Mechanics Hate Us

It was only a matter of time before they entered the minivan fray and after several false starts the on again and off again Hyundai minivan seems to be on once again. Hyundai is targeting a market it has long sidestepped and it seems that a long wheelbase version of the Kia Sedona will shortly be sold in the USA as a Hyundai Entourage. The minivan wars are warming again even as one rival exits the market and another also gives major consideration to abandoning the minivan segment. Is there an Entourage in your future? Read on for all the details and then decide.

Two decades gone, Hyundai entered the northern US market with its $3600 Excel Pony. This cheaply priced, cheaply built model set the tone for the new importer and it wasn’t a good one at that. Low quality went arm and arm with the low price, but clients still acquired Hyundais any way as a new Excel compared favorably with costs for late model used cars of that time. Many owners shrugged off the cheap plastics and quality problems, citing the the Pony gave them something they never had before: a new automobile.

Eventually, Hyundai expanded its line up and improved its quality levels. An industry best guaranty plan was made and implemented which helped to underscore that Hyundai was serious about building quality automobiles and would stand behind their many products. Mysteriously, a minivan was not part of the line up even as its Kia subsidiary successfully introduced the Sedona and as requirement for minivans remained strong.

Rumors of a Hyundai minivan have been circulating for several years. Even prior company press releases hinted at the chance, but no official announcement had been forthcoming. Eventually , late in 2005, Hyundai signaled that they would go ahead and produce a minivan based on the stretched wheelbase version of the Kia Sedona. No short wheelbase truck is planned, so the Entourage will clearly target a slightly higher and more profitable end of the minivan market.

With a 3.8L V6 engine, power sliding doorways, ABS, traction control, six airbags, and triple zone air conditioning, the Entourage will be equipped to challenge immediately against 4 well-liked models : the Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, Honda Odyssey, and the Toyota Sienna. based on the Sedona, Hyundai does have its work cut out for itself as the Sedona has been below average in quality and trustworthiness.

To Hyundai’s advantage will be its competitive pricing and with Ford out of the market and General Motors considering doing the same, Hyundai’s spotlight will be set squarely on competing against the two Chrysler products as well as the dear Honda and Sienna models. While Chrysler is currently the sales leader in this segment, a smartly optioned Entourage will probably grab sales from fully equipped versions of each model. This may not happen if quality levels do not improve.

Knowing the competitiveness of this Korean automaker, you can expect the Entourage will present a strong battle once quality issues have been overcome. Should that occur, you may expect that the Hyundai Entourage and Kia Sedona will grab more sales and become a force to be reckoned with. The customer might be the most important winner as prices are probably going to hold or even come down in the face of robust competition.

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