The Top 4 Hybrid Minivan Models Based on MPG and Car Ratings

The hybrid minivan remains a popular choice in the automotive industry. Learning which hybrid vans are among the top choices can help you keep your fuel consumption low and your family's safety high on the list. If you go to nearly any car dealership in the United States, you will find a plethora of hybrid vans just waiting to be purchased.

  • Toyota Sienna Hybrid: The new 2011 Toyota Sienna is an innovative minivan that is way ahead of its competitors. The Sienna can go from 0 to 60 in 8 seconds and delivers up to 270 hp. It sells for around $28,000. The buyer can expect to see an average of around 18 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway. It also includes an aerodynamic body and an intuitive air conditioning system that was built to help with fuel consumption. 
  • Honda Odyssey Hybrid: The 2010 Honda Odyssey is ranked as one of the top minivans. Depending on the style and options that you're looking for, you should expect to pay anywhere from $24,500 to $37,000. This van will average 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. This efficient minivan features a 248 hp V6 engine and an automatic transmission.
  • Toyota Estima Hybrid: This minivan uses both gasoline and an electric motor. It features front wheel drive with an automatic transmission. It easily gets double the gas mileage of the standard minivan at 40 miles per gallon and has been reported to regularly get as much as 65 miles per gallon. It has been made so that the owner can plug electrical appliances into it for emergency charging. It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in approximately 8 seconds. This 270 hp ride was the first hybrid minivan that was released in the United States, although it has been available in Japan for approximately 10 years.
  • Toyota Prius Hybrid: Already available in Europe, Toyota has plans to release this minivan elsewhere in 2011. This diesel hybrid offers gas mileage of 57 miles per gallon–the best mpg minivan to date. It is smaller than a lot of other minivans, but can still fit as many as seven passengers. The diesel minivan is another choice for great fuel economy.

Driving a hybrid minivan is the perfect way to enjoy a larger vehicle with all of the benefits of excellent fuel economy. Due to their size and weight, it is not economical for them to run completely on electric. Hybrid minivans have been in high demand by consumers for years. These consumers need and want the extra space that a minivan provides, but don't want an SUV. Hybrid minivans have actually been available in Japan for years now. With the demand and rising gas prices, it would seem that it would be beneficial for the larger car makers to release a hybrid van sooner rather than later.