2006 Sienna - Fantastic MPG?

[geneowens]

Just returned from a road trip from NC to NM, AZ, UT, and CO. The van was loaded with camping gear, travel items, coolers, and a dual port pod was attached to the trailer hitch with a Honda 2000 inside, 2 chairs, propane cannisters, etc. My highest MPG was 31.4 with other legs at 27.7, 26.2, 30.2 27.3, 26.9, 29.6, 26.9, 29.5, 28.5, 25.8, and 27.2.
I'm very pleased with the MPG considering two travelers and loads of gear! Variations probably due to two drivers, terrain, wind directions, gas quality, speed, etc.

[drfabt]

wowowo, increidable, how fast where you driving?
50mph?, i got 24mpg@65mph 2006 ce 8 pass sienna. with 4 adults 190lbs, around, and travel items. fl to nc with 2k miles.

[geneowens]

If I had been driving 50 I most likely would not be alive to tell about it!!!! I drive slower than average - the lower MPGs usually came up when my nephew was driving. We were loaded as I said earlier.
I have since recorded an even higher MPG while towing a 290 pound "luggage/cargo" trailer but I need to check that some more before I post it. I decided to buy the Cargo Mate 5X7 trailer so that the van would not be loaded with "stuff" while traveling.

[wells service]

what is a dual port pod with a 2ooo honda inside? is that a honda car weighing 3000lbs? if it is a car, you need to learn to figure gas mileage. the computer mileage reading lies. you will not get more than 26- 28 mpg even driving 55 mph. divide the gas used into the miles traveled.

[kathyricks]

If your 2006 Sienna has the 3MZ-FE V6 then I agree with Wells Service you must have somehow calculated the gas mileage wrong because my experience has been even a lightweight, aerodynamic 2006 Camry with that motor can't get more than 26-27 MPG in highway driving.

And a 2006 Highlander I drove with 3MZ-FE V6 averaged 24 MPG in 2000 miles of 70 MPH driving.

The 2GR-FE V6 is a different story - it gets 2-3 MPG better than the 3MZ-FE V6, plus it has substantially more power.

[00SiennaXLE]

I have a 2000 sienna xle. the gas mileage is still very good, even nowadays when gas prices are going up. you would think that the sienna's mpg (especially since it was probably first designed in late 1995 into 1996) would not even come close to newer cars today...well the truth is it really does come close. every year i take the family on camping trips in our van. we put the two (teenagers) in the second row, take out the third row and load up the entire rear-end with camping equipment. with 4 adults in the car, each weighing an avg. 170lbs each, add to that the camping gear with probably weighs close to a 1,000..then add the trailer we have, we probably haul anywhere between 1500 and 2000 lbs of weight from chicago to northern michigan every year. covering about 150 miles each way, we can make it back to chicago with enough gas to keep me going to work every day for the rest of the week. that van is simply impressive.