Hyundai is dropping one of their entourage: the Entourage minivan, that is. Sales were slow, with 17,000 units a year at its peak, and the minivan market has been slumping for years.

Our feelings are a bit mixed on this news. Too many people shun minivans because of their “soccer mom” image, even though a minivan is the most efficient and cost-effective way to carry a large family comfortably.

On the other hand, the pleasant Entourage didn’t quite measure up to the class-leaders--the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey--in handling or fuel-economy. (In typical Hyundai fashion, it did undercut them in price.) The biggest concern: reliability has been well below average in our 2008 Car Reliability Survey.

But don’t fear--if you still want an Entourage, you can buy a Kia Sedona. It’s identical, save for fascia styling and interior details. Kia, the “sporty brand” in the Kia/Hyundai corporate umbrella, keeps their minivan while practical Hyundai moves on to focus on cars and crossovers.

--Tom Mutchler