2009 Hyundai Entourage

Reliability on the Hyundai/Kia has been below average, according to consumer surveys. Unlike the super-reliable 2009 Honda Odyssey (Base MSRP: $26,355 to $41,005) and 2009 Toyota Sienna (Base MSRP: $24,540 to $37,865), owners report that the Entourage has had electrical-system problems in its first two years of production. And while the Odyssey and Sienna retain their value remarkably well, the Hyundai and Kia both lose their value faster than the average minivan, according to Kelley Blue Book.

The Kia/Hyundai also cuts corners with its interior finish, according to some reviews. But while a few testers say some of the materials seem cheap, others have no complaints. The Kia/Hyundai gets almost universal praise for its roominess, especially in the third row, which offers a 60/40 split bench seat that folds into the floor. The second-row bucket seats are removable. Unlike the Honda and Toyota minivans, the seven-seat Kia/Hyundai has no eighth-seat option.

The Hyundai offers a few different standard features than the Kia; for example, the base Hyundai GLS comes equipped with power rear windows and roof-rack rails. A backseat DVD player will cost you less on the Hyundai than it will on the Kia; you can add one to the base Entourage GLS as part of a $4,850 package that also includes heated side mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter and more. To get a DVD player on the Kia, you must buy the top-of-the-line Sedona EX trim plus all three option packages.

For $5,900 more than the Entourage GLS, the Entourage Limited includes power sliding doors and tailgate, standard backup warning sensors and luxuries like leather seats and chrome door handles. A backseat DVD player adds $2,900 to the Limited, as part of a package that includes a power sunroof.

Reviews say the Kia/Hyundai is powerful and smooth, thanks to a 250-horsepower, 3.8-liter, V6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission with manual mode. But testers criticize the body lean and "vague" steering that make the Kia/Hyundai feel big and heavy. Fuel economy is about the same as most other minivans; the EPA estimates 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined.

ConsumerReports.org provides the most complete expert analysis of the Hyundai Entourage, covering everything from drivability and comfort to fuel economy and safety. Crash-tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety are the basis for the Entourage's top safety scores. The review at CanadianDriver.com is written from an ordinary family's point of view. Relatively brief reviews at Edmunds.com and ConsumerGuide.com are based on testing, while those at Cars.com and Motor Trend are not.