With rising gas prices forcing drivers to dig ever deeper into their wallets to cover fuel costs, finding a vehicle with excellent fuel economy has suddenly become a top priority for many people. Minivan owners are no exception, although most minivan models get better mileage than many SUVs and other large vehicles. That said, who wants to spend the price of a nice dinner for two whenever they gas up their minivan?

While passenger cars with hybrid engines (powerplants that use a small gasoline engine in conjunction with an electric motor and other fuel-efficient technologies to boost fuel economy) have started popping up all over the nation's highways, none of the minivan models currently available for sale in the United States are available with a hybrid engine option. Toyota has been a leader in the development and sale of hybrid passenger vehicles, and even has a hybrid minivan -- the Toyota Estima -- that is sold in Japan. Hopefully Toyota will introduce a hybrid minivan model here in the states, perhaps in end 2008 or 2009.

While you may have to wait a year or two for hybrid minivans to appear at local dealer showrooms, minivan devotees do have a number of fuel-efficient and alternative fuel options available to them.