We don’t know of any slated for production, but the Toyota Sienna is a likely candidate and our pick for the first minivan to receive a hybrid powertrain. Toyota has teamed a V-6 with electric go-go juice in the Highlander Hybrid, so we don’t think it’s far-fetched to think the Sienna could get a hybrid powertrain, as it’s already a V-6, front-wheel-drive based platform, just like the Highlander.
If a hybrid minivan does pop up, and even if our guess is wrong and it’s not the Sienna, you’ll be able to find the news in the Hybrid/Alternative Fuels news section of our KickingTires blog.
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I hope they come out with a hybrid minivan sooner than the dates mentioned above, since I want one now! 2 kids, 1 husband, 1 dog and assorted gear means my Honda Civic hatchback is too small. I really want to buy a hybrid minivan!
Hope Toyota or Honda comes out soon for U.S. use.
Why such a delay?
An auto expert interviewed on NPR last week concluded that the U.S. market for environmentally sound, high mileage vehicles was slow developing by citing that 50% of U.S. sales were small trucks and minivans. Duh! If they made hybrid small trucks and minivans we would buy them.
My husband and I have three kids and we need a lot of room for groceries, luggage, etc. I would gladly trade in my gas-guzzling SUV for a hybrid minivan if one were available. Come on, Toyota, make us a hybrid Sienna!
My husband and I have three kids and we need a lot of room for groceries, luggage, etc. I would gladly trade in my gas-guzzling SUV for a hybrid minivan if one were available. Come on, Toyota, make us a hybrid Sienna!
We need a hybrid minivan now! Three kids under 4 years old so a car is out. The SUV's do not work since all the car seats don't really fit that great. We are going to have to buy a van with in the next few months and it looks like it won't be a hybrid minivan. Come on car makers and get one out!
I hope Toyota will be coming out with a Hybrid Sienna very soon. That will be my next minivan. Please do something very quick; Toyota.
MFS. Florida.
I am planning to trade in my minivan for a hybrid minivan as soon as they are available in the U.S. It can't happen soon enough!
Come on, it's a no-brainer. Demand for a reasonably priced high MPG minivan will outstrip production capability right off the production line. Re-tool these SUV and truck facilities for hybrid production ASAP.
I would change my civic hybrid and my sienna for a sienna hybrid. I waiting for for Toyota to be the first to come out with the minivan hybrid...can't wait.
I am currently driving a 1998 Dodge caravan and need a new minivan. I,m holding my purchase waiting for the 1st available minivan hybrid. Hope my minivan can last that long. If it doesn't I will by a used toyota or honda.
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According to HybridCenter.org:
http://www.hybridcenter.org/hybrid-timeline.html
Toyota Sienna Hybrid (7 seat minivan)
Est. release date: 2009 (if at all)
What we know: Toyota Sienna Hybrid is likely to be the first hybrid minivan on the market, though its introduction has been continually rumored and postponed. The Sienna Hybrid's drivetrain will likely be based on the smaller Estima minivan currently sold only in Japan. Toyota is unlikely to make the estimated 35mpg Estima available in the U.S. for fear of brand competition with its larger Sienna. There is significant support within Toyota's U.S. division for bringing a Sienna Hybrid to market, and over 18,000 consumers signed a Union of Concerned Scientists petition to Toyota asking that a hybrid minivan be brought to America (that's over twice the 8,400 projected Estima Hybrid sales expected in Japan).
According to an Aug 9, 2007 Wall Street Journal article ("Toyota Faces New Hybrid Drought"), Toyota is having problems with the next-generation lithium-ion batteries and they don't anticipate having a hybrid minivan ready for market until 2012.
According to an Aug 22, 2007 AutoWeek article ("Up-and-Coming Hondas"), Honda is planning on introducing a clean diesel Odyssey minivan for model year 2010.