Any news on hybrid vans?

We have a 2001 Dodge Caravan that we really want to get rid of, but my wife only wants to replace it with a hybrid. We need space for three kids, 8, 6, and 4 so we still need to use boosters (still a high back for the youngest, and those take up a lot of space. We also need space for a habilitation worker who joins us sometimes to help with our oldest who's disabled. We love the Sienna, but she won't get one until it's a hybrid. I like the Highlander, but it seems to be getting a bit pricey with the latest iteration. Vans are usually easier to get the kids in and out of as well, so we're still biased to that style. Any news about the possibility of a Sienna being offers as a hybrid in the US?

Andy

 

We have a 2001 Dodge Caravan that we really want to get rid of, but my wife only wants to replace it with a hybrid. We need space for three kids, 8, 6, and 4 so we still need to use boosters (still a high back for the youngest, and those take up a lot of space. We also need space for a habilitation worker who joins us sometimes to help with our oldest who's disabled. We love the Sienna, but she won't get one until it's a hybrid. I like the Highlander, but it seems to be getting a bit pricey with the latest iteration. Vans are usually easier to get the kids in and out of as well, so we're still biased to that style. Any news about the possibility of a Sienna being offers as a hybrid in the US?

Andy

 

I agree, I think Toyota could sell a hybrid van very easily. My wife is so sold on the hybrid technology from my Prius that she won't even look at a new van until a hybrid version comes out. I do like the new Highlander Hybrid, and the interior is laid out well. With some running boards it might work with the kids, I like the captains chairs that help with the access to the third row bench.

 

I agree, I think Toyota could sell a hybrid van very easily. My wife is so sold on the hybrid technology from my Prius that she won't even look at a new van until a hybrid version comes out. I do like the new Highlander Hybrid, and the interior is laid out well. With some running boards it might work with the kids, I like the captains chairs that help with the access to the third row bench.

 

I've seen that Estima before, and that is exactly what we are looking for. Why Toyota is dragging out bringing that into the US market is beyond me, they would sell a ton of them I'm sure. Anyone know if it's even possible to import one of those over here, and what the premium would be for the first-on-the-block status?

 

I've seen that Estima before, and that is exactly what we are looking for. Why Toyota is dragging out bringing that into the US market is beyond me, they would sell a ton of them I'm sure. Anyone know if it's even possible to import one of those over here, and what the premium would be for the first-on-the-block status?

 

That's interesting, I just tried to search and found the same thing. Sounds easy to get if you're in the UK, but can't find much information about importing one to the US, or if it would even be street legal here (sounds like there are different specs for Japan-based and US-based vehicles). On the other hand, I did find this info at hybridcenter:

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 UCS 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).

Sounds like there's a lot of interest in it, but I don't understand the line of "brand competition with its larger Sienna". I would think this would improve on the brand, and the overall goal is to get more hybrids on the road, right? I mean, do they worry about "brand competition" between the Highlander and it's hybrid version? Anyway, sounds like it's going to be at least another year then, most likely longer.

 

That's interesting, I just tried to search and found the same thing. Sounds easy to get if you're in the UK, but can't find much information about importing one to the US, or if it would even be street legal here (sounds like there are different specs for Japan-based and US-based vehicles). On the other hand, I did find this info at hybridcenter:

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 UCS 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).

Sounds like there's a lot of interest in it, but I don't understand the line of "brand competition with its larger Sienna". I would think this would improve on the brand, and the overall goal is to get more hybrids on the road, right? I mean, do they worry about "brand competition" between the Highlander and it's hybrid version? Anyway, sounds like it's going to be at least another year then, most likely longer.