No hybrid minivans?

[Eddie Sessum]

I was next to a toyota minivan earlier and was wondering why they dont have a prius powertrain in there minivan. If i was someone who had to have a minivan, i wouldnt buy anything but that. Not saying ill ever have one but who knows. It deff looks the best.

 

 

Wouldnt you guys choose this over the other minivan choices out there? More-so if it came in a hybrid.

[DeeCee]

I owned two Honda Odyssey minivans prior to my FFH. Drove nearly 200,00 problem free miles between the two. Loved them both.

[kuzzi]

Like the idea, but that's alot more weight to move around with that powertrain then add batteries on top of that and two kids with hockey equipment. At best it might be 30 mpg and you're sacrificing some of the interior room for the HVB.

 

High efficiency diesel would be the way to go in the larger vehicles. I've seen some outfits pull the crappy old diesel from an Excursion and drop in one of the newer 6.7L Powerstrokes or a Cummins and get 20+ mpg....in an EXCURSION! Haha.

 

There's an original Bronco out there with a 4bt in it making 400hp and 700 ft-lbs while getting 28 mpg.

[Eddie Sessum]

I know the minivan would never get what we do. But even if it's even when stopped or slowing down. Engine on when acceleration and can goto even at cruising speed, it can be a big help.

 

I also remember a few years back about a tiny 1L diesel that was suppose to end up in a hybrid but it never happened. At that size even with the extras I don't see weight being more than our 2.0l

[thavil]

The Plymouth Voyager was the real deal in minivans back in the 90's. The best family vehicle we owned and would have loved it even more as a hybrid! Used it to haul kids and cargo.

[Eddie Sessum]

It was.. Awd... Turbo 4cyl 5speed

[acdii]

Rather have the Flex than a *cough cough* minivan. If there was ever a vehicle I dislike more than a PPP(still cant say it), its a minivan, no matter who makes it.

 

On the Excursion, swap out the 6.0 with a 7.3 and get over 20 MPG in one. I had a 99 F350 and took a trip to DC for our honeymoon in it, and got 19 MPG in it, only because it had 4:11 gearing. Later I swapped out the 4:11 for 3:73 and it got 21 highway. Not too shabby for 8000+# 6 wheel monster.

[Eddie Sessum]

I like the flex. But the interior would kill that one for me. It was just too plain when I looked at em as I was getting my hybrid

[acdii]

Thats why you load it up with Airplanes and stuff, make it more interesting. We have taken several trips in them and no one complains about comfort or ride. The kids love the Flex, but then again, who wouldnt, its like being launched from a carrier when in the 3rd row and Daddy steps on the go pedal! LOL, It has WEEEE factor! I actually like the redesign on the 13 over the prior years. Then again mine is loaded out with everything. The only thing that would make mine look better is smoking out the rear panel that is aluminum, Ford did that on prior years Titanium trim, but not for the 13. It looks out of place with the rest of the trim.

 

It also has supersonic mode. You can fold the mirrors while driving, makes me think of an F14 when it sweeps the wings back.

 

If gas wasn't a factor, there would be a LOT more miles on it, thats how much I like driving it.

[Eddie Sessum]

Lol.. I haven't seen a loaded out one in years.. They don't sell well here so if a dealer has 2 that's overstocked.

 

I do like the new Explorer sport. It's expensive tho

[acdii]

Makes me wonder if Ford really wants to sell the Flex, or keep it as a Niche market vehicle. You never see it advertised, and I have had people ask, What is that, can I see it? My dealer has 3 of them, but they are selling rather well as all the ones he had when I got mine have been sold and replaced. They are expensive though, mine stickered for just under 50K. Only thing it didnt have was the tow package, split second row and 2nd row console/refrigerator, those options would have put it over 52K. I would have liked the split second row, as they are fully adjustable and heated, but finding the split bench is actually working out pretty well, and we dont really need them to be heated either. I doubt we would ever have used the fridge/freezer thing, and the console would just collect junk. Love the Vista roof though! We didnt think we would like it, so the first one didnt have one, but this one does, and a roof rack, which prior years wasnt an option for both. It brightens up the interior even with the sun shades closed.

 

Best part though is the Ecoboost, Fantastic engine and great gas mileage!

[TX NRG]

Toyota still doesn't appear to have any plans to bring their Estima Hybrid Minivan to the US from Japan, where the 2nd generation was launched in 2006.

 

At a minimum, and maybe to take small steps in the EV direction and improve city MPG, all minivans and SUVs should include sub-floor located secondary batteries to provide ICE shutoff when stopped in gear at a traffic light or idling/waiting in car line to pick up the kiddos (a huge fuel waste). Locating the batteries underneath using some of that large footprint will lower the center of gravity for better handling and rollover prevention and if they design them right (like Tesla), allow for easy battery replacement and put them on a design course for future battery swaps if a full BEV version evolves.

[dalesky]

Like the idea, but that's alot more weight to move around with that powertrain then add batteries on top of that and two kids with hockey equipment. At best it might be 30 mpg and you're sacrificing some of the interior room for the HVB.

 

High efficiency diesel would be the way to go in the larger vehicles. I've seen some outfits pull the crappy old diesel from an Excursion and drop in one of the newer 6.7L Powerstrokes or a Cummins and get 20+ mpg....in an EXCURSION! Haha.

 

There's an original Bronco out there with a 4bt in it making 400hp and 700 ft-lbs while getting 28 mpg.

In fact, a number of manufacturers do make diesel minivans, and even Chrysler has many of their large SUVs available with diesels. Unfortunately getting and driving one means relocating to Europe. Only VW has the brass to build a diesel (affordable to most) family sedan. That too is based on their European models. Oh, and then we would need to change the price gouging for diesel fuel in most parts of this country. It would seem to be a no brainer, but...