the challenge. Now imagine
how much less oil we'd import if those high-MPG minivans ran on
domestically produced bio-diesel.
2007 Minivans
Model |
Engine |
Displacement |
Transmission |
Fuel |
City |
Highway |
| Dodge
Caravan 2WD |
4 cylinder |
2.4 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
17 city |
24 highway |
| Dodge
Caravan 2WD |
6 cylinder |
3.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
GAS 420, Regular |
17 city |
24 highway |
| Chrysler
Voyager/Town and Country |
6 cylinder |
3.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
17 city |
24 highway |
| Honda
Odyssey 2WD |
6 cylinder |
3.5 liter |
Automatic (5) |
VCM, Regular |
17 city |
24 highway |
| Toyota Sienna 2WD |
6 cylinder |
3.5 liter |
Automatic (5) |
Regular |
17 city |
24 highway |
| Nissan
Quest |
6 cylinder |
3.5 liter |
Automatic (5) |
Premium |
16 city |
23 highway |
| Buick Terraza FWD |
6 cylinder |
3.9 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
16 city |
23 highway |
| Chevrolet
Uplander FWD |
6 cylinder |
3.9 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
16 city |
23 highway |
| Saturn Relay FWD |
6 cylinder |
3.9 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
16 city |
23 highway |
| Chevrolet
Uplander FWD |
6 cylinder |
3.9 liter |
Automatic (4) FFV |
Gasoline |
16 city |
23 highway |
| Chevrolet
Uplander FWD |
6 cylinder |
3.9 liter |
Automatic (4) FFV |
E85 |
12 city |
17 highway |
| Buick Terraza FWD |
6 cylinder |
3.9 liter |
Automatic (4) 500 |
Gasoline |
16 city |
23 highway |
| Buick Terraza FWD |
6 cylinder |
3.9 liter |
Automatic (4) 500 |
E85 |
12 city |
17 highway |
| Saturn Relay FWD |
6 cylinder |
3.9 liter |
Automatic (4) 500 |
Gasoline |
16 city |
23 highway |
| Saturn Relay FWD |
6 cylinder |
3.9 liter |
Automatic (4) 500 |
E85 |
12 city |
17 highway |
| Kia
Sedona |
6 cylinder |
3.8 liter |
Automatic (5) |
Regular |
16 city |
23 highway |
| Hyundai
Entourage |
6 cylinder |
3.8 liter |
Automatic (5) |
Regular |
16 city |
23 highway |
| Chrysler
Voyager/Town and Country |
6 cylinder |
3.8 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
16 city |
23 highway |
| Dodge
Caravan 2WD |
6 cylinder |
3.8 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
16 city |
23 highway |
| Honda
Odyssey 2WD |
6 cylinder |
3.5 liter |
Automatic (5) |
Regular |
16 city |
23 highway |
| Ford Freestar Cargo Van FWD |
6 cylinder |
3.9 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
16 city |
22 highway |
| Ford Freestar Wagon FWD |
6 cylinder |
3.9 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
16 city |
22 highway |
| Toyota Sienna 4WD |
6 cylinder |
3.5 liter |
Automatic (5) |
Regular |
16 city |
21 highway |
| Ford Freestar Cargo Van FWD |
6 cylinder |
4.2 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
15 city |
21 highway |
| Ford Freestar Wagon FWD |
6 cylinder |
4.2 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
15 city |
21 highway |
| Mercury Monterey Wagon FWD |
6 cylinder |
4.2 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
15 city |
21 highway |
Model |
Engine |
Displacement |
Transmission |
Fuel |
City |
Highway |
| GMC Savana 1500/2500 2WD (cargo) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 440-580 |
Gasoline |
14 city |
19 highway |
| GMC Savana 1500/2500 2WD (cargo) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 440-580 |
E85 |
11 city |
14 highway |
| Chevrolet Van 1500/2500 2WD |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 440-580 |
Gasoline |
14 city |
19 highway |
| Chevrolet Van 1500/2500 2WD |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 440-580 |
E85 |
11 city |
14 highway |
| Chevrolet Van 1500/2500 2WD |
6 cylinder |
4.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
14 city |
19 highway |
| Chevrolet Van 1500/2500 2WD |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
14 city |
19 highway |
| GMC Savana 1500/2500 2WD (cargo) |
6 cylinder |
4.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
14 city |
19 highway |
| GMC Savana 1500/2500 2WD (cargo) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
14 city |
19 highway |
| Chevrolet Express 1500/2500 2WD |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
13 city |
17 highway |
| Chevrolet Van 1500/2500 AWD |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 420-540 |
Gasoline |
13 city |
17 highway |
| Chevrolet Van 1500/2500 AWD |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 420-540 |
E85 |
10 city |
13 highway |
| GMC Savana 1500/2500 AWD (cargo) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 420-540 |
Gasoline |
13 city |
17 highway |
| GMC Savana 1500/2500 AWD (cargo) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 420-540 |
E85 |
10 city |
13 highway |
| Chevrolet Van 1500/2500 AWD |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
13 city |
17 highway |
| GMC Savana 1500/2500 AWD (cargo) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
13 city |
17 highway |
| Chevrolet Van 15/25 2WD Conversion |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
13 city |
17 highway |
| GMC Savana 15/25 2WD Conversion (cargo) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
13 city |
17 highway |
| GMC Savana 1500/2500 2WD (Passenger) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
13 city |
17 highway |
| Chevrolet Van 1500 AWD Conversion |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 500 |
Gasoline |
13 city |
17 highway |
| Chevrolet Van 1500 AWD Conversion |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 500 |
E85 |
9 city |
12 highway |
| Chevrolet Express 1500 AWD |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 500 |
Gasoline |
13 city |
17 highway |
| Chevrolet Express 1500 AWD |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 500 |
E85 |
9 city |
12 highway |
| GMC Savana 1500 AWD Conversion (cargo) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 500 |
Gasoline |
13 city |
17 highway |
| GMC Savana 1500 AWD Conversion (cargo) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 500 |
E85 |
9 city |
12 highway |
| GMC Savana 1500 AWD (Passenger) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 500 |
Gasoline |
13 city |
17 highway |
| GMC Savana 1500 AWD (Passenger) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 500 |
E85 |
9 city |
12 highway |
| Chevrolet Van 1500 AWD Conversion |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
13 city |
16 highway |
| GMC Savana 1500 AWD Conversion (cargo) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
13 city |
16 highway |
| Chevrolet Express 1500 AWD |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
13 city |
16 highway |
| GMC Savana 1500 AWD (Passenger) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) |
Regular |
13 city |
16 highway |
| GMC Savana 15/25 2WD Conversion (cargo) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 460 |
Gasoline |
12 city |
16 highway |
| GMC Savana 15/25 2WD Conversion (cargo) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 460 |
E85 |
9 city |
12 highway |
| Chevrolet Van 15/25 2WD Conversion |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 460 |
Gasoline |
12 city |
16 highway |
| Chevrolet Van 15/25 2WD Conversion |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 460 |
E85 |
9 city |
12 highway |
| Chevrolet Express 1500/2500 2WD |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 460 |
Gasoline |
12 city |
16 highway |
| Chevrolet Express 1500/2500 2WD |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 460 |
E85 |
9 city |
12 highway |
| GMC Savana 1500/2500 2WD (Passenger) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 460 |
Gasoline |
12 city |
16 highway |
| GMC Savana 1500/2500 2WD (Passenger) |
8 cylinder |
5.3 liter |
Automatic (4) 460 |
E85 |
9 city |
12 highway |
