Some people take long summer vacations; I drove through five states in two days. I had to go to Evergreen, Colorado, but needed to be back in LA quick, so it became an overnight trip. I took the 2007 Hyundai Entourage GLS as my traveling companion because I had to haul cargo back home. I chose wisely. The Entourage starts at $23,795 and comes with the Hyundai Advantage, a 5-year/50,000-mile basic warranty with 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage and 24-hour roadside assistance.

First Glance: Room, Flexibility and a Comfy Ride

Although minivans are not the first choice of moms on the go anymore, as a DINK (dual income, no kids), I think they’re practical vehicles. We own a 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette that the hubby uses as a photo van, and it’s been nothing short of wonderful. Minivans offer plenty of room, versatility, comfy ride, and easy ingress and egress. The Entourage is Hyundai’s first foray into the family hauler arena, and it was an easy decision for the brand to make since the platform is shared with the Kia Sedona, which was redesigned for 2006 and is equally as nice as the Hyundai. The Entourage comes in three trim levels: GLS, SE, and Limited. The GLS Entourage had fewer features than the Sedona EX I drove the week before, but since Aaron likes us to review entry-level trims, this was a good pick. Clean, crisp lines, a bright chrome grille, and projector beam halogen headlamps give the Entourage a modern look that fits right in among the Lexi and BMWs at the batting cages. Toss in the fact that you don’t have to pay extra for body-colored outside mirrors or 16-inch wheels and tires, and it’s even more appealing. Dual sliding doors are standard, and privacy glass, vertical stepped taillights, and a bumper step round out the package.

In the Driver's Seat: Travel in Comfort

The interior of the Entourage looks much nicer than a mid $20,000 minivan owner might expect. While I didn’t get leather or a power driver’s seat, I still found the cloth comfortable and the seating position excellent. Trust me here; I was spending inhuman amounts of time in the seat between stops. There was plenty of thigh support, and the armrests for both the driver and front-seat passenger were appreciated. The air-conditioning system worked well even in the 90-degree heat around Las Vegas, and the staggering amount of cup holders and huge storage in the center foldaway adjustable tray between the front seats came in handy. I had room for two water bottles, a cup of soda, a Wendy’s Frosty, my cell phone, maps, beef jerky (a gotta have on long trips), assorted chargers, a notepad, and a pen, all within easy reach. A total of 13 cup holders allow Entouragers to be sated for miles. The transmission shifter was mounted in the center console area, which I usually hate because it looks bulky, but Hyundai designers did a great job of integrating it so it blends well with the overall style. I liked the ergonomics, too; I didn’t have to glance down to see if I was in Drive, since it’s the last slot of the shift gate.

On the Road: Is this a Minivan?

The 3.8-liter DOHC V-6 featuring variable valve timing delivered better performance than I expected. It was quiet and quick, and tackled climbing and passing with grace and ease. With 242 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque, it delivers more torque than the Honda Odyssey and at about 1,000 rpm lower. It really proved itself in the mountains of both Utah and Colorado. The standard 5-speed automatic comes with Shiftronic® manual shift control, which I thought was a bit odd in a minivan, but proved to be invaluable as I used it for braking downhill, climbing uphill, and generally having fun—wow, now there’s a word I usually don’t associate with driving a minivan! The ride quality was outstanding, with both the MacPherson front suspension and rear multi-link providing excellent damping characteristics even on those hideous grooved surfaces of pre-asphalted new roads. Stabilizer bars front and rear seriously cut down on lateral motion, and made the Entourage feel more like a sport sedan than a high-profile truck. You’d have to put in a sound-effects CD if you wanted to hear wind noise, because it just didn’t exist in this van. The Hyundai Entourage is as tight as the lid on a new jar of creamy peanut butter, and the ride is just as smooth.

Journey's End: A Winning Combination

There is a world of difference between taking a vehicle on a short road trip with frequent stops and driving it on an endurance run. It’s like spending a whole weekend with a new love; you sure find out fast what you like and what you hate. Turns out, I liked just about everything. The only features I truly missed were an iPod jack (the upcoming Elantra sedan will be the first Hyundai vehicle to get one) and the redundant steering wheel audio controls that are available on the S and Limited trim levels (but which are still missing the all-important station scan button). The fact that I got over 25 mpg (18/25 are the EPA numbers for Entourage) doesn’t hurt, either. So, what did I learn after two days and 2,000 miles in the Hyundai Entourage? First, I learned that the distance to the next rest area is in direct proportion to the size of the soda you buy at the mini mart. Second, the Highway Patrol in Utah owns blue Mustangs to catch speeders (just an observation, not personal experience). Finally, I discovered that you can spend more money on another minivan, but you won’t buy a better one than the Hyundai Entourage.