Fiat-Chrysler confirmed last week that it will offer a plug-in hybrid minivan for the 2016 model year, which would make it the first carmaker to market an alternative-fuel minivan in the United States. The vehicle, which will be a plug-in hybrid version of the Chrysler Town & Country (shown above), could net the equivalent of about 75 miles per gallon.
The company has not provided more details.
The 2014 gas-fueled Town & Country gets 17 mpg in city driving and 25 mpg on the highway, for a combined rating of 20 mpg. Other current minivan options offer better fuel economy than they did in the past—but none rival the most fuel-efficient crossover SUVs on today’s market.
The Mazda 5, a small minivan with seating for six, gets a combined 24 mpg, while the eight-seat Honda Odyssey nets 22 mpg. But compare those two vehicles to SUVs like the Toyota Highlander Hybrid—which also has seating for eight and returns a combined 28 mpg—and the argument for using a minivan (rather than an SUV) as your eco-friendly large family-hauler diminishes.
Further consideration should also be given to smaller wagon-like cars, such as the Ford C-Max (43 mpg) and Prius V (42 mpg). Neither car provides the same level of seating or cargo capacity as minivans, but for families keen on saving gas, downsizing may be an attractive option.
This isn’t the first time Chrysler announced plans for a gas-electric minivan. In 2011, CEO Sergio Marchionne promised a hybrid minivan for 2013, but it never materialized. Several other carmakers flirted with the idea, including Toyota, which was long rumored to bring its Estima hybrid over from the Japanese market. It hasn’t happened.
Who knows? Maybe this time, the promise of a fuel-thrifty minivan—in the form of a plug-in hybrid T&C—will finally produce a real option for families wanting a greener option.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий