Sussman Hyundai

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Driving Impressions

While some people disdain minivans as being less appealing than a big truck-based SUV, this involves a moderate amount of delusion. Those people haven't driven a modern minivan.

The Hyundai Entourage is a lovely highway cruiser, quiet and stable. It handles rough surfaces well, which is a good plan for a vehicle intended as a people carrier and not a sports sedan. But a particularly deep pothole sends a quiver through the body that suggests the structure isn't as solid as it could be. Driving the Honda Odyssey on the same roads shows it has a better structure. On the other hand, the Odyssey does not ride as comfortably.

Like most modern minivans, the Entourage is front-wheel drive, and with all the serious mechanical pieces up front that puts a lot of weight in the nose. That contributes to a locked-down and reassuring feeling on the interstate. But it also means the Entourage pauses a bit when asked to change direction and head into a turn. This isn't a problem, but the Honda Odyssey, which is also front-wheel drive, responds more crisply, but the downside to the Odyssey's quicker reflexes is its stiffer ride.

Like its competitors, the Entourage has a V6 engine, in this case a 3.8-liter all-aluminum unit with state-of-the-art continuously variable valve timing. It is rated at 250 horsepower and drives through a five-speed automatic transmission. Five-speed automatics are becoming more common and, done thoughtfully, they are a good thing. The reason is that the extra gear makes it possible to have improved fuel economy as well as better acceleration.

The Entourage's five-speed automatic can be shifted manually by tapping the gear shift lever. This can be useful in mountain driving when the driver could easily shift to a lower gear helping to slow the vehicle. But it's mostly there for the driver who from time to time simply enjoys controlling the shifting or using it to reduce hunting in heavy traffic or on winding roads.

We test drove the Entourage with a load of luggage, two adults and two small children and found the drivetrain quite capable on the New York State Thruway and on mountain roads. It's neither as smooth nor as responsive as the V6 in the Honda Odyssey.

Fuel economy estimates for the Entourage are an EPA-rated City/Highway 16/23 mpg. During about 300 miles of highway cruising with an Entourage and an Odyssey at a steady 65 miles per hour, the Honda got better fuel economy. We calculated 26.3 mpg for the Odyssey, compared to 24.5 mpg in the Entourage, both on 87 octane fuel.

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