Good enough to be known
Kia Rondo is a new vehicle for the U.S. market, but has been sold in Asia and Europe for several years as the Kia Carens. The front-wheel drive Rondo is a bit hard to classify but seems to fit best as a small to mid-sized car-based crossover sport utility vehicle. Whew! In Europe, this type of vehicle is generally known as an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) or "tall wagon."
The only similar vehicle sold in the U.S. is the unknown and generally underappreciated Mazda5, a sporty looking minivan with two sliding rear doors with room for six. Rondo has large swing-out doors that don't work as well when other cars are parked next to it.
Based on the Kia Optima sedan platform, the Rondo seats five - seven with optional third row seating. There's plenty of interior room for two rows but three is a squeeze best left for pre-teen kids. The second row seats do slide forward and recline for extra legroom and passenger comfort.
Rondo comes in two basic models: LX ($16,995) and EX ($19,795). Both are powered by a standard 2.4-liter 162-horsepower four-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode called Sportmatic. Prices include delivery charges.
You can get a
larger 182-horsepower 2.7-liter V-6 engine with a five-speed Sportmatic transmission if you get the optional third row seat. We tested the EX with the larger engine. Gas mileage is rated at 20 miles per gallon in the city and 27 on the highway, but we never got better than 19 in combined city-highway driving.
While Rondo has been on the market since late last year, it travels in relative obscurity. I didn't encounter one individual during my weeklong test drive who had seen or heard of the vehicle. That's too bad because, while certainly a long way from being called "cute" or "good-looking," Rondo delivers one of the best bang-for-the-bucks experiences going.
The Rondo didn't generate any positive reactions, thumbs-ups or people following me home to find out what I was driving. It's basically slab-sided with huge windows. I felt rather odd driving the quirky-looking Rondo, but do admit the visibility is terrific. There are even small stationary windows next to the rearview mirrors for added visibility.
With an impressive list of standard features, a similarly equipped Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 comes close to $30,000. My tester, with the optional Power Sunroof and an upgraded Infiniti audio system, listed at just $22,495. And, Honda doesn't offer a V-6 engine on the CR-V.
Standard equipment on our EX included power windows, steering, door locks and heated outside mirrors, air conditioning, cruise control, tilt steering, illuminated vanity mirrors, keyless entry, rear wiper and fog lights. The vehicle warranty is 10 years/100,000 miles.
Inside, the cabin is spacious with exceptional headroom and front seat legroom even for this too-tall driver. The dashboard is where you are reminded that Rondo is a sub-$20,000 vehicle. While all gauges and operating knobs are well laid out and intuitive to use, most thought the wildly bulbous dash design looked cheap and, well, ugly.
The Rondo's ride and handling are compliant and unremarkable. It handles paved road surfaces with confidence. Cabin noise was unusually noticeable at highway speeds, but no one complained about the ride or rear-end fatigue on long drives. One passenger did remark about the firm and flat rear seat.
There were some predictable leans in curves and turns, but Rondo never felt unstable or sloppy. Braking felt good, probably because of the standard fo
ur-wheel discs.
Cargo storage is good but almost completely disappears with the third-row seat in the up position. There is additional storage space below the rear cargo mat. The third row easily folds flat. Folding the second row is more difficult, and definitely not a one-handed operation.
Standard safety gear is impressive: anti-lock brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic stability control, dual front and front seat mounted side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and active headrests. NHTSA awarded Rondo its highest five star rating in frontal driver and passenger crash tests.
Despite its less than gorgeous looks, Rondo makes a value statement few others can claim. With minivans' appeal diminishing by the hour, this could be an excellent choice for those who want out. Rondo is a surprisingly good vehicle and a good choice that, unfortunately, no one knows about.
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