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By Anita And Paul LienertDetroit Newspapers
May 10, 2006
For a first-time effort, the Entourage is not bad. Although it breaks no new ground, it manages to assimilate many -- but not all -- of the best characteristics of the leading competitors from Toyota and Honda. Unfortunately, the $33,445 sticker on our test vehicle, a loaded 2007 Entourage Limited with the $3,950 Ultimate package, is hardly a bargain. SHE: The Entourage passed our kid test with flying colors. I asked our 2-year-old niece Julia, who spends most of her time in a Chrysler minivan, if she wanted to take a look at Aunt Nini's new Korean minivan. So we grabbed her Cinderella DVD and headed out to the driveway. Julia and her 11-year-old brother Nick were delighted with our test car's rear-seat entertainment system, which includes wireless headphones and a large LCD screen. Julia sat in the back, clapping her hands and singing "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo." But all the fun stopped when her mom poked her head in the Hyundai and started fussing with the second-row seats. "Why don't these fold into the floor?" she asked. "They should." HE: Good question. I was pleased to see Hyundai got the third row right. Those seats were pretty easy to stow at the hardware store, where I loaded up three 40-pound bags of salt and a new hose reel cart. But I was also impressed with the front row, which looks like it belongs in a premium sedan. The new Entourage has plenty of amenities, which should be no surprise considering that lofty $30,000-plus sticker. But I was amazed at the lack of items most minivan buyers would expect, from simple stuff like a tilt steering column to advanced features such as a navigation system and satellite radio, which Hyundai says is coming later in the year. Perhaps that's the result of the last-minute decision to cancel, then restore this vehicle to Hyundai's North American lineup. SHE: This is the most expensive Korean vehicle I've ever driven -- more expensive than the snazzy new Hyundai Azera near-luxury sedan we tested earlier this year. Granted, the base sticker on the Entourage is $24,495, including shipping. But most families and kids who live in minivans have been conditioned to expect a lot of goodies. And this is no discount minivan. But in a very basic way, the Entourage represents a good value, especially when you consider the high level of comfort, performance, quality and safety, even on the base model. In the area of safety alone, it's a leader, better than the Sienna and right up there with the Odyssey. With the Entourage, you get six standard air bags, including side curtains for all three rows, plus standard traction and stability control and standard antilock brakes. HE: Hyundai offers only a single powertrain combination on the Entourage -- a 242-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability. It's a smooth powertrain team with lots of muscle, and the fuel economy isn't bad either, at 18 miles per gallon in city driving and 25 on the highway. SHE: I was disappointed that there isn't much in the way of innovation on the Entourage, but at least Hyundai got the basics right. The ride is really comfortable, thanks to an all-independent suspension design that bundles coil springs, gas shocks and stabilizer bars. The Entourage seemed almost impervious to all the torn-up roads and construction in our neighborhood -- much better, in fact, that many of the expensive sports cars we've been testing in recent weeks. HE: Despite its deficiencies, the Entourage is a pretty impressive effort right out of the box -- a better product in most respects than the aging minivans sold by Ford and General Motors and nearly as good as the class leaders from Chrysler, Toyota and Honda. And the Entourage Limited with the Ultimate package is a definitely a premium offering in the class. SHE: A premium offering with a premium price tag to match. 2007 Hyundai Entourage Limited Type: Front-engine, front-wheel drive, seven-passenger minivan. Price: Base, $29,495 (inc. $700 destination charge); as tested, $33,445. Engine: 3.8-liter V-6; 242-hp; 251 lb-ft torque. EPA fuel economy: 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway. Where built: Korea Estimated 12-month insurance cost, according to AAA Michigan: $1,416 Anita: 4 Likes: Sturdy, capable family hauler. Terrific standard safety features. Power tailgate and sliding doors on Limited. Third row folds easily into floor. Industry's best warranty coverage. Tire pressure monitor on individual wheels. Decent fuel economy. Comfortable ride. Dislikes: Bland, derivative exterior styling. Not much of a bargain. Breaks no new ground. No all-wheel drive. No satellite radio. Paul: 4 Likes: Impressive first-time effort for Hyundai. Large, powerful V-6 engine. Five-speed Tiptronic transmission. Nice-looking, two-tone interior. Excellent workmanship and high-quality materials. Dislikes: Mere clone of new Kia Sedona. Second-row seats don't fold into floor. No navigation system. Steering column does not tilt. Anita and Paul Lienert are partners in Lienert & Lienert, a Detroit-based automotive information services company.
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