| It was only a matter of time before they | | | | been forthcoming. Finally, late in 2005, |
| entered the minivan fray and after several | | | | Hyundai signaled that they would go ahead and |
| false starts the on again and off again | | | | produce a minivan based on the stretched |
| Hyundai minivan appears to be on once again. | | | | wheelbase version of the Kia Sedona. No short |
| Hyundai is targeting a market it has long | | | | wheelbase van is planned, so the Entourage |
| sidestepped and it appears that a long | | | | will clearly target a slightly higher and |
| wheelbase version of the Kia Sedona will soon | | | | more lucrative end of the minivan market. |
| be sold in the US as a Hyundai Entourage. The | | | | |
| minivan wars are heating up again even as one | | | | With a 3.8L V6 engine, power sliding doors, |
| competitor exits the market and another also | | | | ABS, traction control, six airbags, and |
| gives serious consideration to abandoning the | | | | triple zone air conditioning, the Entourage |
| minivan segment. Is there an Entourage in | | | | will be equipped to compete directly against |
| your future? Read on for all the details and | | | | four popular models: the Dodge Caravan, |
| then decide. | | | | Chrysler Town & Country, Honda Odyssey, and |
| | | | the Toyota Sienna. Based on the Sedona, |
| Two decades ago, Hyundai entered the North | | | | Hyundai does have its work cut out for itself |
| American market with its $3600 Excel Pony. | | | | as the Sedona has been below average in |
| This cheaply priced, cheaply built model set | | | | quality and reliability. |
| the tone for the new importer and it wasn't a | | | | |
| good one at that. Low quality went arm and | | | | To Hyundai's advantage will be its |
| arm with the low price, but consumers still | | | | competitive pricing and with Ford out of the |
| bought Hyundais anyway as a new Excel | | | | market and General Motors considering doing |
| compared favorably with prices for late model | | | | the same, Hyundai's focus will be set |
| used cars of that era. Many owners shrugged | | | | squarely on competing against the two |
| off the cheap plastics and quality problems, | | | | Chrysler products as well as the pricey Honda |
| citing that the Pony gave them something they | | | | and Sienna models. While Chrysler is |
| never had before: a brand new car. | | | | currently the sales leader in this segment, a |
| | | | smartly optioned Entourage will probably grab |
| Eventually, Hyundai expanded its line up and | | | | sales from fully equipped versions of each |
| improved its quality levels. An industry best | | | | model. This will not happen if quality levels |
| warranty plan was crafted and put in place | | | | do not improve. |
| which helped to underscore that Hyundai was | | | | |
| serious about building quality vehicles and | | | | Knowing the competitiveness of this Korean |
| would stand behind their many products. | | | | automaker, you can expect that the Entourage |
| Mysteriously, a minivan was not part of the | | | | will present a strong battle once quality |
| line up even as its Kia subsidiary | | | | issues have been overcome. Should that |
| successfully introduced the Sedona and as | | | | happen, you can expect that the Hyundai |
| demand for minivans remained strong. | | | | Entourage and Kia Sedona will grab more sales |
| | | | and become a force to be reckoned with. The |
| Rumors of a Hyundai minivan have been | | | | consumer may be the biggest winner as prices |
| circulating for several years. Even previous | | | | are likely to hold or even come down in the |
| company press releases hinted at the | | | | face of strong competition. |
| possibility, but no official announcement had | | | | |