What Gas Mileage Does Your Mini-Van Get?

[Tigger&Belle]

I just tracked the mileage of our Pontiac Montana mini-van and it only got 14 MPG. One day my dH ran the battery down and had to leave it running it recharge it after the AAA jump, but other than that there hasn't been anything strange about our driving. Most of the driving has been around town, with some highway/freeway miles. I don't think it needs a tune-up. We have been thinking about trading it in for another mini-van this spring/summer, so hopefully some other vans get better mileage.

So, how is the gas mileage on your mini-van?

T&B

 

[tinaluis]

We have a 1995 Pontiac Transport (the predecessor of the Montana) and we get about 18-24 MPG. Is it possible to have your mechanic look at the van to see of your MGP can be improved?

 

[mainewmn]

2003 Dodge Grand Caraven and we get around 21-26 mpg

 

[DVC Jen]

I have a Saturn Relay (2005) it is a V-6 and gets about 26 highway.

 

[DVC-Don]

DW had a Ford Windstar (now drives a Cadillac SRX) and got 17 local and almost 25 highway.

 

[Christine]

I don't have a mini-van but I have a Toyota Highlander which is about the same size as a mini-van. I commute in it and get about 20 mpg. I haven't taken it out on a trip yet, but I expect to get about 25/26 mpg on a long highway trip.

 

[CharlesTD]

Our 2005 Pontiac Montana (not the SV6) gets about 28MPG highway this is converted from litres/100 kilometers in Canada. I do know we were getting about 600Kilometers out of a half tank of gas on our drive to WDW in May and that also included driving through the Smokey mountains on I 75.

 

[bekkiz]

My 2005 Nissan Quest gets somewhere in the 19-22 range depending on how much highway driving I'm doing

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I figured that I was probably getting about 20MPG, which is why I was so surprised when I only got 14. Seems that several of the other mini-vans are in that 18-22 range.

I'm keeping track of it again to see how it differs, if any.

Yeah, I guess I should have it checked out to see if everything is running ok.

Charles, is your Montana the extended version or the short one?

Christine, I remember when you got your Highlander--how do you like it? Eventually my DH will need another vehicle and I like the Highlander, but I think he wants a sedan.

T&B

 

[Snowysmom]

My Toyota Sienna gets about 25 mpg on the highway. We have a readout that lets us know the mpg and usually it is 24-25.

 

[minniecarousel]

We rented a Nissan Quest this past weekend to drive 6 adults to Disneyland and got around 23 mpg. That was fully loaded, doing the speed limit (+!) Needless to say, we were pleased!

 

[CharlesTD]

I figured that I was probably getting about 20MPG, which is why I was so surprised when I only got 14. Seems that several of the other mini-vans are in that 18-22 range.

I'm keeping track of it again to see how it differs, if any.

Yeah, I guess I should have it checked out to see if everything is running ok.

Charles, is your Montana the extended version or the short one?

Christine, I remember when you got your Highlander--how do you like it? Eventually my DH will need another vehicle and I like the Highlander, but I think he wants a sedan.

T&B

Extended and we drove almost the whole way with teh AC on in the front and rear for the kids and fully loaded and a rooftop cargo box on it.

 

[mickeyfan2]

22.5 Mpg

 

[klj27]

My Toyota Sienna gets about 25 mpg on the highway. We have a readout that lets us know the mpg and usually it is 24-25.

I don't remember checking when we were on our road trip to Disney, but for city driving we have been getting 17.7. I know this is less than they advertise for the sienna. Maybe I will bring that up the next time I have it serviced.

 

[mcnuss]

My 2000 Sienna gets about 26 on the highway (same as my VW Passat, by the way)!

One thing that can really affect your MPG is bad tires. You might want to have them checked.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.shtml

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My DH did put air in the tires during that tank of gas, which is how he ran down the battery (running the air compressor, or whatever it's called without having the engine on). Maybe it will be better now that the tires are properly inflated. Now I want to go drive around a bunch so I'll run through my tank of gas faster... NOT! Now that the kids activities have kicked into gear I will be doing lots of driving!

I've never kept track of the mileage on a trip.

T&B

 

[klj27]

My 2000 Sienna gets about 26 on the highway (same as my VW Passat, by the way)!

One thing that can really affect your MPG is bad tires. You might want to have them checked.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.shtml

Thanks for the info. Our Sienna is only about 10 months old and this is all the better it has ever done. Sometimes I wonder how accurate the electonic reading is. I know that when we were on our trip we were well over 300 miles before we would get gas and we were not near empty. I think the reading can easily be affected by the way you ride the break, coast, accelerate, etc.

 

[2Poodles]

I have 2003 Chrysler Town & Country and all I get is 14 mpg. but all my driving is around town with the air conditioning on. I have a digital computer that tells me my gas mileage. It's pretty crappy but as I said it's all around town driving with A/C on. Highway about 22 mpg. I had a 2000 Plymouth Voyager which got about the same gas mileage 14 mpg. around town.

Mary & the 2Poodles
(Sebastian & Winslow)

 

[ahutton]

I mostly drive in stop and go street traffic (faster than the one highway through town) and average 21MPG. That is on a pretty hilly drive too. Not as good as a regular car, but WAY better than our Expedition.

 

[stacy347]

2005 Freestar ~ as of today getting 18.3 MPG according to the digital display.