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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 21, 2006 - 25 Hyundai enters minivan segment with Entourage EVERYTHING Auto your guide to everything auto in Oakville INSIDE: 2006 Kia Rio ranked highest in sub-compact category . . . . . .Pg. 28 A Hybrid that makes sense from Saturn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pg. 29 Story by Neil Moore When Hyundai announced that their first minivan would hit dealer lots this spring, my first thought was "yeah, whatever." After all, the streets are already jammed with these domestic haulers, so what's one more? Well, to Hyundai, a company that's on a mission to be among the top five automakers, this is a big deal. Tom McPherson, Manager Public Relations at Hyundai Auto Canada explains that when it comes to product launches, his company is on a roll. "In late 2004, we announced the 24/7 program, which promised to deliver seven all-new products in just 24 months," he explains. "In the autumn of 2004 we introduced the Tucson. Last spring we launched the award-winning Sonata, which was followed in the fall by the new Accent and award-winning Azera premium sedan. We previewed the 2007 Santa Fe at the Detroit Auto Show and the Entourage in Chicago. And with the introduction of the all-new Elantra this fall, we're right on track." Tom adds that there's still more with an all-new Accent three-door hatch, as well as a restyled Tiburon and another new vehicle which will debut within the next 12 months. Despite this flood of new product, it has been apparent that Hyundai hasn't cut corners. The new Sonata is a big step up from an already decent vehicle, and the Azera takes the company squarely into the entry lux segment. Also to Hyundai's credit, they're not entering the minivan segment with some flaky new design, but have rebadged and repurposed a tried-and-true sibling, the Kia Sedona. This, I believe, is a smart move because `innovative' isn't necessarily a good thing when it comes to minivan styling. Take for example the Nissan Quest with its love-it-or-leaveit looks, or going back a few years, the dustbuster-cloned Pontiac Transport. In my mind, the best game plan for minivan styling is to refrain from trying too hard. Tarting up these family movers with an abundance of cladding, character lines, creases and curves is the automotive equivalent of the comb over. Keeping it clean and simple would be my preference. And the Entourage does just that. The design is conservative, with a gently curved fender line that continues into the beltline to present a uniform side profile. Colour-keyed bodyside mouldings (with chrome inserts) are subtle and further complement the side appearance. From the front, the chrome grille is accented by large projector beam headlamps. But minivans are more about function than form, and while the Entourage is a handsome vehicle, it is also roomy, ERYTHING Although the chrome grille and projector beam headlamps present a bold front, the overall look of the 2007 Hyundai Entourage is clean and conservativ and won't fall short in doing what minivans do best - transporting people and stuff. At 5130 mm long and 1985 mm wide, it's longer than the Grand Caravan and Odyssey and both longer and wider than the Sienna. Hence interior volume is substantial, and at 4879 litres, offers more than both the Grand Caravan and Odyssey (but still a bit less than the Sienna). For carrying cargo, Entourage is flexible with a 60/40 split, fold-into-the-floor third row seat, which is standard on all models. With the full row folded flat, you go from 912 litres of space behind the seats to 2268. If you still need to carry six passengers, drop the narrow half of the seat and you can put two in the back while packing in a fair bit of stuff. The second-row captain's chairs have seatbacks that can be folded flat, or you can tumble them forward for even more cargo space. They're a bit heavy, but can also be removed for a maximum cargo volume of 4,007 litres. That's huge. My only gripe here is the 47 inches you'll find between wheel wells. I'm no contractor, but on occasion haul sheets of drywall and plywood for home reno projects. Sure, you can angle the materials and slide them in, but drywall, especially, travels best when lying flat. This is no deal-breaker, just something that should be tweaked by Hyundai engineers on the next go-around. Prospective buyers, however, will likely carry more passengers than plywood, and in the Entourage you'll find no shortage of creature comforts - even at the entry level. For $29,995, the Entourage GL includes an AM/FM/CD audio system with six speakers, A/C with front dual zones and separate controls for the rear, power windows for both first and second row, cruise, power locks with remote entry, heated power exterior mirrors and front windshield deicer. Bump up to the GL Comfort model ($31,995) and you also get power rear quarter windows, integrated roof rack, 16-inch alloys and dual power sliding side doors. In my mind, the extra two grand is a no-brainer. I'm always running to the vehicle with armloads of stuff (and kids), so power sliding doors are a must - especially in wet weather. The Entourage GLS offers all of the above plus 17-inch alloys, an audio system with MP3 compatibility and cassette player (great for all those books on tape), power driver's seat, electronic stability program, steering wheel mounted audio controls, back up warning system, automatic climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, trip computer, heated front seats and DVD rear entertainment system. That brings the Entourage up to $35,695, but once again, you get a lot for the increase. I always appreciate heated seats, especially in the morning, as they're great for loosening up the lower back. The Entourage's work well, and I made the mistake of cranking mine up to 5, leaving the vehicle a short time later feeling like I'd just come off the grill. The DVD rear entertainment system, with 10.2' Continued on page 27 Oak-land Ford Lincoln YOU GET THE BEST PRICES OF THE YEAR. PERIOD. ON 2006 AND 2007 FORD VEHICLES. 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