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. Next Page