Hybrid Minivans

[Princesca]

Saw another poll about hybrids (but sedans) so I wanted to crowdsource some opinions.

We do a LOT of roadtrips within a 6-8 hour drive of our house. We have a toddler, so the comfy seating and lots of space are nice to have. We don't currently have a minivan, but rented a Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid awhile ago to drive on a roadtrip and we really liked having that extra space. I also want to get back into camping, and I was looking at the minivan as a dry place to sleep on rainy weekends, as well. The hybrid interests us because we do take all these roadtrips and the savings on gas adds up.

For those who have had a hybrid minivan:

- What make/model/year?
- Do you like it? What are the pros/cons of your vehicle?
- Do you think it would lend itself to the sleep space I mentioned above? (ie Does it have good cargo space, are the seats easy to move, etc)

We are currently leaning toward the Toyota Sienna (if we can ever find one), so I would especially love to hear from people with those. We probably wouldn't buy used older than 2019. We don't typically buy new, but the dealer MSRPs seem to be better than used prices, still, for what you get.

 

[tvguy]

I don't have a mini van, but a Camry Hybrid. You will save gas, but road trips are not where hybrids get their best mileage. Stop and go city driving, where you are constantly recharging the battery and running the gasoline engine the least are where they do their best.

My Camry is rated at 53 city, 52 highway. In city traffic we pretty much get 49 to 53 mpg, and have gotten as high as 56 mpg. On a 400 mile freeway trip, on almost all flat terrain we got 48 mpg. On a 200 mile trip on a mountain highway, going from sea level to 6,000 feet elevation, it dropped to 38 mpg.

Another thing with all hybrids, the fuel mileage will drop in cold weather. Batteries lose efficiency in cold weather.

 

[Figment Mom]

I'm in the market for one now. Been trying to get a Sienna. Dealership had a 2021 with 18,000 miles for $13,000 over MSRP. No thanks!

I haven't looked at other manufacturers so I'll be interested on the responses here.

 

[Maria_Ohana]

Saw another poll about hybrids (but sedans) so I wanted to crowdsource some opinions.

We do a LOT of roadtrips within a 6-8 hour drive of our house. We have a toddler, so the comfy seating and lots of space are nice to have. We don't currently have a minivan, but rented a Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid awhile ago to drive on a roadtrip and we really liked having that extra space. I also want to get back into camping, and I was looking at the minivan as a dry place to sleep on rainy weekends, as well. The hybrid interests us because we do take all these roadtrips and the savings on gas adds up.

For those who have had a hybrid minivan:

- What make/model/year?
- Do you like it? What are the pros/cons of your vehicle?
- Do you think it would lend itself to the sleep space I mentioned above? (ie Does it have good cargo space, are the seats easy to move, etc)

We are currently leaning toward the Toyota Sienna (if we can ever find one), so I would especially love to hear from people with those. We probably wouldn't buy used older than 2019. We don't typically buy new, but the dealer MSRPs seem to be better than used prices, still, for what you get.

Glad you asked, I have been considering the Hybrid minivans. We like the comfort and extra room. Our kids are grown, but sometimes they ride with us when we all go somewhere.

 

[T.G.I.Friday]

I don’t believe that the Pacifica Hybrid can offer the stow and go seating since the battery is where the seats would fold. But the stow and go is one of the biggest pros of the Chrysler, IMO.

 

[Princesca]

I'm in the market for one now. Been trying to get a Sienna. Dealership had a 2021 with 18,000 miles for $13,000 over MSRP. No thanks!

I haven't looked at other manufacturers so I'll be interested on the responses here.

I am intrigued by the Kia minivan options. I guess it's the Carnival now? My mechanic says Kias are great these days, especially with having one of the best warranties in the business. I do trust my mechanic, but part of me is like... 'What if he likes them because they're good for business?'