Featured Non-USA Hybrid Minivans

I've always thought the 6 passenger Mazda 5 model (truly a mini-van) would have made a great HEV/PHEV platform; basically the specs of the v but with sliding rear doors and more headroom for the mid & rear seats.

 

how's the pacifica working out?

 

Last I looked into the Estima hybrid, it was between the Sienna and Mazda5 in size. If that is still the case, then the Americans that still buy minivans will not buy these hybrids.

The HSD used in the RX should work in the US Sienna. In the past, I think such a minivan would have been overpriced for the fuel economy improvement. That may have changed now that Toyota is offering multiple trims of the Highlanderh.

Looking at the curb weight, I don't think the Accord hybrid system will work well in the US Odyssey as is.

The real issue though, is that the minivan market is dying. GM and Ford have been out for awhile. The Mazda5 is gone, and Nissan stepped out this year. FCA, Honda, Toyota, plus Kia are all that is left. If the trend continues, Kia will be the next to drop out.

 

1) People normally buy minivans for low cost versus SUVs and crossovers. A van would make a great phev. A minivan - well no, simply because people won't pay the price.

2) Put somthing like the 2018 camry hybrid system in and maybe it works. You probably need a bigger mg2 and larger more powerful battery since it is a heavier vehicle, but mg1/hsd/etc could work as long is the price is low enough.

3) seriously what you want is a crossover 7 passenger phev, built from the ground up. Its going to be expensive, so might as well put at least 7 kwh of batteries in it and a turbo 2L that can run miller cycle (or one of those new supercharged hcci mazda engines) and make the thing aerodyanmic but comfortable. That sienna starts 1200 lbs heavier than a camry. You probably are going to do a steel/aluminum treatment like tesla is doing with the model 3 to save weight, and build the battery into the chasis so it doesn't take up any interior space. Superefficient locked overdrive miller cycle on the highway, batteries for acceleration and city driving.

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Compare Side-by-Side

 

iirc, the parent company is Fiat. So, at least ONE foreign (plugin !!!) hybrid minivan gets sold here in the usa.

humor aside, as younger folk, we used to say FIAT was an acronym for, "fix it again, Tony".
Lo & behold, the plugin has already been hit up for a recall;
2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid plug-in minivan recalled for faulty diode (updated)
what a drag - having to bring in a car for repairs so early in the game
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resign ? iirc the 3.5L hyhi is already improved ... now over 300hp as well as higher epa ... 29mpg blended & 30 city? Slap a Pacifica sized traction pack in that sucker & ...... lookout!! If parent company Fiat can get credit for the amazing Pacifica stats, then Toyota ought to be able to follow suit, if not better it. It's only sad that they didn't do it 1st.

 

Don't forget what happened to the first generation volt when they tried to go skimpy on the ice.

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Well you WERE spot on - years ago, when i 1st lamented the notion a plugin Prius v would not come about, & you corectly pointed out the frame was just too light to properly support such a build - between all the competing safety / suspension / power issues. so from that, one easily can glean that weight & power serves a valid interest in range/efficiency increases.
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There is that new RWD hybrid transmission in a Lexus. I suspect its intended use was for a truck, so it might work well in a heavy minivan.

 

Stylistically everyone (except me) rejects wagons and minivans as out-of-style in favor of SUV format.

 

Estima/Privia hybrid is not going to cut it in the US. You need to bring the Toyota Alphard Hybrid to the US. It may be ugly as hell but it's the closest size to the Sienna and probably more luxurious.

 

Perhaps it can be packaged for FWD.
I thought the fold in the floor seats were FCA only, because of patents.

It's a small market though. We might see an EV Microbus in the future, but the xB became Matrix sized, and Mazda5 was cancelled due to low sales.

 

Odyssey hybrid if they build it, will be based on the accura mdx hybrid - fwd engine with electric motors in the front and rear - similar to the Lexus RXh.

Still cost and mpg from a big v6 hybrid is not that great. Perhaps to keep costs down a 2L turbo 4 running the miller cycle and simple hsd like the camry system (more powerful battery and mg2 to provide enough torque for the added weight). Still I think that phev is probably the way to go on a minivan - but sales of the pacifica phev are not great.

You mean like this?

270-Mile All-Electric VW I.D. Buzz Is the VW Bus Reimagined