Used Vehicle Review: Hyundai Entourage, 2007-2009

2007 Hyundai Entourage; photo by Greg Wilson. Click image to enlarge

Related articles on Autos First Drive: 2007 Hyundai Entourage Test Drive: 2007 Hyundai Entourage GL Comfort Test Drive: 2008 Hyundai Entourage GLS 2007 Minivan Challenge: Hyundai Entourage 2007 Minivan Challenge: Hyundai Entourage, Part two 2007 Minivan Challenge: Hyundai Entourage, Part three Buyer’s Guide: 2007 Hyundai Entourage Buyer’s Guide: 2008 Hyundai Entourage Buyer’s Guide: 2009 Hyundai Entourage Manufacturer’s web site HyundaiCanada

By Chris Chase

Hyundai was a latecomer to the North American minivan segment, waiting until 2007 to bring its first van, the Entourage, to market. A near-exact copy of the second-generation Kia Sedona introduced a year earlier, the Entourage was even built at a Kia plant.

While the Sedona was available in short- and long-wheelbase form in the U.S., the Entourage was sold in a single, long-wheelbase configuration; at the time, it was larger in one dimension or another than most of its competitors.

Hyundai’s 3.8-litre “Lambda” V6 was the only engine available, matched with a five-speed automatic transmission. The Entourage’s official, Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption ratings were 13.2/8.8 L/100 km (city/highway) in 2007, figures that were near match to the Honda Odyssey’s 13.3/8.5 but trailed the Toyota Sienna’s 11.7/8.1 ratings.

2007 Hyundai Entourage GLS; photo by Chris Chase. Click image to enlarge

While Hyundai’s reliability as a brand has improved dramatically in the last decade or so, the Entourage isn’t a poster child for the company’s self-improvement efforts. Consumer Reports gives the van below-average used vehicle ratings for the 2007 and 2008 model years, citing a variety of trouble spots.

Among these are a parasitic electrical problem that drains the battery when the car is parked for more than a couple of days. One theory is that the cause is an improperly installed door lock, but others have had the problem resolved by replacing a fuse in a power module under the dash. Read this thread for more information.

2007 Hyundai Entourage; photo by Greg Wilson. Click image to enlarge

Power sliding side doors are a common trouble spot in minivans, and the Entourage is no exception. The problem appears to be that when closing, the doors actually slide too far forward and then fail to latch properly. Here’s a video of a wonky Entourage door in action (there are actually several videos on YouTube.com related to bad Entourage and Sedona sliding doors) and some more information can be found here, and also over here.

Front suspension struts that “clunk” or “crunch” are common; see this thread for information.

2007 Hyundai Entourage GLS; photos by Chris Chase. Click image to enlarge

Many owners experience a vibration in the steering at highway speeds, which may be related to CR’s notation of brakes that wear and warp prematurely.

CR also notes oil leaks from the 3.8-litre V6, but I couldn’t find any anecdotes about this on the web.

If Entourage reliability has been less than stellar, this van’s safety was about as good as it got, earning “good” ratings in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) frontal offset and side impact crash tests, and five stars all around in frontal and side impact tests. Standard safety kit included six airbags (two front, two front-seat-mounted torso and head curtain airbags for all three rows of seats) and anti-lock brakes, though stability control was only available in higher trims in 2007; it would be made standard across the board in 2008.

According to the Canadian Black Book (CBB), used Entourage values begin at $15,800 for a 2007 GL model, and top out at $22,175 for a 2008 Limited trim. CBB doesn’t even list prices for 2009 versions, presumably because there aren’t many around: in Canada, Hyundai sold just 380 of them in all of calendar 2009. By contrast, Hyundai sold more than 1,500 of the trendier (and more expensive) Veracruz crossover in 2009.

2007 Hyundai Entourage GLS; photo by Chris Chase. Click image to enlarge

The very similar Kia Sedona is notably less expensive on the used market, and the Dodge Grand Caravan is worth the same to slightly less than the Hyundai, depending on trim. The real minivan bargains at the moment, though, are GM’s: a loaded extended wheelbase Chevrolet Uplander LT is valued at less than $19,000(!). Naturally, Honda and Toyota vans command the most dough, though they both have their own reliability issues.

Despite the variety of automakers – North American, Korean and Japanese – currently building minivans, there appears to be no such thing as a perfectly reliable example. The guideline to a successful minivan purchase appears to be “keep it simple:” if you can live without frou-frou features, avoid extras like the power sliding doors that, apparently, no maker of minivans has yet managed to perfect. In addition, pay close attention to the battery drain issue and look for evidence in the service records if the van you’re considering has had this problem and whether it was suitably fixed. And, of course, follow the usual used car advice: look for a vehicle with proof of regular maintenance and that passes an inspection by a trusted mechanic.