When you look at a crowd of people, you’ll notice that there will always be someone who stands out. It’s the same thing with cars. There will always be one that will stick out and will be noticed for its excellence. Well, that is exactly what the Hyundai Entourage has proven. This outstanding minivan has been noticed for its superior performance and advantages for the family. This minivan was chosen as the Best Family of the Year.

Read on for you to know how that happened.

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

 

May 19, 2009 — FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — 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.

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The lineup of awardees for Mother Proof Awards is not over yet. This entry is the third and last part so, just read on!

2008 Chevy Malibu
Every family could use a sedan once in a while. Mother Proof selected the 2008 Chevy Malibu as the Best Family Vehicle in the sedan category.  Its maker even labeled it as “The Car You Can’t Ignore”. It has some truth in it because as you can see, the Malibu is sleek and sophisticated in looks and performance. The interior is an amazing mixture of two-tone upholstery with laminated front windows. For a sedan, the 2008 Chevy Malibu offers generous amount of legroom for rear passengers.

There are four trims available for this vehicle – the LS, 1LT, 2LT, and the LTZ. Except for the LTZ, the other trims come with standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 169 horsepower and 160 pound-feet of torque. A 3.6-liter V6 with 252 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque is standard on the LTZ, while the same is optional on the 2LT. This engine is matched with a 6-speed automatic with manual shift control. The LTZ engine will come with four-cylinder engine matched to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Cruising in this car is relatively safe since it’s equipped with antilock disc brakes, front-seat airbags, traction control, and side curtain airbags. Because of the safety features included in the Chevy Malibu, it scored “Good” rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for frontal offset crash test.

2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
This vehicle is an attractive sport utility vehicle that is easy to drive in the city streets. In fact, it merited a decent EPA rating of 26 mpg in the city. The 2008 version has 4 inches longer and 3 inches wider. This expansion means there is bigger room for passengers and cargo. Powering it up is a 3.3-liter V6 engine with high-torque electric drive motor generators to produce 270 cumulative horsepower. Its maker improved the suspension to accommodate 19-inch wheels for a more enjoyable drive. This vehicle comes in an all-wheel drive form with only the Limited trim available.

This is another perfect vehicle for families because its roomy interior can accommodate 7 passengers. Three rows of seats will surely provide ample comfort to adults and children alike. A special feature in the second row seat is the Center Stow seat that can be converted to a center console or even stow away to create separate captain’s seat. 

The 2008 Toyota Highland Hybrid is the perfect car for transporting a bunch of kids anywhere, anytime.

2008 Dodge Grand Caravan
No one can doubt the excellence of this vehicle. It presents a sleek exterior that attracts admiring glances along the way. It is designed with shorter length between wheels, thinner pillars, bigger side mirrors, and lower side windows. This vehicle’s interior is just as excellent with newly-designed instrument panel with the shift strategically located amidst it. Another great highlight is the ambient halo lighting which gives off a soft glow from the overhead console. Also available are the premium Sliding Center Floor Console with power outlet.

It’s power comes from the All-New, class-exclusive 4.0-liter single overhead camshaft (SOHC) aluminum V6 engine with 251 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque. It’s also available with two other types of engine – 3.8 OHV V6 and 3.3 OHV Flex-fuel V6 engine.

Well, this is the final entry in the three-part post regarding Mother Proof’s choice of the Best Family Vehicles for 2008. Referring to this list could help you find the most suitable vehicle for your family.

Photo Credit: EGM Cartech, All World Cars, Autospectator

This entry is a continuation of the list of vehicles that became recipients of the Mother Proof Awards. Coming second to the 2008 Chrysler Town and Country is the 2008 Hyundai Veracruz.

2008 Hyundai Veracruz
No, it’s not a minivan rather; it is an SUV/Crossover. This is a very stylish vehicle with smoothly flowing lines in front and at the back. Even its profile shows sleek lines and aerodynamic design. One thing you’ll notice about its exterior is the roof rack which is a big advantage especially if you need to lug lots of baggage around. A more subtle feature here is the front window solar control glass, fog lights, heated dual power mirrors with LED side repeaters. For its interior, the Hyundai Veracruz has leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob for an easy grip. Entertainment is excellent with the Infinity Logic 7 AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3/6-disc changer surround sound system with 10 premium Infinity speakers. It has three rows of seats to accommodate passengers comfortably.

Excellent road performance is provided by the 2008 Hyundai Veracruz through its 3.8L, all-aluminum V6 engine with 260 hp and 257 lb-ft of torque. This engine is matched by a Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and Variable Intake System (VIS) for achieving up to 23 MPG on the highway and 16 MPG in the city. This vehicle’s superb road performance is balanced through the safety features installed. This vehicle has antilock brake system with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution and brake assist.

2008 Mazda CX-7
This vehicle is the perfect vehicle for families because of its ample space and great performance. This is a mid-size, five-passenger Crossover SUV. Sporty handling is a sure thing thanks to the turbocharged four-cylinder engine matched by a six-speed automatic transmission. Through this engine, driving along twisted roads is smooth and effortless. Steering is easy and convenient with the sporty-looking steering wheel.

The 2008 Mazda CX-7 is also available in three trims – Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. Each of these trims has unique features that set them apart. So, customers have to know which one would be the best unit for their family’s needs.

2008 Volvo XC70
This vehicle is a wagon, but not a typical wagon. It’s redesigned to have a bit of SUV flavor in its style. It has raised suspension and is 2 inches longer in wheelbase and is 4 inches longer overall. It is equipped with a 3.2-liter inline 6-cylinder engine that can produce as much as 235 horsepower. The only transmission available is a 6-speed automatic. Families will be extremely safe riding in this vehicle because it has ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. A highlight in this model’s features is the Blind Spot Information System and optional integrated child booster seats. Navigation system is likewise available as an option.

Photo Credit: New Yok Automall, Autospectator, Automotive