Category Archives: Entourage

Hyundai Santa Fe Named Least Expensive 2009 Vehicle to Insure

Insure.com’s “20 Least Expensive 2009 Vehicles to Insure” list also ranks the Hyundai Entourage in third place

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 06/04/2009 The Hyundai Santa Fe topped the “20 least expensive 2009 vehicles to insure” list by Insure.com, an online consumer insurance information service that caters to the needs of self-directed insurance shoppers. According to Insure.com research, the Santa Fe is the least expensive vehicle to insure at an estimated average annual premium of $832. Following closely behind on the list, the Hyundai Entourage minivan ranked third with an estimated average annual premium of $848.

“Low rates tend to reflect a vehicle’s safety, which is why larger cars and minivans dominate the least-expensive list,” said Amy Danise, editor of Insure.com. “If you are a car buyer not looking to spend an inflated premium on car insurance, both the Hyundai Santa Fe and Hyundai Entourage are great options.”

Insure.com compiled average car insurance rates for almost 300 model year 2009 vehicles. To compare rates, Insure.com used a driver profile of a 40-year-old single male who drives 12 miles to work. Rates across multiple ZIP codes and insurance companies were averaged. Individual rates will depend on driving history, age, location and other factors.

“Hyundai has always been a strong proponent of providing consumers with the best all-around value, without sacrificing quality and safety,” said Dave Zuchowski, vice president, National Sales, Hyundai Motor America. “With this recognition from Insure.com for both the Santa Fe and Entourage, Hyundai continues to hit the mark with today’s value-minded shoppers even after leaving the car lot.”

The 2009 Santa Fe continues to raise the bar with a the convenience of Hyundai’s USB/iPod® auxiliary inputs, a roomy interior, and leading safety technologies earning the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) top five-star crash test rating for front and side impacts and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest honor — Top Safety Pick.

Hyundai’s minivan, the Entourage, combines top safety ratings and new technologies to redefine value in 2009. Entourage now sports standard XM Satellite Radio and iPod® integration with its top five-star crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) — the best rating ever for a minivan.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 790 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by The Hyundai Advantage, America’s Best Warranty. In addition, the Hyundai Assurance Program is now offered on all new vehicles leased or purchased from a certified Hyundai dealer. The program is available to any consumer, regardless of age, health, employment record or financed amount of the vehicle. The program is complimentary for the first 12 months.

INSURE.COM

Originally founded in 1984 as Quotesmith Corporation, Insure.com owns and operates Insure.com, an online consumer insurance information service that caters to the needs of self-directed insurance shoppers. Insure.com provides a comprehensive array of comparative auto, life and health quotes, including a vast library of originally authored insurance articles and decision-making tools that are not available from any other single source.

Hyundai Entourage Named a Best Family Car for 2009 by Parents Magazine and Edmunds.com

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FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 05/19/2009 The 2009 Hyundai Entourage minivan was recognized as a Best Family Car for 2009 by Parents magazine and Edmunds.com in their annual list of family vehicles. The Best Family Cars of 2009 will appear in the June 2009 issue of Parents magazine and is on newsstands nationwide today.

“The Hyundai Entourage emerged as one of the top three minivans in our test,” said Dana Points, editor-in-chief of Parents. “Our survey takes into special consideration the priorities of families, and the Entourage has many features to accommodate their real-world needs.”

The Parents/Edmunds.com Best Family Cars for 2009 are based on six months of analyzing and test-driving dozens of vehicles. The list includes 15 top models — three each in Sedan, Budget, Crossover, SUV and Minivan categories. Each car was judged on safety, performance, interior, exterior and family-friendly features. In addition to professional reviews, editors took into account feedback from parents who own and drive the vehicles everyday.

“Hyundai offers standard, family-friendly equipment in the Entourage making it an ideal minivan for parents,” said Brandon Ramirez, product planning manager, Hyundai Motor America. “Additionally, safety is the most important aspect of a vehicle for families and the Entourage’s six standard airbags, including side air curtains for all three rows of seats, electronic stability control, and active front head restraints make it one of the safest minivans on the road.”

The Hyundai Entourage combines top safety ratings and new technologies to redefine value. The Entourage uses a powerful 3.8-liter V6 engine and a five-speed automatic transmission — all backed by Hyundai’s 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty. It includes standard safety features like electronic stability control (ESC), six air bags and active front-seat head restraints, which have earned the Entourage a top five-star crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) and a TOP SAFETY PICK rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) — the best rating ever for a minivan.

Inside, Entourage is one of the most comfortable and convenient minivans on the market, thanks to a number of highly desired standard features including multi-adjustable captain’s chairs for the front and second rows, 60/40 split fold-into-floor third row seats, front wiper de-icer, cruise control, front conversation mirror to view children in the rear seats, rear sliding doors with power windows, front and rear air conditioning, roof-mounted rear-seat vents for both the second- and third-row passengers, and a foldaway tray table with four cupholders mounted between the front seats.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 790 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by The Hyundai Advantage, America’s Best Warranty. In addition, Hyundai Assurance is now offered on all new vehicles leased or purchased from a certified Hyundai dealer. The program is available to any consumer, regardless of age, health, employment record or financed amount of the vehicle. The program is complimentary for the first 12 months.

Four Hyundai Models Honored with Best Bet Awards from the Car Book 2009

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Hyundai’s Genesis, Accent, Entourage and Tucson Recognized for Exceeding the Safety and Performance Needs of the American Buyer

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 02/04/2009 Hyundai continues to collect awards for its model lineup adding “BEST BETS” distinction for four of its vehicles in The Car Book 2009. Genesis, Accent, Entourage and Tucson all earned the distinction of “BEST BETS” from author Jack Gillis and the Center for Auto Safety, the nation’s leading auto safety advocacy group. For 29 years, The Car Book has selected vehicles for this honor based on how well they respond to the safety and performance needs of today’s consumer.

“Hyundai has made a significant contribution to improving the market choices for the American car buyer, demonstrated by the four cars chosen as ‘BEST BETS’ for 2009,” said Jack Gillis, author, The Car Book. “During these most challenging times for the auto industry, the fact that Hyundai vehicles have the quality and features most important to today’s car buyer is a testament to their desire to meet customer needs.”

The Car Book analyzes new vehicles each year to identify those making a significant contribution to improving the market. “BEST BETS” ratings designate The Car Book’s highest-rated cars in each of the size categories. Ratings are based on nine important categories: crash tests, safety features, rollover, preventative maintenance, repair costs, warranty, fuel economy, complaints and insurance costs, with the heaviest emphasis on safety.

“Having four cars named as ‘BEST BETS’ by The Car Book is a testament to the hard work and dedication that goes into all the vehicles in the Hyundai lineup,” said Scott Margason, national manager of Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “We are extremely proud to receive these awards and look forward to continuing to develop vehicles that exceed the expectations of all our customers in safety, quality and performance.”

The winning Hyundai models received “BEST BETS” selection in each of the following categories:
Subcompact: Accent
Intermediate: Genesis
Small Sports Utility: Tucson
Minivan: Entourage

All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by The Hyundai Advantage, America’s Best Warranty. In addition, the Hyundai Assurance Program is now offered on all new vehicles leased or purchased from a certified Hyundai dealer. The program is available to any consumer, regardless of age, health, employment record or financed amount of the vehicle. The program is complimentary for the first 12 months.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Three Hyundai Models Earn Top Safety Pick Awards

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FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 11/25/2008 For a second year in a row, three Hyundai models earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award. The Hyundai Veracruz and Santa Fe received awards in the midsize SUV segment and the Hyundai Entourage in the minivan segment. All winning vehicles are recognized for their ability to protect passengers in front, side and rear crashes.

This marks the fourth year in a row the Entourage has received the Institute’s highest honor in the minivan category and second year in a row for the Veracruz and Santa Fe. All three vehicles also earned five-star crash test ratings, the highest government rating under NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program, for both frontal and side impact.

Top Safety Pick awards recognize vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side and rear crashes based on ratings in the Institute’s tests. Each vehicle’s overall evaluation is based on a variety of measures including injuries to dummies, vehicle’s structural performance, restraint performance, etc. Winners are also required to be equipped with the latest crash prevention technology, electronic stability control (ESC) — which is standard on all three Hyundai Top Safety Pick vehicles and 67 percent of all Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S.

According to the IIHS, “Consumers are the biggest winners. No matter what kind of vehicle buyers may be considering, now they can walk into just about any dealership and find one that affords the best overall protection in serious crashes.”

“Hyundai remains committed to the implementation of advanced safety technologies, such as electronic active head restraints, introduced on the 2009 Hyundai Genesis,” said Michael Deitz, manager of product development, Hyundai Motor America. “We’re pleased that three of our models are Top Safety Picks again this year.”

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

First Look: 2009 Hyundai Entourage

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The Hyundai Entourage has been a safe, reliable family mover for several years now, so to up the ante for 2009, Hyundai decided to simplify. For 2009, only two Entourage models are available, the base GLS and the top-level Limited. This is good news for buyers, because instead of cutting options along with the trim levels, Hyundai just made a lot of package options standard, giving the Entourage even more value for the money.

In addition to standardizing many options, the Entourage gets some new goodies for 2009 as well. Standard on all Entourages is a new stereo with what Hyundai says is an improved display and better controls. The new stereo gets XM Satellite Radio standard with three months of service included, as well as USB and iPod connectivity. iPods plugged into the stereo will be controlled by the stereo and have their batteries charged at the same time.

All 2009 Entourages come with a bundle of safety features standard. In addition to driver and passenger front airbags, the Hyundai minivan has side impact airbags for front seat passengers as well as side curtain airbags for all passengers. The Entourage also gets electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, a tire-pressure-monitoring system and electronic brake-force distribution, which works with the ABS to maximize braking force in emergency stops. All seats get three-point seatbelts and the front seats get active head restraints to minimize whiplash during an accident. Second and third row seats get LATCH anchor points for securing child seats. All of these features work together to net the 2009 Entourage five-star front, side, rear, and rollover ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and “Top Pick” distinction from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Moving the Entourage down the road is the now familiar 3.8L V-6 engine found in many Hyundais that puts out 250 hp and 253 lb-ft. Even with all the oomph, the engine burns clean, qualifying as an Ultra Low Emissions vehicle and gets 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. A five-speed automatic gearbox with Shiftronic does the shifting, allowing the driver to manually select gears if they so desire. Smoothing out the ride is a fully independent suspension with MacPherson struts up front and a multilink setup riding on coil springs in the back. The Entourage can tow 1000 lb standard and up to 3000 lb when equipped with trailer brakes.

The base-model Entourage comes nicely equipped, featuring power windows, mirrors and doors as well as keyless remote entry. Entertainment comes from an Infinity six-speaker, 172-watt stereo with XM Satellite Radio and USB and iPod connectivity. Other features include 16-in. wheels, a tilt steering wheel, cruise control, front armrests, a fold-away tray table with four cupholders between the front seats, dual vanity mirrors, roof racks, windshield wiper deicers and the Hyundai Hideaway third-row seat. Passengers stay comfortable with front and rear AC, with roof-mounted vents for the second and third rows. Opt for the Popular Equipment Package and the GLS picks up power sliding doors, power rear pop-out windows, a backup warning system, power driver’s seat, and steering wheel audio controls. Add the Rear Seat Entertainment Package and you can get a DVD entertainment system with 8-in. LCD screen for the rear-seat passengers.

Buyers who pick up the Entourage Limited will get everything found on a Popular Equipment Package-equipped GLS as well as a compass, trip computer, 17-in. wheels, an Infinity Logic 7 660-watt surround-sound audio system with six-CD changer, leather seats all around, heated front seats, dual-zone front automatic climate control, a tilting and sliding sun roof, adjustable pedals, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink, power front passengers seat, a memory system for the drivers seat, adjustable pedals and outside mirrors, automatic headlights, foglights, heated mirrors, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear selector, a power liftgate, lights for both vanity mirrors and chrome door handles inside and out. The Rear Seta Entertainment Package is also standard on the Limited model.

All Entourages are backed up by multiple warranties. Hyundai offers a five-year/60,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, a 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty, seven-year/unlimited mileage anti-perforation coverage and five-year/unlimited mileage 24-hour roadside assistance.

Hyundai hasn’t released pricing for the 2009 Entourage yet, but expect it to be similar to 2008 pricing. In all, Hyundai continues to be a value leader with the Entourage, providing a well-equipped people mover with lots of space, plenty of comfort and spectacular safety.

Vehicle layout Front engine, FWD, 5-7-pass, 4-door Mini-van
Engine 3.8L/250-hp/253-lb-ft DOHC 24-valve V-6
Transmission 5-speed automatic
Curb weight (dist f/r) 4400-4659 lbs (mfr)
Wheelbase 118.9 in
Length x width x height 202.0 x 78.1 x 75.1 in
Headroom, f/m/r 41.0/39.8/38.3 in
Legroom, f/m/r 41.7/40.9/38.3 in
Shoulder room, f/m/r 63.2/65.4/60.5 in
Cargo vol behind f/m/r 141.5/80.2/32.2 cu.ft
EPA City/Hwy Econ 16/23 mpg
CO2 Emissions 1.05 lb/mile

By Scott Evans

Hyundai Entourage Wins AutoPacific 2008 Ideal Vehicle Award

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FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 07/10/2008 Automotive research and consulting firm AutoPacific announced that the Hyundai Entourage won the 2008 Ideal Vehicle Award with a “Best-in-Class” rank in the Minivan Segment. The victory marks the second consecutive top performance for Entourage in this competitive study.

AutoPacific’s third annual Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA) ranked auto manufacturers for how closely their 2008 model-year cars or trucks came to matching owners’ expectations and criteria. The vehicles that customers said they would change the least were considered the most “ideal.”

“Earning a five-star safety rating, owners gave the Entourage kudos for its safety features,” said George Peterson, president, AutoPacific. “Owners complimented the exterior styling including wheels and tires, and gave the Entourage high ratings for passenger room, seat firmness and interior lighting.”

To determine the winners, AutoPacific asked owners to rate their new car or truck on how close it came to “ideal” in the following areas: exterior size; passenger roominess; cargo space; driver’s seat comfort; driver’s seat visibility; interior technology; power; ease of getting in and out; interior storage compartments; and tires and wheels.

“We are pleased to accept the Ideal Vehicle Award for the Entourage for the second year in a row,” said Brandon Ramirez, manager, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “With its superior standard safety features, quality interior convenience features and an impressive exterior design, the Entourage is truly a great deal for value-conscious families.”

The 2008 Hyundai Entourage uses a powerful 3.8-liter V6 engine and a five-speed automatic transmission – all backed by Hyundai’s 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty. It includes standard safety features like electronic stability control (ESC), six air bags, active front seat head restraints, which have earned the Entourage a top five-star crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) and a TOP SAFETY PICK rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) – the best rating ever for a minivan. The IVA ratings reflect input from buyers of new vehicles purchased from September 2007 through December 2007. Over 33,500 respondents provided input for these awards.

AUTOPACIFIC

AutoPacific is a future-oriented automotive marketing and product-consulting firm. Every year it publishes a wide variety of syndicated studies for the automotive industry. The firm also conducts extensive proprietary research and consulting for auto manufacturers, distributors, marketers and suppliers worldwide. Additional information can be found at www.autopacific.com.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif. is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai cars and sport utility vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced by more than 790 Hyundai dealerships nationwide.

Hyundai Santa Fe and Entourage Named Best Cars for Retirees by Forbes.com

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Vehicles Help Mature Drivers Be Independent and Stay Behind the Wheel Longer

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 05/06/2008 — Hyundai Santa Fe and the Entourage were recognized by Forbes.com (www.Forbes.com) as two of the “Best Cars for Retirees” based on features that help mature drivers stay behind the wheel longer.

In order to determine the list of “Best Cars for Retirees” Forbes.com factored in NHTSA and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash-test ratings, AAA’s suggestions from “Smart Features for Mature Drivers” guide and additional features that appeal to mature drivers.

According to Forbes.com, “The Hyundai Santa Fe was chosen specifically for its driver lumbar support to help ease back discomfort, and Hyundai Entourage was chosen based on its power-adjustable foot pedals that help drivers remain a safe distance from steering wheel-mounted airbags.”

“Santa Fe and Entourage are great examples of Hyundai’s continued commitment to providing affordable vehicles with standard life-saving technologies and convenience features,” said Mike Nino, manager, Product Development, Hyundai Motor America. “These vehicles combine the safety and comfort drivers are looking for with sophistication and style.”

The Entourage and Santa Fe come standard with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), one of the industry’s most effective life-saving technologies, six standard airbags, including side air curtains for all three rows of available seating and four-channel Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), which automatically equalizes the braking force to the front and rear axles, based on the vehicle loading conditions. Both vehicles come standard with active front-seat head restraints which help prevent whiplash in the case of an accident.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

The Car Book 2008 Honors Five Hyundai Models With "Best Bet" Selections

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The Car Book 2008 Honors Five Hyundai Models With “Best Bet” Selections

Hyundai’s Accent, Elantra, Sonata, Tucson And Entourage Recognized For Meeting The Safety And Performance Needs Of The American Buyer

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 03/13/2008 Hyundai continues to collect awards for its revamped model lineup adding “Best Bet” distinction for five of its vehicles in The Car Book 2008. Accent, Elantra, Sonata, Tucson and Entourage all earned the title “Best Bet” from author Jack Gillis and the Center for Auto Safety. For 28 years, The Car Book has selected vehicles for this distinction based on how well they respond to the safety and performance needs of today’s consumer.

The Car Book analyzes new vehicles each year to identify vehicles that make a significant contribution to bettering the market. “Best Bet” ratings designate The Car Book’s highest-rated cars in each of the size categories. Ratings are based on expected performance in ten important categories: crash tests, safety features, fuel economy, rollover, repair costs, preventative maintenance, warranties, insurance costs and complaints, with the heaviest emphasis on safety.

The following are the “Best Bet” categories for each winning Hyundai model:
Accent: Subcompact
Elantra: Compact
Sonata: Intermediate
Tucson: Small SUV
Entourage: Minivan

Three Hyundai Models Earn Top Safety Pick Awards

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Three Hyundai Models Earn Top Safety Pick Awards

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Seoul, Korea January 18, 2008 — For the first time ever, three Hyundai models earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award. The Hyundai Veracruz and Santa Fe received awards in the midsize SUV segment and the Hyundai Entourage in the minivan segment. All winning vehicles are recognized for their ability to protect people in front, side and rear crashes.

This marks the third year in a row the Entourage has received the highest honor – the IIHS Top Safety Pick award in the minivan category. All three vehicles also earned five-star crash test ratings, the highest government rating under NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program, for both frontal and side impact.

Top Safety Pick awards recognize vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side and rear crashes based on ratings in the Institute’s tests. Each vehicle’s overall evaluation is based on a variety of measures including injuries to dummies, vehicle’s structural performance, restraint performance, etc. Winners are also required to be equipped with the latest crash prevention technology, electronic stability control (ESC) – which is standard on all three Hyundai Top Safety Pick vehicles and on 73% of all Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S.

According to the IIHS, “Designating winners based on the tests makes it easier for consumers to identify vehicles that afford the best overall protection without sifting through multiple sets of comparative crash test results.”

“Hyundai has more 2008 IIHS Top Safety Picks than BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Toyota,” said John Krafcik, vice president of strategic planning and product development, Hyundai Motor America. “That’s a pretty good indication that we know what we’re doing when it comes to combining industry-leading safety with industry-leading value.”

The Entourage minivan is sold only in North America.

Hyundai Entourage Named A Consumers Digets "Best Buy"

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Hyundai Entourage Named A Consumers Digest “Best Buy”

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 11/26/2007 Consumers Digest named the Hyundai Entourage a 2008 Automotive “Best Buy” in the van category.

According to the Consumers Digest editors, “Though the Entourage is the budget-minded entry in the minivan market, it’s anything but a stripped-down model. It is fitted with a powerful 250-hp 3.8-liter V6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission. The 60/40-split third-row bench folds easily into the floor, and the middle-row seats flip and fold forward for up to 172 cu. ft. of cargo capacity. Safety features are plentiful and include six airbags, Electronic Stability Control, anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist, and active front head restraints to help minimize whiplash injuries.”

Consumers Digest evaluated over 200 available models to identify those that they believe offer the most value for the money in their respective vehicle classes. The “Best Buy” ratings are derived from test driving, safety ratings, ownership costs, warranty, price, comfort, ergonomics, style and amenities. Some of the performance values tested includes starting and acceleration, braking, gear shifting, steering, handling, ride quality and fuel economy.

“Entourage offers the comfort, safety and value that families are looking for in the minivan market,” said Wayne Killen, director of product planning, Hyundai Motor America. “It’s rewarding that Consumers Digest recognized the Entourage for its segment leadership.”

About Hyundai Motor America