To some who will be driving the Entourage, the fact that it can be had with backup warning sensors will be of greater significance
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| All Entourage models get a highly refined DOHC, 24-valve engine that produces a maximum of 242-horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada) |
than how much engine output is hidden under the hood. Still, there's no reason to have to give up one to have the other either. All Hyundai minivans will boast a version of the Azera's velvety-smooth 3.8-litre V6, a highly refined DOHC, 24-valve engine that produces a maximum of 242-horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the most powerful in the minivan segment. Rather than out-power all rivals the Entourage splits the difference, featuring more horsepower than Ford's Freestar, Chevrolet's Uplander (and therefore Buick's Terraza, Pontiac's Montana SV-6 and Saturn's Relay) and Dodge Caravan, plus greater torque than the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna and Dodge Grand Caravan.
But this
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| The Entourage's five-speed automatic with Shiftronic manual should get some credit for the fuel economy and ULEV rating, not to mention the drivetrain's expected refinement. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada) |
top-line Hyundai V6 isn't all about refined power, as it also provides the convenience of timing chains instead of belts, benefiting from no scheduled maintenance, plus good expected fuel economy and an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) certification rating.
The van's five-speed automatic with Shiftronic manual should get some credit for the fuel economy and ULEV rating, not to mention the drivetrain's expected refinement. Hyundai says the transmission "offers smooth shifts and a wide spread of ratios that ideally suit the engine's characteristics and includes an overdrive lock-up torque converter for quiet, efficient highway cruising."
As for ride and handling, expect it to be very good. As mentioned previously, Kia's version of the van is getting bullish reviews from those who have driven it, and with Hyundai benefiting from an extra year of development overseen by its own expert engineers, it should be refined even further.
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| The Entourage's wide stance and fully-independent suspension should result in deft handling. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada) |
And unlike other vans that are based on midsize sedans, the two Korean models ride on a purpose-built unibody architecture featuring a 3,020 mm (118.9-inch) wheelbase and a 1,684 mm (66.3-inch) track width; both longer and wider than minivan competitors. While a four-wheel independent suspension with MacPherson struts, coil springs plus a stabilizer bar in front and a multi-link setup with coil springs and a stabilizer bar in back, should be good for absorbing the bumps and dips of inner city streets while delivering adept road-holding, I, for one, would find its 12.1 meter (39.6 foot) turning radius equally nice to live with. The Entourage accomplishes this, as well as deft turn-in at high-speeds, via an engine-speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering system. Connecting to the road are a set of four 16-inch steel wheels wrapped in 225/70 R16 all-season tires. Optionally, 17-inch alloy wheels can be fitted to 235/60 R17 tires.
The
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| I don't think I'd have any trouble getting 500 pairs of coveralls in there. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada) |
alloy rims and lower profile tires make the van look better, no doubt, although I personally didn't trade in my BMW 5-Series for a '96 Dodge Caravan because I wanted something a little sportier. Don't get me wrong, I liked the look of the Caravan, a point that weighed heavily when choosing it over any competitor, just like what Hyundai has done with its Entourage will work to entice today's minivan buyers, but other considerations, like the convenience of dual sliding side doors, also were important to my decision. After all, I was a new family man at the time, with a small industrial clothing supply business that required frequent long-hauls from Vancouver to Edmonton, the van filled to the gills with upwards of five-hundred fire-retardant cotton coveralls at a time, and an eager oil and gas servicing company at the other end relying on delivery. Whatever your needs are, the minivan, if you can overcome any negative stigma, is the ultimate all-purpose transport, and now that Hyundai is in the game, it stands a good chance of pulling in its share of new buyers.
