It was only a matter of time before they entered the minivan fray and after many fake starts the on again and off again Hyundai minivan appears to be on once again. Hyundai is targeting a market it has long sidestepped and it appears that a long wheelbase version of the Kia Sedona will shortly be sold in the USA as a Hyundai Entourage. The minivan wars are heating again even as one rival exits the market and another also gives heavy 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 patrons still purchased Hyundais any way as a new Excel compared favorably with costs for late model used vehicles of that era. Many owners shrugged off the cheap plastics and quality problems, citing that 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 warranty plan was made and put in place which helped to underline that Hyundai was serious about building quality cars and would stand behind their many products. Mysteriously, a minivan wasn’t part of the line up even as its Kia subsidiary successfully introduced the Sedona and as requirement for minivans stayed strong.

Rumors of a Hyundai minivan have been circulating for many years. Even previous company press releases hinted at the possibility, but no official statement had been forthcoming. Finally, late in 2005, Hyundai signaled that they might go forward and produce a minivan based on the stretched wheelbase version of the Kia Sedona. No short wheelbase truck is planned, so the Entourage will obviously target a touch higher and more lucrative end of the minivan market.

With a 3.8L V6 engine, power sliding doorways, ABS, traction control, six airbags, and triple zone air con, the Entourage will be equipped to challenge immediately against four popular models : the Dodge Caravan, Chrysler City & 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 is going to be set precisely on competing against the two Chrysler products as well as the dear Honda and Sienna models. While Chrysler is at present the sales leader in this segment, a smartly optioned Entourage will often grab sales from fully equipped versions of each model. This will not happen if quality levels do not improve.

Knowing the competitiveness of this Korean automaker, you may expect the Entourage will give a strong battle once quality issues have been overcome. Should that happen, you can expect the Hyundai Entourage and Kia Sedona will grab more sales and become a force to be reckoned with. The consumer may be the largest winner as costs are probably going to hold or perhaps come down in the face of powerful competition.

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