#1 Cochran Automotive

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Driving Impressions

While some people disdain minivans as being less appealing than a big truck-based SUV this involves a moderate amount of delusion. Those people haven't driven a modern minivan.

The Entourage is a lovely highway cruiser, quiet and stable. It handles rough surfaces well, which is a good plan for a vehicle intended as a people carrier not a sports sedan.

But a particularly deep pothole sends a quiver through the body that suggests the structure isn't as solid as it could be. Driving the Honda Odyssey on the same roads shows it has a better structure. On the other hand, the Odyssey does not ride as comfortably.

Like most modern minivans, the Entourage is front-wheel drive and with all the serious mechanical pieces up front that puts a lot of weight in the nose. That contributes to the locked-down and reassuring feeling on the interstate. But it also means the Entourage pauses a bit when asked to change direction and head into a turn.

This isn't a problem but it doesn't feel as crisp and quick to turn as the Honda Odyssey. However, most adults eventually realize that nothing is free and the downside to the Odyssey's quicker reflexes is the less-comfortable ride.

Like its competitors, the Entourage has a V6 engine. It is a 3.8-liter rated at 242 horsepower and it uses a five-speed automatic transmission. Five-speed automatics are becoming more common and done thoughtfully they are a good thing. The reason is that the extra gear makes it possible to have improved fuel economy as well as better acceleration.

The Entourage's five-speed automatic can also be shifted manually by tapping the gear shift lever. This would be most helpful in mountain driving when the driver could easily shift to a lower gear helping to slow the vehicle. But it also opens the door to the driver who from time to time simply enjoys working through the gears.

The Entourage's powertrain is capable and handled a load of luggage, two adults and two small children without trouble whether traveling a mountain road or cruising the New York State Thruway. But it isn't quite as smooth as the 244-hp 3.5 liter V6 used in the Honda Odyssey, which comes with a five-speed automatic that seemed quicker to respond when the driver hits the gas.

During about 300 miles of highway cruising with an Entourage and an Odyssey at a steady 65 miles per hour the Honda got significantly better fuel economy. The Odyssey got 26.3 mpg compared to 24.5 mpg in the Entourage. Both use 87 octane fuel.

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