Temperatures in Southern California this weekend were in the 90s and 100s. Hooooowee, that’s hot! Not the best time of year to grab the keys to the big greenhoused long-term Kia Rondo, it turns out. I confirmed that that big space can be hard to cool down...
Up front, we were able to pretend we felt cool by directing the vents so the air hit us directly wherever we could get it. And thankfully for rear-seat passengers, there are rear seat vents, so I felt free to be a front seat vent hog. But all that glass and airy passenger space which makes for great visibility (one of my fave Rondo traits) also makes for a long cool-down time. Additionally, cranking the fan up to high didn’t do much; not a whole lotta power coming out of there. I had to use max A/C most of the time we were in the car.
I’ve seen consumer reviews from RondOwners who suggest that Kia offer tinted windows, and I agree with them 100%. Any car that’s baking in the sun under triple-digit temps is going to be hot hot hot (especially right when you get in it), can’t get around that. But in the sizzling Rondo, I’ll take any little bit of help I can get.
Bryn MacKinnon, Senior Editor, Edmunds.com @ 10,874 miles
phinneas519 says:
04:48 PM, 06/23/08
Relevance aside, I think I'll stick with the breezy, wide-open greenhouse my '81 Yamaha motorcycle is sporting. Just be careful and mind that black leather seat. Ouch!
firstwagon says:
05:03 PM, 06/23/08
I'm just jealous of the heat. Here in British Columbia, we've had the coldest springs in history. Everyone was saying what a great day today was but it only got up to 63 F.
Send some of that heat north!!!!
altimadude00 says:
05:18 PM, 06/23/08
Are there any studies showing the benefits of tinting? Do they really deflect heat, or do they just darken your windows?
carguy622 says:
06:43 PM, 06/23/08
I believe there is a law regarding vehicles that only trucks or SUVs can have factory optioned tinted windows. At least that what I read in the book High and Mighty. The Rondo must be classified as a car, because when I read the book I remember it talking about how they designed the PT Cruiser in such a way to get it classified as a truck and be able to order factory tinted windows.
carfreak8394 says:
09:22 PM, 06/23/08
That's why I like the window feature on my mom's Accord;
Here in Florida, it's in the 90s everyday in the summer, and with the Accord, you just hit the unlock button 2 times and hold, and the windows open.
By the time you get into the car, most of the hot air is out, and the car is much cooler. That shows Honda was thinking when they designed that feature.
vacagrande says:
06:45 AM, 06/24/08
A lot of manufacturers offer a similar feature carfreak - my old '97 Maxima would roll the windows down with the remote and my '04 330i will roll down all four windows and the sunroof. It's very rare in FL not to have your windows tinted - I've never owned a car longer than a week without tinting the windows. It makes a significant and noticeable difference as far as heat levels in the car.
mrryte says:
08:52 AM, 06/24/08
The tint may not make a big difference in terms of interior temps. As long as the vehicle is in direct sunlight, it's gonna be hot in the vehicle regardless of how dark the tint. However; the tint will certainly help to preserve the interior by having less of the sun's UV rays hitting the dash, steering wheel seats and other interior surfaces.
I've seen some vehicles that have spent most of its time in direct sunlight and most of the dash surfaces are dried and cracked.
greenpony says:
10:06 AM, 06/24/08
Each state has different window tint laws. For example, in Illinois you cannot tint the front windows at all (except the very top of the windshield), and the rear windows cannot be tinted more than 50%. Check your state's rules for window tinting.
By the way, isn't "max a/c" supposed to be more efficient, given that the air is recirculated rather than being drawn in from the hot exterior?