When I was a kid my dad always said "You've got to use the right tool for the right job." Turns out screwdrivers don't make very good weed diggers or gasket scrapers. I admit it, he was right.
The Kia Rondo is like one of those screwdrivers I regularly abused, it doesn't work for everything. However, find a nice big standard screw and that wood handled driver works perfectly...
Is the Rondo sporty or luxurious or attractive? No, no and double no - witness its sparse interior. But as a low priced family hauler the Rondo is great. For that specific job, it is the right tool. A spacious interior and decent driving dynamics are clear pluses.
Brian Moody, Road Test Editor
canadaphant says:
02:29 PM, 03/25/08
I still wish you guys had grabbed a Mazda5 instead. They are supposedly offering it with a 5 spd AND leather this year in Canada.
bgw says:
04:12 PM, 03/25/08
I'm glad they "grabbed" a Rondo - I bought one instead of a Mazda5.
Sparse interior? Huh? Brian Moody, what makes a vehicle luxurious, in your opinion? The Rondo (mine, anyway) has leather, 8-way power driver's seat, auto climate control, killer stereo, power windows/locks/ mirrors, remote lock/unlock, remote start, power sunroof, cruise, tilt wheel, alarm system, deep tinted glass, middle row seats that slide and recline, trip computer, and more. Geez, that's pretty luxurious to me. And the materials are quite good quality, with a nice texture and are nice to the touch, with great fit and finish.
Sporty? Competent maybe, but it isn't a sports car, nor is it trying to be.
Attractive? I for one think so.
I agree that it a great low priced family hauler, but also one that is attractive (especially in Urban Grey) and luxurious.
briancam says:
05:27 PM, 03/25/08
I'll stick with my original statement - the Kia Rondo does what it's designed to do and it does it well. It's a great budget family hauler, no more.
louiswei says:
05:40 PM, 03/25/08
Amen brother. Rondo was designed to be a low priced family hauler and it does that well. Kudos to Kia.
cx7lover says:
05:46 AM, 03/26/08
The Mazda 5 is way too lethargic, and the interior is cheaper than that of the Rondo.
altimadude00 says:
07:05 AM, 03/26/08
My brother has a perfect garage. He has a 10 year old Protoge w/5-spd for a commuter, a Chevy Venture for hauling the family and making runs to the hardware store (or IKEA), and an '05 Mustang V8 w/man.
This Kia does it's role as family hauler well as the modern minivan. If you want economy or sportiness, fill your garage as my brother has done and you will have no complaints.
cx7lover says:
10:27 AM, 03/26/08
Yeah and if I want to kill myself and my kids I would pick up one of those minivans as well.
bimmerjay says:
10:30 AM, 03/26/08
bgw,
Power windows/locks/mirrors, tilt wheel, keyless entry... are you serious? Practically every new car on the market has almost every feature you mentioned, with some (leather, climate) being options on sub-$25k cars. How exactly are those "luxury" features when they're extremely common?
altimadude00 says:
01:58 PM, 03/26/08
Crash worthiness notwithstanding, a van or the Kia is one of the better alternatives to move the family around.
canadaphant says:
10:46 AM, 03/28/08
Don't be criticizing the safety of a Rondo-or the Mazda5, for that matter. They both have essentially perfect crash test ratings (5 stars in almost every category, and the Mazda got 6 stars from J-NCAP)
cx7lover says:
10:14 PM, 03/31/08
What in the world are you talking about? ^
sagis9 says:
12:32 PM, 05/19/08
If you are a tall person ( more than 6 feet) try to sit in the mazda 5, and you'll see why Rondo was my choice between the 2. It's amazing how low the ceiling is on the 5, and how crowded the 2nd row seats are. Who ever designed that vehicle was a short person :)