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Comments
The Rondo has regular rear doors vs the 5 which has sliding. Each have their advantages. Sliding is much beetter in tight spaces and the upper level 5 has power closing side doors which are nice. My experience is that sliding doors are less reliable over time whereas you rarely have any issues with traditional doors.
You should check out a Rondo before buying. Both vehicles are good value so I think it is really a style preference. I loved the 5 but it was just too tight for me in the front driver and, especially, passenger seat. The Rondo is much roomier up front.
I am just debating which engine and may wait a few months to see if there are any initial quality concerns.
I don't need the loan but will take it anyway just to get the $750. And I'll make a profit on the loan to the tune of $130/yr (even after income tax) since my MMA pays 5%,
The space you are talking about is called a "dead pedal". It is a place to rest your left foot while driving. It does not get im my way and I love it as a feature.
Today, I saw at least five times! On FSN, the weather channel, and on another channel I don't remember.
It seems that there are at least two versions. In both, rainbows are following a rondo, and people are cheering. But they have different points. Safety, V6, space, and the like. (One common thing was about steering like a car.)
I think the commercials are hilarious.
I seen the SX too. Speaking of looks, I like the shape a lot; however, I still think the Kia Multi-S looked the best, but I'll manage. I guess that is as close as it gets to the actual concept. Man, if only the Rondo had the Mutli-s's head lights (I guess Hyundai didn't want Rondo's face to look just as upscale as the new Sante-Fe). That Multi-S is one hell of a design.
About the Rondo, and colors...
Upon getting a Rondo I definitely would go with black cherry, I think it's called. It's a black with a dark red tinge. I don't believe it comes in a pure black, if U know what I mean.
I've seen both adverts for it on cable. It's a very smart looking machine, I agree!
Cheers...
Peace! :shades:
My one quibble about the Rondo is that it has no privacy cover for the cargo space when the third row is down. I was thinking of making a makeshift privacy cover out of a large sheet of cardboard or plastic (and painting it to match the interior). I might be just paranoid, but theft from cars is a problem where I live.
Edmunds (of course)
Family Car
Autoweb
Auto123.com
Car & Driver
Associated Press (Ann M. Job)
Motor Trend - Was in the running for 2007 Motor Trend Car of the Year
National Post Canadian national newspaper
Victoria Times Colonist
Toronto Globe & Mail Talks a bit about Kia's below-average reliability history
Toronto Star
Toronto Sun
Winnipeg Free Press
Motoring 2007 A TV show on TSN in Canada, watch the video review
The all-important (some might say self-important) Consumer Reports hasn't done a comprehensive review of the Rondo yet.
Canadian Driver
Rondo
Re: Consumer Reports...I'm a subscriber and I read their auto reviews and I find SOME value in them... but I wouldn't say CR does comprehensive auto reviews! They aren't as detailed as many other sources.
Still debating between the 4 and 6 cyl, for the 7 seater. There seems to be no consistent advice on which is preferable or even what distinguishes the two. The 4 seems to be a newer design that will cost less to maintain and fuel. Th 6 has slightly more power and torque and may be smoother and quieter with the 5 speed tranny. Of course I haven't driven either yet
...but I like to know exactly what I want before I go in to buy so I don't make a rash decision I end up regretting.
Oddly the base Santa Fe gets a 4 speed with the 2.7 Mu engine whereas the Rondo gets a 5 speed with the same engine.
Clearly Hyundai/Kia just enjoys messing with my mind. :confuse:
+ MPG of 4cyl is highest among this same group I could find except hybrids
+ great warranty
+ all the important safety features
+ drives basically like a car, inline 4cyl engine is *very* peppy
+ doesn't look too much like a van or a wagon, reminds me of a small European minivan/suv cross (which makes sense since it was sold in Europe first)
+ nice interior, very quiet, no rattling, etc.
+ overall well designed, lots of A/C & heat vents, cupholders, storage areas, etc.
- not a ton of space, obviously. We have a large dog and a kid on the way, and plan to put the dog in the 3rd row and the kid (and any later kids) in the middle row, and get a roof cargo box for the gear when we take long trips. I think there's definitely enough room for 2 kids + gear if you fold the 3rd row. We ended up going with the Rondo because we take long trips (long = more than 1 day and bring the dog) maybe 4 times a year, and it seems silly to pay another $7-10K for a vehicle that has at best 20 more ft^3 of cargo space (i.e., the Saturn Outlook) plus pay the extra gas for a bigger car if its really only needed once in a while... instead we will put the cargo box on only when its needed. For us it'd even be cheaper than buying a bigger car to just rent a bigger car the few times we need one... it depends how often you need a truly minivan or large-SUV sized car I guess.
- depreciation! if you sell/trade it in within 4-5 years, you'll be lucky to break even, but if you have the money to get new cars ever 2-3 years, you probably aren't looking at a Rondo.
- Kia has an average reputation on reliability, but they are aware of this and have been getting better since Hyundai bought them, and the long warranty is insurance against any trouble. So, I think they are undervalued, which in the investment world means buy, but others probably disagree.
- MPG is pretty good (still on first tank so no personal experience year, expect 25-30 based on sticker), but not spectacular (I'm used to 30-36 w/ my Saturn SL1). Now that gas is heading toward $3 again, maybe get a used car for a few years and wait until some more "alternative" fuel cars are in production... I'm guessing this will take at least 5-7 years though, so to me buying new seems a much better idea now than buying new in 2010-2012 will be.
- no AWD. It does have ESC, EBD, and ABS, and to me stopping & turning are more important than accelerating, and AWD lowers MPG
- no daytime running lights, so be aware of when its not bright out and turn your low beams on, the benefit of this is you get rear lights on too unlike w/ DRLs.
I guess thats about it, maybe this is a little slanted since I ended up getting a Rondo, but those are the pros/cons I weighed before getting one.
I'm still undecided on what to buy. I have a 2001 Camry and LOVE the smoothness of the ride and great V6 pickup! However, I would like to trade it in for something with more cargo space. I like the Matrix, but am not impressed with it's 4-cyl. engine. Also, it just doesn't seem comfortable.
Thanks again, I hope to get something soon!
Also Canadian specs list the Rondo as having traction control (TCS) along with stability control (ESC). In this class of vehicle, TCS is generally accomplished via braking and engine management (cutting power) and is a sub-set of ECS. Do US models truly lack TCS or is this just not advertised.
Thanks.
Voyager (I had the Caravan), not so close IMHO.
http://kiapartspeople.com/SearchProduct.asp?Model=Rondo&catid=3374648381583243&y- ear=07&productdesc=Cargo+Cover
Just like to point out that you can turn the lights on (parking lights or driving lights) and leave them on all the time if you like DRLs. Yes, the rear lights will light up also. The lights will only work with the key in the ignition, so the lights will turn off automatically when you exit the car and back on again when you start it up again.
C&D Feb 07 Rondo Review
BTW, with respect to TCS on US cars, some sites say yes, some no. Still wondering.
I do not own a Rondo, but as I plan on purchasing a new vehicle in the near future (it will be our first new one in 35 years) I am doing my ground work in preparation.
The vehicles that I am considering are the Matrix, CR-V, Element, Santa Fe and now the Rondo. I have downloaded the Rondo owners manual from the Canadian Kia site (you can find out a lot about a vehicle from reading one) and became even more interested in it when you can appreciate a lot of the "thought" that has gone into this vehicle and things that no one seems to have mentioned and would be of interest to anyone, like myself looking into this vehicle. Some of them are: (based on the Canadian EX 5 seater version)
• fuel filler lid opener on the drivers door (instead of the typical release on the floor)
• windshield de-icer (wires at the base of windshield behind the wipers)
• heat ducts at the rear of the centre console
• heat ducts under the front seats for the rear passengers feet
• heated exterior mirrors
• passengers seat that lies flat with rear seat cushion allowing you to put 8' items in
• illuminating ignition keyhole
• battery saver function
• large under floor rear storage (on 5 passenger model)
• 8 cup holders
• heated front seats
• auto off headlights
• fog lights
• 2 dome lights plus map and luggage light
• double level storage console
• sunglass holder
• 2 power outlets
• shopping bag holder on passengers side
• audio remote control on steering wheel
• 1400 lb vehicle weight capacity (CRV is only 860 and the Element only 675)
• a removable towing hook
• inner fuse panel easily accessible at the drivers end of the dash
• same wheelbase as the Santa Fe
• anti-whiplash front headrests
• standard alloy wheels
Plus the more obvious standard features. However, there was a couple of things that struck me as odd and that is they still have ashtrays and no MP3 player or auxiliary plug in (according to the people I talked to at the Toronto Auto Show, this is being looked into).
I have created a spreadsheet to compare feature of vehicles and also take lots of pictures which I find very helpful to compare side by side on my computer. I find the vehicle very good value in comparison to its competition, just not as high profile brand as some of the others, but I hope some of this information maybe helpful to anyone reading comments about this vehicle.
I was just talking with another Canadian on a different Rondo forum and appearently he loves the Light Almond Beige color of mine because he can't get it in Canada.
I do also. Took mine from my registration on my PT Cruiser.
Okay, I admit I'm not the world's best at parallel parking and this could all be just me, so keep that in mind. This has nothing to do with the length of the Rondo, obviously, since it's relatively compact already. What I've noticed is that when backing into a parking spot, I can't see the front end or the hood of the vehicle parked behind me because the Rondo's rear window is up so high. I've already lightly bumped a vehicle because of this "blind spot."
Anybody else have the same problem? Or is it that I just don't have a feel for the vehicle yet?
http://www.mobilevideo4less.com/cameras.html
Can't remember when I last had to parallel park, must be years. The rear Rondo window is high. You'll have to use your outside mirrors and hope the car behind is wider than your Rondo but it would still be hard to judge the distance using the mirrors. No other choice except the camera.