Hyundai Rocks the Minivan WorldAt every opportunity the reps from Hyundai have emphasized
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| Entourage is Hyundai's first North American minivan. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press) |
the company's commitment to exceed consumer expectations in their drive to over-deliver on quality and content in every price class and market segment. The chain of evidence validating their "over-delivery" includes the new Sonata and Azera sedans, both of which won AJAC's Car of the Year award in their respective categories. Enter the Entourage: Hyundai's first attempt at a minivan for the North American market.
I joined the entourage of auto journalists in attendance at Hyundai's launch of the 2007 Entourage, and came away impressed;
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| Hyundai went the whole hog with this one - 7-seats, big V6... (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press) |
Hyundai appears to have widened their "over-delivery" margin of success. The Entourage is a full-size, V6-powered, 7-occupant front-wheel-drive minivan, capable of holding its own against the big-3 in its hotly contested market: Honda's Odyssey, Toyota's Sienna and the Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler Town and Country duo. Persuasive to minivan buyers may not be the edge in interior room the Entourage has over the trio of usual suspects, or its better-stocked larder, but rather its lower pricing, set at $23,795 at the bottom end ($20 more than the Sienna), with its fully loaded limited model pricing yet to be finalized; but it should undercut the competition from Japan (pricing could decrease before it goes on sale). And it's the two major players from Japan - Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna - that the Entourage is best measured against.
It is inherently difficult to infuse a minivan design with flair and
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| Hyundai's minivan is yet another highly impressive 'upscale' product. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press) |
distinction. To some degree they all look alike, which is to say - not very exciting. Although the Entourage doesn't shatter the mold, it does project a clean, uncluttered, well proportioned image that's just as appealing, if not more so than any other example in today's wide array of minivan offerings. The same findings hold true for its interior styling: attractive, clean and highly functional, but not record-breaking. Yet the conservatism exercised by Hyundai designers in the overall execution of the Entourage has netted a refined-looking people hauler with upscale appeal - and as with Hyundai's recently introduced Azera, the "upscale" factor is more than skin deep.
The
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| Entourage is a twin to Kia's Sedona. But that's not a bad thing at all in this case. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press) |
Entourage is manufactured on the same Korean assembly line that spits out Kia's new Sedona minivan. In fact the two vehicles are based on the same automotive platform; however, Hyundai's van receives a collection of Entourage-exclusive components and build techniques making it the more affluent cousin to the highly praised Sedona. At 202 inches in length, the Entourage is larger than much of its competition including the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey - but only by an inch or two. Despite its size, maximum seating in the Entourage is limited to seven. The only seating arrangement includes captains' chairs in the first and second row and a split-bench, three-position third-row seat.
When it comes to accommodating either human or inanimate cargo, the Entourage exhibits yoga-like flexibility beginning with its large, power-operated rear side doors. They open wide enough to allow easy access to the third row bench once the second row seat is flipped forward. Guests in the third row seat will enjoy plenty of legroom thanks to second row seats that slide fore and aft, fairly apportioning legroom.
