Top Green Minivans - Best Fuel Economy and Emissions

If your family or cargo hauling needs exceed the capacity of a sedan and you don’t require the towing or off-road capabilities of an SUV, then a minivan may be right for you. This realization has been a rite of passage for families over several decades since, for many of them, the minivan’s specious interior and family-friendly functionality clearly set it apart from all other choices at new car showrooms. To help guide those who are considering a new minivan with the smallest environmental impact, we present the latest in our Top Green Vehicle series, the Top 5 Green Minivans.

	#1 - Toyota Sienna Specifications: 3.3-liter 6 cyl., auto. trans, 2WD or 4WD Fuel: Gasoline EPA Emissions / Air Pollution Score: 8-9 Fuel Economy (Global Warming): City 18-19 / Hwy 24-27 mpg
	#2 - Dodge Caravan & Grand Caravan Specifications: 2.4-liter 4 cyl., 3.3-liter 6 cyl. or 3.8-liter 6 cyl., auto. trans, 2WD or 4WD Fuel: Gasoline EPA Emissions / Air Pollution Score: 6-8 Fuel Economy (Global Warming): City 17-20 / Hwy 23-26 mpg
	#3 - Nissan Quest Specifications: 3.5-liter 6 cyl., auto. trans, 2WD Fuel: Gasoline EPA Emissions / Air Pollution Score: 8 Fuel Economy (Global Warming): City 18-19 / Hwy 25-26 mpg
	#4 - Chrysler Town & Country Specifications: 3.3-liter 6 cyl. or 3.8-liter 6 cyl., auto. trans, 2WD or 4WD Fuel: Gasoline EPA Emissions / Air Pollution Score: 6-8 Fuel Economy (Global Warming): City 17-19 / Hwy 23-26 mpg
	#5 - Ford Freestar Specifications: 3.9-liter 6 cyl. or 4.2-liter 6 cyl., auto. trans, 2WD Fuel: Gasoline EPA Emissions / Air Pollution Score: 7 Fuel Economy (Global Warming): City 16-17 / Hwy 23 mpg

Green Car Journal rankings refer to the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2004 Green Vehicle Guide, which compiles massive amounts of emissions data every year and ranks vehicles according to their environmental compatibility. EPA methodology compares the smog-producing emissions of a vehicle and then assigns an emissions/air pollution score on a 0-10 scale, 10 being best. For example, those vehicles rated “9” produce 2.8-4.1 pounds of smog-forming pollution over 15,000 miles, while a rating of “6” indicates vehicles that produce 12.3-12.9 pounds of pollution over these same miles. The ranking also takes into account a vehicle’s fuel economy, which directly correlates with the amount of CO2 emissions produced and thus a vehicle’s contribution to global warming. The higher the fuel economy, the fewer greenhouse gases emitted for each mile traveled.

A minivan listed here with a range variation in the emissions/air pollution score, such as “6-8”, means that some variations exist within the model that have found it ranked several times within EPA’s listings. A model with 2WD may have ranked slightly higher in the hierarchy with an “8” while its 4WD variant could have been rated slightly lower on the EPA charts with a “6”. Here, our rankings reflect the cleanest variation of a given model.

If you’re interested in a vehicle not listed here, you can access EPA’s complete 2004 vehicle rankings online.