2008 Hyundai Entourage

Essentially just a "one and done", the Hyundai Entourage did not really get a fair shake in the US market. However, it lives on as the modern Kia Sedona, so this is essentially where the popular minivan began. If you need more than what is on offer in a regular car, the Entourage was designed to appease you. It has car-like dimensions up front, but the extra length and cargo space of a wagon make it eminently practical. Add to that Hyundai's reputation for safety and value for money, and it is no wonder that it still thrives today, albeit under a different nameplate.

It would be hard to call the Hyundai Entourage minivan a handsome vehicle, but it is far from ugly. The practicality and serviceability of the van shine through in its design. Standard elements include headlights set astride a broad but thin grille, available as auto on/off headlights with complementary fog lights set within the lower bumper. The reserved wheel arches house 16-inch occupants on the starting model, while the higher-spec Limited rides on 17-inch wheels. The rear is brought up by an enormous liftgate bordered by blocky taillights and topped with a brake light strip. Roof rails are attached right from the get-go.

While not as overpowered as more current minivans, the Hyundai Entourage van has more than enough power to get around. The 3.8-liter V6 engine comes paired with a five-speed automatic transmission, directing 250 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque to the front axle only. There is no option for AWD or a manual gearbox. This is disappointing when many rivals are better suited to handle bad weather conditions. It is no speed demon, taking over eight seconds to get the needle past 60 mph, but it will get you around town without a fuss and handles the highway with reserved poise.

Designed almost exclusively to be a safe and comfortable family car, the Entourage does not surprise with its handling or driving. It is a large vehicle, so nimble maneuvers are not possible, but the size combined with small wheels delivers an extremely soft ride. Over long trips, the kids will likely pass out in comfortable bliss rather than pepper you with "are we there yet?" every five seconds. Around town, the automobile has steering that is light enough to make managing the roads stress-free, so long as you never forget that it is not the sedan it sometimes feels like.

The Hyundai Entourage van's fuel economy is utterly average, if not a little subpar. Only a single configuration is available: a V6 paired to a 5-speed automatic transmission and FWD. This returns an EPA-estimated 16/23/18 mpg city/highway/combined. A rather large 21.1-gallon fuel tank gives the vehicle a roaming range of up to 380 miles.

Inside, the Entourage minivan is as thrifty and functional as it appears from the outside. Cloth upholstery is standard, although it is higher quality than you may expect. For something a little plusher, leather is available. The interior is presented in Beige or Gray, regardless of material. In terms of spaciousness, the vehicle does not fail to deliver. All three rows of seating offer impressive head- and legroom, so you could conceivably transport up to eight adults, assuming they do not mind riding shoulder-to-shoulder. SUVs may seem more practical, but the Japanese minivan makes a firm case for the style, especially with the 32.2 cubes cargo space behind the rear seats.

As you'd expect from a family-centric motor, the Entourage boasts a reassuring list of safety features, although its comforts and conveniences are a little lacking. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, with automatic climate control on the upper trim. Similarly, an electric driver's seating with heating functionality is available. The AM/FM/CD system is paired with a six-speaker sound system gratis, but this can be upgraded to a 13-speaker Infinity Logic setup, while the rear seats offer access to an entertainment system with eight-inch screens. Both specs boast the same safety suite. Features include ABS, EBD, traction and stability control, and six airbags. In crash-test reviews, the Hyundai scores five-stars in four of the five tests run by the NHTSA, while the IIHS awards it a rating of Good in the tests it underwent.

The 2008 Hyundai Entourage originally cost around $24,000 in the USA, but you are quite unlikely to find one for sale new nowadays. As a used model, the price of an Entourage from over a decade ago will undoubtedly be much lower, making it an appealing option for shoppers who want nothing more than a safe, no-frills family hauler. Although there are many more modern offerings on the market, including the rebadged Entourage - aka the Kia Sedona - the original actually holds up quite well against the test of time.