Powerful and safe, but very thirsty
Peppy seven-seater van has high safety rating but ride can be rough
There was a news item about a funeral director who parked his Dodge Caravan on a New York City street momentarily while he ducked inside a funeral home to collect some paperwork.
He returned to discover one of Gotham’s notorious tow-truck jockeys had hooked up the minivan and whisked it away to the impound lot, unaware that the van contained a corpse in a white cardboard box.
The director scrambled to find the lot and pleaded earnestly for his van back. The deceased had to make a Miami-bound flight for cremation. Miraculously, the impound manager waived the storage fee, but the director was stuck with the $115 parking ticket.
The moral of this tale? There are still people dying to ride in a minivan.
CONFIGURATION
Ever since Hyundai snatched Kia from bankruptcy in 1998, the two South Korean automakers have been sharing technology and platforms to great effect. Kia was usually the beneficiary, but when Hyundai product planners realized they needed a minivan to round out their North American lineup, it was brother Kia that delivered the goods in the form of a re-badged Sedona.
Kia had just redesigned its frontwheel-drive minivan for 2006 by extending the wheelbase, adding 20 cm in length, and ladling on more content and safety equipment. Engineers had also trimmed almost 200 kg, thanks to more high-tensile steel and an all-aluminum engine.
Reshaping the Sedona into the 2007 Hyundai Entourage required little more than fresh front and rear fascias and a restyled instrument panel. Hyundai’s first North American minivan offered standard seating for seven, including a 60/40split third-row bench that folded flat into the floor. The two secondrow captain’s chairs could be yanked out altogether.
It earned a five-star safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in frontal and side-impact crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) christened the Entourage a “Gold Top Safety Pick,” making it, and the Sedona, the safest minivan tested to date. The stellar ratings are reflected in the van’s low insurance costs.
The commitment to safety continued with four-wheel antilock disc brakes, active front head restraints, front side and curtain airbags, and traction/antiskid control. Brimming with content, the Entourage was a compelling minivan buy. “Quieter than a Honda, as well appointed as a Toyota, and for thousands less,” summed up one owner. The 3.8 L DOHC V6 was rated at 244 hp (later re-rated at 250 hp) and 253 lb.-ft. of torque when drinking premium-grade fuel, which wasn’t mandatory, thankful- ly. The lone transmission was a fivespeed automatic with a manumatic shift function. Assembled at Kia’s Sohari plant in South Korea, the Entourage came to market in early 2006. Aside from some equipment and option changes, Hyundai’s van subsequently remained largely unaltered. It bowed out early in 2009 due to moribund sales.
ON THE ROAD
The V6 engine has a deep reserve of power that owners like. It can accelerate to 96 km/h from a standstill in 8.7 seconds, no slower than the benchmark Odyssey. The drivetrain is hushed and refined, and the automatic makes creamy shifts. The ride is a little undisciplined, though; the suspension feels somewhat stiff-legged on rough asphalt. In a major magazine comparison of five minivans, the Entourage ranked last, losing points for its undisciplined ride and for some ergonomic lapses in the cabin.
A bigger concern is the van’s appetite for fuel. “Gas pig” is the undiplomatic term owners use repeatedly in their posts. It isn’t uncommon to see urban mileage as low as 18 litres/100 km (16 mpg).
WHAT OWNERS SAY
In a market where minivans can cost more than $50,000 new, Hyundai brought its high-value game in the form of a long-wheelbase minivan packed with gotta-have-it features, safety equipment and a capable motor, for less money.
While original owners have grumbled about steep depreciation — a second-hand buyer’s delight — documented mechanical complaints shouldn’t be taken so lightly.
Early 2007 models were plagued by electrical issues, including starting glitches, frequent dead batteries, warning lamp malfunctions and faulty oxygen sensors. A rattling noise at start-up may be traced back to a bad timing-chain tensioner.
The power sliding door may not close, or may close and reopen inadvertently, unless the power sliding door module is replaced. The transmission shifter interlock module may fail, making it impossible to shift out of park.
Other reported maladies include broken air conditioners, prematurely worn suspension parts, frequent brake service, bad fuel pumps and maddening drivetrain vibrations and interior rattles.
Then again, no minivan is without its faults. The Entourage delivers more and commands less money. It’s not a bad way to go. We would like to know about your ownership experience with these models: Acura RL, Pontiac G8 and BMW 7 Series. Email: toljagic@ca.inter.net.