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It is very economical for its size and my mileage has ranged from a low of 26mpg (imperial gallons) in the dead of winter to a high recently of 39mpg with my average in the 31 - 32mpg range.
The transmission is smooth and kicks down nicely for passing. The steptronic manual shift availability is terrific (and easy to use) and is a real help in driving in bad winter conditions.
I cannot speak more highly of the combination of the two. Some people have wished it was a 5 speed but so far I can't see the point, unless of course it give improved fuel mileage and not simply just an extra gear.
2008 Rondo EX, 5-seater, 2.4L, Aqua Silver with gray interior
Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada
Love the way it drives, love the better fuel economy over the Sedona van. Love the cargo space. Driving through the mountains recently with the 4 cylinder was a struggle at times, but I'll take the economy over the 6 cylinder. Where I live mountain driving isn't an issue.
If I had to do it all over again, I would buy a 4 cylinder Camry. That is not really an option as even with a hefty down payment I would take such a hit on the trade in that it would not be worth it.
Encapsulating various other posts I've made since taking delivery in October 2007, I have been nothing but impressed with my Rondo LX I-4. Very good mpg (25 mpg average), a very smooth & quiet ride, great visibility, great room/functionality/versatility, about the smoothest braking I've ever experienced.
I had been a bit disappointed in the car's acceleration, but got a little boost in that by switching air filters. The fabric seats do tend to take on stains easily, but I've gotten every stain out, basically USING just water.
One thing I've noticed is that the engine bay tends to gather an inordinate amount of debris/dust. If you are one that isn't so anal, that's a non-issue. But I am fussy and like to keep the engine bays in all my cars clean. There must be something with the front end (lower front end?) design of the car that allows road grit/debris to enter.
That's about it. Love the Rondo!
We cross-shopped a Mazda5 but found it too sparse inside (too cold and uninviting) plus it was not rated to tow at all (so said the owner's manual). But we did like it's 5 speed manual and sporty nature.
The Rondo won out for us, due to it's unbeatable combination of safety features, practicality, efificiency, pleasant exterior (classy even, with our Urban Grey) and so so useful interior.
Emrondo notes that it has no room for his 5 kids AND cargo. He should not have bought a Rondo (or M5 or Dodge Journey) if he needed to carry so many people and cargo. That's what a mini-van is for.
However, the Rondo excels at carrying 2 adults/2 kids/a load of cargo OR 2 adults and 4 or 5 kids without cargo. Example - my wife and I, with our 2 kids, have lots of room for traveling with a load of gear, and on rainy days I can pick up the 2 kids and their 2 friends from school by utilizing the 3rd row seat.
Our Rondo has needed no attention from the dealer - zero, zip, nada. The check engine light was frequent during the 1st month we had the Rondo, but we learned to twist the gas cap 3 clicks, not just 1, and the CEL did not show again.
We have the grey leather, and it wipes clean with just a damp cloth. Great for hauling the kids around.
We love the V6/5sp auto combo (sure wish we could get a manual trans though) and the fuel economy has been exceptional - 33 mpg per Imperial gallon on the highway (with the 4 of us, a load of stuff, and cruise on at 115 km/h). Around town, we consistently get 24-25 mpg Imperial, and could get more if I would stop doing jackrabbit starts...
So far, we have not towed anything, as we have been waiting on a hitch from our dealer for almost 3 months (!). Tow rating is 2,000 lbs with a trailer hitch. Oddly, the European Carens version is rated to tow higher.
We have found that the A/C does not really blow cold, but rather cool, just like our Legacy wagon. I have had to add a piece of carpet to the cargo area, since the grey carpet there is just too light in colour to carry any cargo without risk of staining. And the ABS is too intrusive in the winter, even with our studded winter tires installed.
Overall, we love it and enjoy it. Currently, it has 15,000 kms and is due for it's second oil change any day now. Smooth, really quiet on the highway, decent ride, good handling for a tall car, safe, great warranty, decent price, practical, efficient, organized, flexible, reliable, well-built, comfortable and good-looking.
What else can I say! A much better vehicle than the Mazda 5, I think.
My Kia is the quietest car I've ever owned. Riders I take in it remark especially on that point.
You didn't say specifically where the noise is coming from and at what speeds it happens? There is procedures in your warranty manual to follow if you are not happy with the results from your dealer.
As this forum is poor for info we don't know whether you are in the US or Canada?
I think they are "cracked" if they say the noise is designed into the vehicle. Makes no sense to me either. Also if they are saying this, exactly what specific thing are they referring too?
I should also add that I am on a few forums and this is the first reference to this problem I've come across.
2008 Rondo EX 2.4L
Ontario, Canada
Happy new purchasers of a Kia Rondo. (You can see my other post on the "buying experienc" board.
BUT... there is a wind noise coming from both the driver's and passenger's side windows, audible at speeds > 50 mph (and sometime less).
I took it into the dealer and they said, unfortunately, that it is typical. I had rented a Rondo that did not exhibit this problem so I challenged them to take me on a test drive of a Rondo that was sitting on their sales lot. It ALSO had this issue.
I wonder how many customers need to speak up before Kia takes action? The service tech told me that Kia would not ever do a recall unless it was forced to, so they are probably "laying low" and hoping it will fade away.
This is not a deal killer for me...I still like the Kia. But it does mean that the radio will need to be on when I'm on the highway. :-(
Some auto writer reviews of the Rondo that I have read have stated that there is more than average "wind rush" noise from the side windows. I actually listened for it on my test drive, but didn't really detect it. Perhaps I am not noticing because the Rondo generally drives so much more quietly than my Vibe and Miata......
Now, I gots ta ask: Do those of you with wind noise issues have your crossbars mounted on your racks? I do not.
Any of you with whisper-quiet ones using the crossbars?
The reason I ask is I have had two vehicles that made just obnoxious noises when the crossbars were mounted. With our '05 Sedona, there was a certain spacing or position of the bars that was very quiet, and some made it noisier then a small jet. Took some playing around.
There will be no "recall" on noise issues like this because recalls are for SAFETY issues! They issue recalls when parts fail or fall off or systems act out in ways that cause accidents, or could. Otherwise you have a quality issue, and that may or may not fall under warranty. My bet is it will not since there is no claim made about noise levels.
Yes, I know, there are claims made about fuel economy and we all know there are vehicles that don't meet these claims. BUT - the manufacturer boldly advertises and boldly claims that some drivers may NOT get this economy and some vehicles under some conditions may not as well.
We took a vacation two wks ago and rented a 2008 Town and Country with crossbars (but did not actually use the rack). Now that was a vehicle whose crossbars made an annoying noise!
Thank you for the tip. I will let you know how it turns out.
Have you been able to eliminate the noise? Did you remove the crossbars?
This just might be a design flaw. In recent weeks, I rented a Sedona and that one's window noise was also bad. Our neighbor tells us their Spectrum (or whatever the little car is called) "leaks" on the highway too.
I think part of the thing here depends what kind of car you currently drive---we have a Toyota that is really quiet and our Rondo is annoying by comparison. So, if you are used to a truck, then the Rondo is fine. OR...it could be that only some Rondos have this problem.
The car is whisper quiet at lower speeds. I suggest any prospective buyer should really test it out thoroughly on the highway before deciding on this car.
My 91 Civic Si was maddenly loud on the highway, the Mitsu was fairly quiet, the Legacy (a wagon) was fairly quiet, but the Rondo is really quiet.
I guess, like you say, it is a matter of "some Rondos have this problem". The 07 Caravan I test drove was quite loud at speed, and the 07 Mazda 5 was a bit noisy too. But a friend's M5 is almost as quiet as the Rondo, and I have ridden in fairly quiet Caravans.
Maybe it is a difference between a 4 cyl/4 speed Rondo versus a 6 cyl/5 speed Rondo? Mine is the V6 with 5 speed.
..takes too long to warmup/cooldown, and doesn't really get cold on v hot days or toasty warm on v cold days.
i have a 04 sienna minivan (with a much larger interior) that is much better than my rondo wrt warmup/cooldown.
mark
I haven't had to use the a/c as much as people in some of these southern hot locations but from what I've used it functions very well. Also the controls to operate these feature are easy to use and straight forward. I've just recently had all the windows tinted which will help in this area too.
Are you still loving your Kia Rondo? Planning on any new car purchases in the near future at all?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I really like the large dead pedal for my left foot, best on any car I have owned. I also like the gas filler button being on the driver's door rather than buried low under the dash. Overall layout of the controls is good, everything in ez reach. Only thing lacking is front seat oversized cup holders that can handle a large insulated cup, but most cars have that problem.
The Rondo is great, its just turned over 30,000 km and I've owned it for nearly 20 months, so no plans for any changes for a long time to come. Will be taking it on a 14,000 km trip in less than two weeks.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Thanks,
Greg
I won't say that the car is absolutely quiet and noiseless as some people state. Don't get me wrong, the car is very quiet, but you can definitely hear the engine working leaving from a stop, even at mild acceleration. It's not a luxury car after all.
So far, we've been quite happy with the car. The ride is comfortable, it has tons of space and features. Nothing to complain about.
We just put up with it. It didn't happen all the time, only for rain. The next one was from the next generation, no noise.
I think with the Rondo, they did not test for wind noise. Maybe next time, they will
Sorry, but my '07 LX is as quiet a car as I have ever owned (and many of those were new ones). If there is a strong crosswind while driving at highway speeds, some wind noise occurs, but not enough to drive one to distraction.
IMHO, for a $16K car, the Rondo is smooth, quiet and relatively refined. Just turned 21K miles, and yesterday remarked to my bride that the car is the very best investment in a car I've made...ever! Averaging 26 all-purpose mpg now; it fits my band gear; and never back to the dealer for any reason, over 2 years.
As long as it hasn't got harpies, I wouldn't mind. I am more concerned about the darn headrest that bops me right at the part of my head that sticks out farthest.
We have an 07 V6. Our rear bank's coil went bad in Feb 2009 with less than 35,000 kms. The dealer had not seen a bad Rondo coil before and hoped to take one from a V6 Magentis (Optima in the US) which they had on their lot but they were slightly different. So one was ordered from Kia (probably all the way from Korea). It took a week to arrive and just a morning to install. All warranty, of course. Our dealer supplied a loaner for the entire period.
The problem did not occur again. The Rondo now has over 60,000 km and has been fantastically reliable.
Also have had the dealer replace both headlights that have burned out this year and had them fix some marker lights on the front that were out.
The Rondo has been a decent vehicle. I wouldn't buy one again though. I'm not in a car buying mood, so I might be driving this vehicle for a long time. I'm planing on having the 90,000 mile service done at another dealer that I trust more than the Kia dealer. They do it for about 1/2 the cost that Kia charges.
I'd buy another one if I could and wouldn't bother to shop for any other vehicle. I've never had a single problem; have never been back to the dealer for anything. The vehicle has 41K miles on it, consistently gets 23-26 mpg per tankful (29-30 mpg on longer trips), carries/fits all my heavy musical band gear, and rides quitely and comfortably.
We lost our 2007 EX V6 in an accident in March, and purchased a 2011 EX V6 to replace it. We liked the 07 so much, that when it came time to car shop again, the only real choice for my family was another Rondo.
Between the problems with the dealer service department, getting parts, all of the non-maintenance related issues (which they keep trying to tell me everything is maintenance related but I can't figure out what an airbag issue or A/C clutch has to do w/routine maintenance), problems with O2 sensors, etc. I'm very sour on KIA right now and would never buy another one.
I'm curious, though, if these are things other people are seeing too?
Gotta tell you, I had to say "wow" reading your post. If that's been the complete list of "issues" you've had with a 4 year old car after 72,000 miles, (and IMHO it really sounds mostly like a matter with a single dealer's service dept.,) and you really feel you'll never buy Kia again because of it, well, good luck with another maker, my friend.
I can give you at least a half dozen stories/examples of new cars I've owned where the littany of issues, and problem dealings with dealers, would make your case seem trivial. These were with Chevys, Fords, Nissans, Dodges, Subarus, all with less than 30K miles on them. Issues with brakes, motor mounts, O2s, suspensions, fuel injection, rear ends, transmissions, tire pressure sensors, electrical systems, and so on.
I love this car and I just hope someone is making a similar model the next time I have to buy. It is just the right size for us, has great cargo room for our needs, the short driver (me) sits "high" in the car, I can see very well out of all the windows---I hate the narrow rear windows in almost every car these days. The only thing I would like to see improved is the gas mileage.
I need the vehicle for hauling my band's gear, and have been anxiety ridden since Kia announced no new Rondos in the USA after 2010. There simply isn't a car right that can do what the Rondo does for me, at its price, with its mpg, and with the 70+ cu. ft. of FLAT floor cargo space. Jeep Compass comes closest, again at a decent price.
Recall Date:
JAN 17, 2012
Model Affected:
2007 Kia Rondo
Summary:
KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. (KIA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 KIA OPTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 29, 2005, THROUGH JANUARY 29, 2008, AND MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 KIA RONDO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 13, 2006, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2008. THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) MAY BECOME DAMAGED THROUGH USAGE OVER TIME. IF THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY BECOMES DAMAGED, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WILL EXPERIENCE A HIGH RESISTANCE CONDITION POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG TO NOT DEPLOY.
Consequences:
IF THE CLOCK SPRING DEVELOPS HIGH RESISTANCE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.
Remedy:
KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
Potential Units Affected:
145755
Notes:
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION