2007 Kia Rondo
Test drove: 6/21/2007 to 7/01/2007
‘Crossover’ Suffers From Identity Crisis
My son has been on a “What do I want to be when I grow up?” bender lately. Every day he finds at least 25 new things he considers fair game for career options. These have ranged from police officer to trash guy to bird (yes, bird – as in the flying variety) one day, cyclist to pharmacist to chemist the next. As long as he’s happy, right? Well, the 2007 Kia Rondo is having the same crisis.
Kia says the Rondo is an all-new crossover with flexible seating capabilities, and I read on our company-family website, Cars.com, that it’s a “compact minivan.” I was quite excited to see how a smaller car would accomplish summer tasks with my family, but after driving it about 5 minutes I discovered that the only flexible thing about the seating in my test car was that it could accommodate either one or two kids in car seats. There was no way in the world (or elsewhere, ahem) that more than that would fit. My test Rondo didn’t have the optional third row, and the second row was very slender. No carpooling to the zoo in the Rondo for me — so much for flexible. Unlike the Mazda5, there is no sliding door option on the Rondo. I guess the car doesn’t want to be a minivan when it grows up.
The most flexible thing about the Rondo is its storage space. It has plenty of consoles, nooks, crannies, cupholders and bins, but, unfortunately, none of them are in the backseat. There are some cupholders very inconveniently placed on the back of the center console, on the floor, where no child could possibly reach them while strapped in a car seat. I also cringed when I discovered there was no fold-down armrest in the center. This usually serves as a dividing line between my children. I guess the Rondo won’t be a referee when it grows up, either. There are some more cupholders in the back cargo area that would be great in the event of a third row, but in my case they just seemed to just rub my face in the fact that I was lacking one.
The cargo area has nifty under-floor storage bins that I used to house dirty shoes and water bottles that like to roll around in a traditional trunk. Who doesn’t love that? Also, the cargo area was large enough to house even the most cumbersome of strollers, as well as a massive load of clothes and toys going to Goodwill.
The Rondo also had plenty of legroom for us. The kids were comfortable in the back, even with my main squeeze in the front seat. The doors are tall, and I didn’t whack my head once getting my daughter buckled up. The cockpit is also nice: It’s not too big, the dash flows nicely and everything is very well-organized, comfortable and easy to use. I kept trying to figure out who the best owner of such a car would be. Maybe retirees who like to go antiquing? The tall windows do give a great view of everything around you — maybe the Rondo will be a fishbowl (all together now) when it grows up.
One thing I do know is that the Rondo will be a Spanish-speaking car. In our house, no one could say the car’s name without rolling the “R” and stretching out the “O” at the end: “Rrrrrrrrondoooooo!” This added an element of fun and character missing in the car itself. I am convinced the folks at Kia started out with a good idea but wound up with a product that isn’t ready to make any life decisions yet. Who knows, maybe a future generation of the Rondo will decide to be the flexible crossover Kia claims it is.
*For more information on the Kia Rondo and its safety features, visit Cars.com. With questions or comments regarding this review write to editor@motherproof.com.
LET’S TALK NUMBERS
Latch Connectors: 2
Seating Capacity (includes driver): 5
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Galore
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair — Galore
SENSE AND STYLE
Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair – Great
Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Some
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| 2007 Kia Rondo EX | |
| Base price: | $19,195 |
| Price as tested: | $20,995 |
| Engine: | 162-hp, 2.4-liter I-4 |
| Fuel: | 21/29 mpg |
| Length: | 179.0” |
| Width: | 71.7 |
| Ground clearance: | 6.1” |
| Cargo space: | 35.0/74.4 cu. ft. |
| NHTSA Crash-Test Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Frontal Impact | |
| Driver’s side: | 5 Stars |
| Passenger’s side: | 5 Stars |
| Side Impact | |
| Front occupant: | 5 Stars |
| Rear occupant: | 4 Stars |
| Rollover resistance: | 4 Stars |
Comments
Wow, $21K for the four-banger and no third row. Kind-of pricey. The Mazda5 with three rows starts out two grand lower than that.
Posted by: cody | Jul 16, 2007 3:44:31 AM
A Rondo LX 4cyl with 3 rows starts for just over $19k US, comparable to the Mazda5 but with ESC. The Rondo is a little bigger inside than the Mazda, 107 vs. 98 cubic feet. Bang for the buck, though, the Kia Sedona short wheelbase version can be had for not much more money.
I have the Mazda5, primarily for commuting, but occasionally stuff the wife and 3 kids in car seats.
Posted by: starlightmica | Jul 16, 2007 9:42:00 AM
I love my Mazda5. So roomy yet compact. Tons of standard features at an amazing price. The Rondo is just too ugly. Is Kia reliable?
Posted by: HomeExchanger | Jul 20, 2007 8:46:26 AM
Have looked at and driven a 7 passenger V6 Rondo and also the Mazda5.I think both are good choices. The Mazda drives a little better but the Kia seems to have much more room. I like the dash and ergo's of the Kia better and the materials seem to be better than the Mazda. The exterior of the Mazda looks way cooler. The Kia is just slightly odd looking but I don't mind it that much. Having two older kids and an extra friend or 2 at times, the Kia seems to be a better fit. Also living in Texas not having rear AC vents on the Mazda and only a black interior makes the little Mazda an oven for the third row. The Kia at least has second row vents. Also there are no outboard armrest for the middle row on the Mazda and on the passenger seat there is only an outboard arm rest. While it does no sound like a big deal it really annoyed me for some reason. I think if I was going to buy today the Kia would be it, but I have not made a finally decision.
Posted by: Justlooking | Jul 26, 2007 2:00:37 PM
We chose the Rondo over the Mazda5, which is just too underpowered and noisy for our family of five. In fact, after searching several local dealers for the right combination, we went back to the Kia dealer where we bought our Sedona in 2004, got a great deal and bought a Volcanic Red Rondo EX with tan leather interior sight unseen. What a nice-looking car inside and out. It puts the plain, black interior of the Mazda5 to shame, and if the Rondo is anything like our Sedona was for three years, it will be a very enjoyable time with it.
As for this reviewer, what would you suspect when you give a 4-cylinder with no third row to a family to review? Absolutely useless drivel.
Posted by: Sportsguy | Aug 20, 2007 11:58:08 AM
Easy now! I loved the Toyota RAV-4, as well as the Nissan Versa and the Hyundai Elantra. All of which are 4-cylinders.
Posted by: Sara Lacey | Sep 11, 2007 9:19:11 PM
I just came from the Chicago auto show this weekend and looked at both of these cars. My choice would be the Kia also. The second seat was roomier and yes has ac/heat vents. The 3rd row is a must and the V6 with a 3rd row and all the bells and whistles (leather heated seats... oh we are in chicago) can be had for less than 25k. 25k is the MSRP but a smart shopper knows you don't pay MSRP. Anyway my kids are out of the car seat stage, they are 11, 9, and 7(still in a booster barely)they loved sitting in this car. I have a minivan, and I am so done with it. The interior is very nice, sure the outside could be a tad sportier, but it's functional and I spend my time inside the car! Kia here I come, the sliding doors on the M5 just reminded me too much of the van I am trying to leave behind!
All in all, for the size and functionality and my kids age group and even little older it is the choice for us as long as we like the drive, and most reviews I have read do. I'll keep you posted!
Posted by: older Kids | Feb 12, 2008 5:16:38 PM
Yes, please let us know how your Rondo ownership goes. I'd love to hear updates!
Posted by: Sara Lacey | Mar 3, 2008 9:16:50 PM
We just bought the Rondo after an intensive search for a small CUV with a third row. The other must have was a min 2000 lb towing capacity for the tent trailer in the summer. Mazda struck out immediately on that one. Other contenders were the RAV4, Outlander and Santa Fe. The Santa Fe priced itself out of my range to get the 3rd row (only available on the top line trim here in Canada).
Of the remaining cars, both my kids (9 and 11) voted for the back seat in Rondo hands down, heck I even fit back there comfortably. Both the Toyota and the Mitsu require you to be a contortionist to sit in the third row, and the Outlander 3rd row is only about 1" thick; you can feel the seat frame beneath. The Rondo is the most capable for bringing half the soccer team to practice (although the ball bag is sitting in someone's lap with all the seats up).
We also missed the 2nd row arm rest in the Rondo, but the RAV4 rest is useless - it doesn't sit anywhere near horizontal.
The only other complaints I have; only one radio option (the low end one) in Canada, and the tonneau cover can't be mounted in the 7-seater. Tinted windows would help here, so your trunk junk wouldn't sit out in plain view, and the back seats would stay a little cooler in the parking lot - after all this car has a ton of glass.
We're looking forward to many great family adventures in our Kia (now known as Kirby) as he joins our very versatile Versa (aka Lola) commuter car in the driveway.
Posted by: RondoFamily | Apr 26, 2008 10:01:34 AM
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I think everyone here does the same thing when we say Rondo. It's like a reflex
Posted by: Dave T. | Jul 12, 2007 9:15:40 AM