More Fuel Efficient Minivans: 2009 Minivans from Chrysler and Dodge pick up 2mpg

Chrysler engineers have improved the fuel efficiency of the company's minivans by 8 percent for 2009. The platform-sharing Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan have been certified at 17mpg city and 25mpg highway by the EPA.

Introduced in 1984 by the then Iacocca-led Chrysler Corp., the minivan has been a primary family hauler for more than two decades. An anemic 2.6-liter four cylinder engine managed just 18/21 EPA fuel mileage ratings back in '84. So squeezing comparable efficiency from the current SOHC (single overhead camshaft) 4.0-liter, aluminum-block V-6 represents at least a lateral move at the gas pump - fuel price excepted. Modern aerodynamics have helped.

The minivan's new six-speed automatic transmission provides better getaway with closer ratios to minimize the drop in engine speed between shifts - read, smoother acceleration. Tweaks in engine management complement the new tranny, leading to more efficient operation.

Nonetheless, the company still clings tightly to its big, bad performance image with updates this fall to the 2009 Dodge Ram pick-up and the muscular 2009 Dodge Challenger. And - get this - there's a new 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid SUV coming. Can't wait.