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But, safe bet is spring unless some unforseen events. The order should be Accent 3 dr; Entourage; Santa Fe, through this summer; more after.
http://www.hyundaiusa.com/vehicle/availablesoon/entourage.aspx
http://sedona.kia.com/
I've noticed on the website it will come out in the Summer, not the Spring like some thought previously. Maybe they put it off so they could add NAV & Bluetooth options after they've been reading this forum. I've read somewhere,not sure if it's fact, that Hyundai will start having NAV as an option on some vehicles later this year. I sure hope so.
I like the design a little better, minus the extra chrome.
-juice
In regard to the navigation system, I have been doing some research and I find that there are several companies--Pioneer, Alpine, Eclipse, and Kenwood, among others--who are making double din, in-dash navigation, cd player, radio, touch screen units that apparently will fit in and replace the radio unit in newer vehicles, like the Sedona and Entourage. They are a little pricey, but so are the "OEM" units the car manufacturers sell, and with several after-market in-dash alternatives, you can compare features and get the best unit for your needs. With that knowledge, I see even less reason not to buy the Sedona or Entourage over the competition, based on price, features, warranty, and the great reviews the Sedona is getting (and that I ancticipate the Entourage will receive, since it is essentially the same vehicle).
If you find the time to research the different brands more, hope you can report what you think would be the best one to go with and why.
I also hope the Entourage is a a bit nicer inside than the top of the line Sedona although it's nice. I really like the inside of the top of the line Toyota Sienna more than all the other vans. It would be great if Entourage would look as good inside as Sienna. It would sure be thousands of bucks less than the Sienna.
FYI, the kbb.com site has the info on the Entourage up on their site regarding option packages and vehicle specs. They don't have pricing yet, though.
No sweat for me, as I have 3 cars, but I'm sure if I didn't have a 3rd car I'd be in deep trouble with only 1 car to share between my wife and myself.
And with a built in one you can get a rear view camera on some cars. (Sienna, Odyssey, some luxury cars) whereas with a portable unit you can't get a rear view camera.
Some people feel it's worth the extra $1100 for the built in unit and some don't. It's all about personal choice.
However, I prefer the aesthetics of the built-in unit, along with the ability to add a back up camera and a module that will allow me to plug my iPod directly into the stereo. It appears that the double-DIN units that are out there will fit the radio opening in the Sedona and Entourage, have 6.5" screens, are touch screen, and will play all mediums of music. I was looking at the Pioneer today (at the online user's manual) and it has features like being able to play a CD and leave the navigation DVD in at the same time, and it appears to have the ability to be flexible in picking a route rather than accepting the route set by the navigation software (which is often not the best route). But, of course, that unit runs to $1,500 or better.
The nice thing about all the aftermarket units--portable and in dash double-DIN--is that if the dealer installed navigation unit that I'm sure will be offered in the future doesn't have the memory, speed, features, or ease of upgrading that you want, there are a lot of aftermarket units to choose from, including in dash units that a lot of us prefer.
According to a poster on CSS Forum.
In the above article there is the following statement:
"however, Hyundai's van receives a collection of Entourage-exclusive components and build techniques . . ."
There is no elaboration. That statement almost has to come from something the Hyundai people told the writers at the road test. Anybody have any ideas as to what the "collection of Entourage-exclusive components" might be, or how there could be different "build techniques" in vehicles apparently built on the same assembly line?
2007 Entourage Familiarization
(I don't think any logon is required to view the training.)
Talked to the Hyundai rep who was identified as the expert on the Entourage. From talking to her, it is clear that what we all pretty much suspected is true–there is very little difference other than cosmetic between the two vehicles.
However, she did provide a few minor interesting facts. First, she was very clear that the Sedona and Entourage are not made at the same location. That apparently is why the road test review I posted earlier said that the Entourage had some unique build techniques. The rep said that is why, for example, the Entourage has a longer anti-rust warranty, because the Hyundai paint process is different from Kia’s. Second, the Kia has brake assist but the Entourage doesn’t, although the Entourage has brake force distribution. Third, she said it was her information that the Entourage would go on sale the end of May. Fourth, she explained a question that I had–what happened to the two horsepower less that the Entourage has. She said that Hyundai had decided to take from horsepower to add to torque.
The rep did not know whether the window buttons on the doors or the buttons on the steering wheel light up when the headlights are turned on. The Entourage has chrome doorsill strips for the front and side doors with “Entourage” on them similar to the Grand Carnival door sill strips. Ooooooooooooh!!!!!!!!
The one very significant difference between the vehicles that I noticed was that the second row headroom in the Sedona (with DVD player) was nonexistent for almost any adult. The rep let me climb into the only Entourage on display, which was up on a display platform, to check the second row headroom, again with DVD player, and it was significantly better–probably a deal breaker for us on the Sedona. The front headroom in the Kia, and I believe it will be the same in the Entourage, was very, very good, even with a sunroof–and I’m 6'4" with proportionately more height in my upper body. If, as I suspect, the driver headroom is the same in the Entourage, I am very pleased. Finally, in side by side viewing, the Wife preferred the looks of the front of the Entourage over the front of the Sedona (making the comment that she thought the Sedona looked like the front of an older Ford Windstar (or Freestar, or whichever star it was; I have heard others make the same comment). In person, looking at the Entourage, I had to agree that I prefer its front end.
(Pictures were hard to get since the Entourage was on a display stand, although there was not much difference, of course, between it and the Sedona.)
May huh, wish it were sooner. So, what color do you think you'll get it in?
As far as only having one Entourage, Dallas is definitely not a top-tier auto show. For example, last year, even though the Sedona had already been introduced at the Chicago Show, the new Sedona was not at the Dallas Show. You're lucky to be close enough to go to the Chicago Show.
And I need to modify my earlier post. Upon reflection, I think I incorrectly ascribed the cause of the second row headroom to the difference between the Sedona and the Entourage. I realized after I made the post that the Kia had a sunroof and the Entourage didn't. I think it may be more accurate to say that if you get a sunroof, don't plan on putting any adults in the second row. The lowered roof is more likely the space needed for the sunroof to slide back. Not sure why the driver head room was so good and the second row was so bad. Roofline doesn't seem to slope that steeply.
As to the release date, while I'd like to have a production Entourage available for a test drive, we won't buy until the end of the year (the week between Christmas and New Years), so the delay in introduction is not critical as to a purchase decision.
Hard to say on color at this point. Don't know if colors will be the same as Sedona. If the Entourage is made in a different place with a different paint process, they may have different colors. We definitely want the tan interior (we have it in both of our current cars--and yes, we do have that color interior even with two young children). But in the Sedona, tan comes with very few of the exterior colors. For example the dark blue does not come with tan, which I think is a natural combination.
The question I will have for the dealer to find out is, even though the sunroof comes with a package of features (all of which we want), if the sunroof takes out the second row headroom, can we order the car from the factory in Korea, if we are willing to wait a few months, and get all features in the package except for the sunroof, and can we get other ext/int color combos other than what is shown in brochure?
no options available
SE MSRP $26,295
Premium package $700
Heated front seats
Auto dimming mirror
Home link
Back up warning sensors
Premium entertainment package $2,900
Rear seat entertainment
Ifinity audio system w/6 disc changer
Limited MSRP $28,795
Sunroof $900
Entertainment package $2,200
Ultimate package $3,950
Sunroof
Entertainment package
Power passenger seat
Power adjustable foot pedals
Memory seats, mirrors and foot pedals
Back up sensors.
http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr041606.html
Entourage Earns Good Ratings in All Institute Tests
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA - April 18, 2006: The Hyundai Entourage has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) highest honor -- the gold "TOP SAFETY PICK" award -- the best rating ever for a minivan in a recent evaluation by the Institute. Entourage is also the first Hyundai to receive a gold award for good crashworthiness ratings.
"We are thrilled that Entourage is the gold standard for safety among minivans," said John Krafcik, Hyundai's vice-president of product development and strategic planning. "This award demonstrates our growing leadership in occupant protection, and complements our industry-leading position in the standard application of the industry's most effective life-saving technologies, such as Electronic Stability Control."
The Entourage achieved this award by receiving a "good" rating for front, side and rear crash protection.
I wonder if high gas prices will mark an end to the "family SUV" - and demand for realistic, family-friendly towing not hamstrung by the 'standard' 3500 pound towing capacity on vehicles clearly capable of more...
link title
IIHS press release
Among the eight current minivan designs the Institute has rated, the Sedona is the only one that earns good ratings in all three Institute tests (this vehicle also will be sold as the 2007 Hyundai Entourage later this spring)
I'm really looking forward to test driving it then buying. I hope they will have some good rebates like they do with the Sonata.
Hyundai Sonata
1999-2005 models
results also apply to: 2001-06 Kia Optima (mfg. before Oct. 2005)
FRONTAL OFFSET TEST
OVERALL EVALUATION: A
Thanks
Specific pricing with options came out?? I've only seen the press release with the starting base price for each trim. But, 33k loaded makes sense in this class...
Just visited hyundaiusa.com, and the banner at the bottom of the page says the 2007 Entourage is available NOW