CARS.COM — The minivan is a popular choice for families in the market for a new car, and there are many reasons why this type of vehicle is still a favorite for drivers. With their third-row seating, ample standard features and innovative safety amenities, minivans are family-hauling stars — but where these cars don’t shine as brightly is in fuel efficiency. Large, heavy and V-6-powered, the minivan class gets an average combined EPA fuel-economy rating of 20 mpg. While we weren’t expecting minivans to deliver hybrid-level mpg results, how does that translate to real-world driving through quiet suburbs or on busy highways?
The Ultimate Minivan Challenge
Results | Mileage Test
During the Ultimate Minivan Challenge, five family-friendly minivans including the Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town & Country, Kia Sedona, Dodge Grand Caravan and Toyota Sienna were put to the test on a 135-mile road trip from the rolling rural roads and highways of southeastern Wisconsin to the city streets and suburban boulevards in and around Milwaukee. Our fuel-economy route was split into five legs and at the end of each, drivers swapped models to account for varying weights and driving styles.