A 250-horse stable under the hood
The Entourage is equipped with a 3.8-liter, 250-horsepower V6. This is nothing special in and of itself, but the engine's performance is more than acceptable, and the acceleration is impressive for a minivan. The engine is very efficient, thanks to the generous 253 lb-ft of torque at 3500 rpm. What's more, despite the substantial piston displacement, it is relatively fuel-efficient, averaging about 12.5 litres per 100 kilometres.
The 5-speed automatic transmission is both precise and flexible and shifts smoothly. However, it's important to mention that the stiffness of the suspension affects the quality of the ride.
The steering system does its job very well, even though the steering assist is a little overenthusiastic. Because of its colossal proportions, the Entourage corners a bit heavily compared to the competition. The car seems to be comfort- rather than performance-oriented, although it handles surprisingly well in a city setting. It is obvious, however, that Hyundai designed this vehicle as a road-tripper.
The competition
Even though competition is progressively thinning out in this category, the remaining players are strong, both performance- and sales-wise. There are the leaders, the Dogde Grand Caravan SXT ($30,495) and the Chrysler Town & Country Touring ($35,995), both of which have a lot to offer families in terms of interior configuration, and the Honda Odyssey EX-L ($40,590). There's also the Entourage's twin sister, the Kia Sedona EX Luxury ($38,195), which is perfectly identical and has nothing more to offer. For fans of reliability, there's the Toyota Sienna LE TI ($38,920), uninspiring in its blandness. The Nissan Quest 3.5 SL ($37,398) appeals to those looking for something original. Finally, there's the rookie, the 2009 Volkswagen Routan, essentially a high-end carbon copy of the Grand Caravan.
The Entourage is equipped with a 3.8-liter, 250-horsepower V6. This is nothing special in and of itself, but the engine's performance is more than acceptable, and the acceleration is impressive for a minivan. The engine is very efficient, thanks to the generous 253 lb-ft of torque at 3500 rpm. What's more, despite the substantial piston displacement, it is relatively fuel-efficient, averaging about 12.5 litres per 100 kilometres.
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| The Entourage is equipped with a 3.8-liter, 250-horsepower V6. |
The 5-speed automatic transmission is both precise and flexible and shifts smoothly. However, it's important to mention that the stiffness of the suspension affects the quality of the ride.
The steering system does its job very well, even though the steering assist is a little overenthusiastic. Because of its colossal proportions, the Entourage corners a bit heavily compared to the competition. The car seems to be comfort- rather than performance-oriented, although it handles surprisingly well in a city setting. It is obvious, however, that Hyundai designed this vehicle as a road-tripper.
The competition
Even though competition is progressively thinning out in this category, the remaining players are strong, both performance- and sales-wise. There are the leaders, the Dogde Grand Caravan SXT ($30,495) and the Chrysler Town & Country Touring ($35,995), both of which have a lot to offer families in terms of interior configuration, and the Honda Odyssey EX-L ($40,590). There's also the Entourage's twin sister, the Kia Sedona EX Luxury ($38,195), which is perfectly identical and has nothing more to offer. For fans of reliability, there's the Toyota Sienna LE TI ($38,920), uninspiring in its blandness. The Nissan Quest 3.5 SL ($37,398) appeals to those looking for something original. Finally, there's the rookie, the 2009 Volkswagen Routan, essentially a high-end carbon copy of the Grand Caravan.
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| The 5-speed autobox is both precise and flexible and shifts smoothly. |