One of the newer cars in our long-term fleet is the 2007 Kia Rondo. It's perfectly efficient and respectable. Decent brakes, potent V6 power, fold-flat seats, good sight lines, handling's just fine, somewhat odd styling. But there's absolutely nothing that is exciting about it...
But that's probably the point. It's a low-priced family wagon that does everything it should. Its target audience will doubtless be very pleased with it and it will probably run forever. And actually, it does have a very nice-sounding stereo. But it leaves me cold. I don't crave the keys. I don't watch the clock, ticking away the hours til the end of the day so I can rock the Rondo. But that's probably what Kia was going for. Efficient, does what it's supposed to. Bland.
Doug Lloyd, Senior Copy Editor, @ 1,525 miles
toyota_f1 says:
12:25 PM, 09/24/07
That comment is great... I bet Kia marketing is working on a campaign right now for "Rock the Rondo" complete with some seminal rock band popular with the kids on tour in a convoy of Rondos. It could incite Rondo-mania!
desmolicious says:
01:53 PM, 09/24/07
All these things could have been achieved with nice styling too, as in the Mazda 5.
estreka says:
02:53 PM, 09/24/07
Why did they bother putting those rear quarter windows in there?
240to850tofit says:
03:49 PM, 09/24/07
Yeah, they should be bigger.
At least Kia hasn't succumbed to Toyota blindness disease (see the FJ Cruiser, Scion xD and xB) by raising the beltline half a foot and/or eliminating the rear quarter windows entirely.
billt9 says:
05:45 PM, 09/24/07
Korea has so many great artists.
Somehow Kia is not keen on hiring them.
jonnyj404 says:
06:33 PM, 09/24/07
I, for some odd reason, like the look of the Rondo, especially the character line that flows right into the rear tail lamps and the protruding rear end. I personally like it better than the Mazda5 in the styling department, as the front end recalls some recent Toyotas (especially the Yaris)...and that's not a good thing.
Overall, this really is just a solid commuter car, and small families will see it as just that. I don't think the target audience is going to be as focused on getting the perfection of the automobile when shopping for a mini-crossover-minivan. They are going to be searching for versatility, room, features, and a low price...all which the Rondo has going for it.
sddoc07 says:
09:34 PM, 09/24/07
"Efficient, does what it's supposed to. Bland = " Toyota right? I think I get Kia/Hyundai's goals now...
actualsize says:
09:24 AM, 09/26/07
Mr. Lloyd, you've found the Rondo's least attractive angle. And I thought I'd seen them all. Those rear quarter-windows aren't worth a nickel.
As for the rock-band that would be feartured in the "Rock the Rondo campaign, I for one vote for the Clash and "Rock the Casbah". The remaining members are old enough to consider selling out...
ateixeira says:
10:25 AM, 09/26/07
That window reminds me a lot of the BMW X3. Coincidence? You make the call.
flipb says:
11:22 AM, 09/26/07
I had the windows tinted on my Rondo, which makes a world of difference in appearance. The Rondo should really come with tinted windows from the factory. The B&C pillars are blacked out, which is usually done with tinted windows to minimize the visual impact of the pillars. Take a look.
It also reduces the heat collected by that huge greenhouse on sunny days, and provides some privacy for anything in the cargo area.
crashtestdingo says:
11:11 PM, 09/26/07
"Should I Stay or Should I Go" has already been used in a Pontiac commercial.