2007 Kia Rondo: What's It Like to Live With?
Read the latest updates in our long-term road test of the 2007 Kia Rondo as our editors live with this car for a year.
What do you want to know about?
- Introduction
- The Plain Truth
- Fuel Mileage
- Smooth Operator
- Good Word of Mouth
- Tiny Tank, Low MPG
- Art of Glass
- 'Wagon' Size Comparison
- Keep Them Groceries Standing
- Of Rover and Rondo
- Great storage nooks
- Unexpected Shift Performance
- Blown Away (sort of)
- Ideal Daily Driver
- The Thirst Crusher
- Nice Stereo, But No AUX
- Slick Rear Seat
- Don't Laugh
- Perfectly Ordinary
- xB Beater
- Pushing the Limits of Fashion
- Fuel Economy Update
- Seating Stanley
- The Obedient Child
- Hauling (Butt) to the Super Bowl
- Unpretentious
- Right Tool, Right Job
- The Perfect Disguise
- Getting In, Gassing Up.
- Do My Wheels Look Too Small?
- Feartastic!
- Cool It Now
- Heads-Up, Seven-Up!
- 5,000 miles in July
- Low tire pressures
- Defying Expectations
- Desert High Life
- Swan Song
- Wrap-Up
Introduction
Gidyuppidness. Huge Cabinocity. Seat Folding Effortlessness. Break out your Kia Lexicon, kids, we're entering Rondoism.
Aimed squarely at the tailpipe of the hot-selling multipurpose Mazda 5, the 2007 Kia Rondo EX seats seven and has flat-folding seats, V6 power and a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. We've added one to our long-term fleet for a yearlong tour of duty with the Edmunds staff.
What We Bought
Well, we didn't actually buy it. We called Kia and asked for a loaded example. Hey, we're men but we're not Neanderthals. Kia heard our grunts and sent over a Velvet Blue Rondo EX powered by the optional 2.7-liter V6.
Although the engine's 182-horsepower rating is modest considering its displacement, the all-aluminum, twin-cam V6 still gives a boost in usable torque and power over the standard four-cylinder. Fuel mileage remains a respectable EPA-estimated 20 city/27 highway mpg. Every Rondo is front-wheel drive.
Ticking the "V6" box also gets you a five-speed automatic transmission, which costs a cool grand. Not bad, really, for an extra gear and two more pistons.
Standard luxuries on the Rondo EX include 17-inch rims, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, heated remote side mirrors, power seats and keyless entry. We can't explain why Kia equipped the car with gray cloth upholstery instead of the optional leather, but beggars can't be choosers. Full-length side curtain airbags for all three rows of seats and front seat-mounted side airbags are standard.
Options include the 50/50-split easy-folding third-row seat ($500) and the Premium Package ($1,200), which adds a power sunroof and a 305-watt, 10-speaker Infinity sound system with subwoofer. The Infinity system also adds a six-disc in-dash CD changer that plays audio as well as MP3 CDs. The in-dash CD changer replaces a single CD slot and cassette player that comes standard. Too bad, because the Van Halen tape from our Ferrari 308 could use a change of scenery.
It all added up to an MSRP of $22,495 — admittedly quite a bit more than the Rondo's $16,995 base price — but hey, we did say loaded.
Why We Bought It
Kia's philosophy is pretty simple, and pretty appealing: reasonably priced, well-built cars with a long warranty. Recently, the recipe made for an enjoyable year in our long-term Kia Sedona minivan, so we decided to have a go in the Korean brand's brand-new people mover.
The Rondo's in-between size is also a highlight in today's automotive climate. In contrast with the bloated crossovers and full-size minivans currently replacing the passé SUV, the Kia Rondo is little more than a tall wagon. As such, it truly does drive like a car, while maintaining the visibility and utility SUV drivers have become used to.
We have high hopes. A full year in our hands and our driveways will certainly paint a clearer picture of what the Kia Rondo has to offer. Does it have the power to surprise? Stick with us on the long-term blog for the next 12 months and 20,000 miles to find out.
Current Odometer: 909
Best Fuel Economy: 26.96 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 15.31 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 18.48 mpg
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
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.
It's neither exceptional nor horrible in any respect.
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.
After spending some quality time in the Kia Rondo this weekend, I was left with two strong impressions:
1) Kia is at the top of its game. This is one nicely turned out little wagon / crossover / mini-minivan. Whatever you want to call it, the Rondo is a reasonable size yet spacious enough to seat seven in a pinch. It's also a smooth and willing performer, the cabin is comfortable and there is an air of quality all around, from the way the doors close to the damped movement of the parking brake release.
2) Gas mileage is a disappointment. Over about 200 miles of mixed driving, I averaged just 16.8 mpg. And that was with just 150-pound me and my 125-pound girlfriend in it. The EPA estimates (the new, more realistic ones) are 18 city and 25 highway. Thus far, with nearly 2,000 miles on the clock, we're averaging only 18.3. My brother has a 2001 Toyota Sequoia (4.7-liter V8 and 4WD) with over 200,000 on it and its lifetime average is 17.5. And he sometimes pulls a horse trailer with it!
I'm hoping the fuel "economy" improves, as I like the Rondo so far. One long road trip by Mr. Reed yielded nearly 27 mpg, so there's hope.
After spending a few days in the 2007 Kia Rondo, I have to say, I found it surprisingly polished. Fit and finish in the cabin is pretty good for a vehicle in this price range. Handling is smooth and the crossover feels quite solid and well-planted.
Motivating the action in our long-termer is a 2.7-liter V6 that generates 182 horsepower and 182 pound-feet of torque.
Our Rondo doesn't feel tremendously powerful (and it isn't, relative to others in this class); the situation isn't helped by the fact that its five-speed automatic transmission feels a bit slow to upshift on occasion. Still, there was enough juice to get the job done in most situations.
It's not the quickest little wagon/crossover/whatever out there, but the Rondo scores points for tackling its tasks in a reasonably refined way.
Here's how the conversation about our 2007 Kia Rondo unfolded:
Editor #1: Hey, have you driven the Kia Rondo?
Editor #2: Yeah, I drove it last night.
Editor #1: What'd you think?
Editor #2: Uh, well, what'd you think?
Editor #1 (After a long pause): Actually, I was surprised. I thought it was a nice little car.
Editor #2: (Relieved) I thought so too!..
Praising the Rondo doesn't make you cool. It's a goofy looking car from the outside, like a bar of soap that's melted on the side of the tub, said one editor. But here's the thing — it's not a bad little wagon/suv/whatever. It has a slightly elevated driving position, enough power, O.K. gas mileage (I once got 26 mpg) and lots of rear cargo space (or a third row seat for emergency passenger overloads). Despite the dorky exterior the interior is pretty sharp and the build quality feels solid.
The Rondo (silly name, too) is often cross-shopped against the Mazda 5 which has the definite advantage of having a pretty sleek design. But if you look at the National True Market Value prices of the two vehicles the Rondo is $1,257 cheaper. There are many aspects to compare, but the price differential alone might convince some to at least test drive this mini-hauler.
Okay, at 15.8 gallons the 2007 Kia Rondo tank isn't exactly tiny, but I had to go for the alliteration. When I filled up this morning I noticed that no one had driven the Rondo farther than about 240 miles on a tank of gas. This must be because, at our real world city mileage of about 18 mpg, that's about as far as you get before the needle is on the big E. The 2.7 liter V6 gives a nice boost and 182 hp but if you tap into the power too much you'll make a lot of trips to the pump.
Over the weekend we went out to dinner in the Rondo and I found myself thinking that Kia hit the size of this vehicle just right. For four adults it's very roomy and still has a huge cargo space. If, like some people commenting on previous blogs, the Rondo is too boring, there's plenty out there to choose from. Depending on your needs, and your ideas about form versus function, I do think this likeable oddball is worth a look.
The 2007 Kia Rondo's homely portholes have been the subject of derision around our office, but they go a long way toward enhancing visibility. With a length of 179 inches, the Rondo is longer than many of the vehicles it will likely be shopped against; the Scion xB, for example, clocks in at 167 inches. Still, the Rondo feels pretty maneuverable when it's time to squeeze into and out of parking spaces at the grocery store. All that well-placed glass in back gives the driver a clear view of what's going on.
Forgive the craptacular photo, but when coming down to my parking garage last week, I was struck by how jumbo our Kia Rondo looked next to a Mazda 3 5-door. According to Edmunds' vehicle classification, both of these are wagons, yet obviously, they couldn't be more different. The Rondo's shape sort of looks like someone stuck an air hose into the 3 and inflated it to bulbous proportions. I like the idea of mini minivans like the Rondo, but I think the Mazda 5 and other small MPVs from Europe (Ford S-Max, Opel/Vauxhall Vafira,Renault Grand Scenic) are much better realizations.
I realize, the pop-up bag holder is a common feature that's showing up more and more in handy little family haulers like the 2007 Kia Rondo. But for someone like me who drives fast and corners faster, it's a wonderful thing. My grocery bag was filled right to the top, and it stayed in place. Even when I drive conservatively my bags usually vomit their contents all over the back of the car.
It's these thoughtful little touches, for day-to-day practical applications, that can really make a difference.
Sitting in thoroughly craptacular traffic last night, I began pondering what this button does. It's not one you see very often, and its placement didn't help me much. After RTFM, I had a head-slapping, "well duh!" moment. It's a windshield deicer.
Not exactly useful to me here in SoCal, but back in my Indianapolis and Toronto days, this would have been clutch. Kudos to Kia for putting a premium feature like this into the Rondo; a feature normally equated with vehicles like the Range Rover (pictured below).
I would say, though, that placing the button within the climate controls as Land Rover does would make a lot more sense than left of the steering wheel next to the stability control deactivation switch.
The 2007 Kia Rondo is designed to be practical. Not glamorous, not fun, but practical. For a family wagon, an abundance of storage nooks is an important part of the practicality equation. The Rondo comes out with top marks in this area.
The car's interior was designed to make maximum use of every available square inch of space, and there's a bin or a nook everywhere you look.
Above, the photo to the left shows a nook by the steering wheel that would be great for sunglasses. The shot to the right shows a bin that resides above the glove compartment, which was a good home for my ancient cell phone.
Below, the pic to the left shows that the cupholders between the driver and front passenger seat are preceded by a couple of additional nooks. And right behind those cupholders is a really deep bin than can swallow all sorts of cargo.
These bins and nooks feel sturdily constructed, not flimsy and insubstantial like you'll find in some models in this price range. What's more, they're rubber- or felt-lined, which gives the wagon an upscale feel.
This is the PRNDL lever in our 2007 Kia Ronda Long-Term test car. Shortly after the first time I slid it into D and went on my way, I had an immediate reaction to the way it delivered gearchanges. It shifts like.
Nice work, Kia. This transmission blurs shifts seamlessly. The gearchanges aren't exactly blazingly fast, but their smoothness is an unexpected luxury in a car this affordable.
Our 2007 Kia Rondo has one of the simplest and most logical climate control systems going. And it generally works great. But on a recent jaunt to the LA Auto show, it left me cold. Well, OK, mildly chilly.
You see I needed a bit of cool air circulating, but not so much that I could feel the breeze itself. At the lowest fan speed, there's still too much concentrated airflow and too many goosebumps. I couldn't aim the vents far enough away, and shutting the offending ones off completely (a) defeated the purpose by stopping circulation where I needed it and, (b) accelerated the flow through the remaining ones further still, creating more noise and annoying the passenger. Blending a bit more warm air in didn't do the trick either, as the breeze was still too strong.
During the summer, when too much A/C is never enough, this was never an issue. But on these in-between warm fall days with bright sun, I find that I need a lower "low" fan speed. Or a jacket.
Note: Ignore the settings above - the photo was taken on a different day.
Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give the Kia Rondo is that it's a no-hassle set of wheels. I mean that in the best way. It's built well, comfortable, peppy enough and relatively easy to park thanks to its boxy form. The controls are simple and the seats are supportive. And for an engine that's not even rated at 200 hp, the little V6 (thanks in part to an alert automatic transmission) packs a decent punch around town and when blasting up freeway on-ramps. The tall body (some five inches taller than a Scion xB) gives the Rondo an impressive amount of passenger and cargo space, handy during those runs to the Goodwill store to get rid of bags of stuff you don't need.
Regular readers will know that the Rondo's fuel mileage isn't exactly a strong suit, though its overall average with us has crept up to 18.7 mpg. But keep in mind that we've got some lead foots on staff and that many of our miles our spent in L.A.'s notorious traffic, not exactly real-world conditions for most folks. Over the weekend, I averaged 21 mpg in mixed driving, which isn't bad as it included some of that &*%!! gridlock. And as noted before, our Mr.
Reed got 27 mpg on a road trip.
For short money (around $20,000 for the top-of-the-line EX V6), the Rondo is hard to beat as a versatile and comfortable daily driver. It's the type of vehicle you feel good about, so much so that I was prompted to show it some love Sunday at the coin-op car wash rather than waiting until Monday to take it to the Blue Wave. Sorry 'bout the cellphone pic, I didn't have my digicam handy at the moment.
"Rondo" is such a great word to say. Exclaim "Rondo!" every time you take a corner quickly in this wagon/mini-minivan and you and your passengers will instantly giggle.
Where did Kia come up with it? Well, it's a real word.
According to my dictonary, "rondo" is derived from the French "rondeau." It means "a musical composition built on the alternation of a principal recurring theme and contrasting episodes."
Personally, I'd like to believe that Kia named its vehicle after Rondo soda. This was a short-lived brand from the late 1970s and early '80s. The ad tagline: "The Thirst Crusher." You can even see a grainy TV spot on YouTube with two karate-types battling it out then taking a break with a Rondo because you can "slam it down fast!"
Rondo!
Our 2007 Kia Rondo has an optional Infinity audio system with 315 watts, 10 speakers, a subwoofer and a six-CD changer. But it doesn't have an auxiliary audio jack, which is surprising given that it's an all-new vehicle. Thankfully, the CD player is MP3 compatible, so one can listen to digital files burned onto CDs.
For 2008, all Rondo models get an AUX port as standard equipment.
Our 2007 Kia Rondo has the optional third-row seat. This has to be one of the cheaper ways to get seven-passenger capacity in a new vehicle. As noted in our long-term introduction, our fully-loaded Rondo checks in at $22,495.
Given the Rondo's budget price and small-ish size, I was prepared to write-off the third row as gimmicky or troublesome. Our Outlander's third-row, for instance, is flimsy and hard to fold. But to my surprise, raising and getting to the Rondo's third-row seat are both quite easy.
The second-row seats slide fore and aft to increase rear legroom or luggage space. On each side, a handy seat-mounted lever allows one to slide the seat forward with the seatback canted forward. This opens up a nice walk-through to get to the third row.
The third-row seat is a 50/50-split design. You raise and lower the seatbacks by pulling a strap. That's it. No need to RTFM, look at pictograms that might as well come off a Klingon battle cruiser or risk a hernia by removing anything.
Comfort? Well, I'm 5-foot 10-inches. In the third row, my head brushes up against the headliner and my knees are perched uncomfortably high. But they don't touch the back of the second-row seat and I can snug my feet underneath the second-row. It's really not all that bad. For kid-related occasional use, I'd say the Kia Rondo's third-row seat would work out great.
Additionally, the second-row seat can be folded flat by flipping up the seat cushions, removing the head restraints and lowering the seatbacks. And did I mention that second-row passengers benefit from four good-sized cupholders, a flat floor and air vents?
Rondo!
A few nights ago I stayed in a hotel. When checking in, the guy at the desk asked what I was driving so that he could give me a parking lot pass. "A Kia Rondo," I said with a bit of unintended Rondo soda enthusiasm.
Reaction? He laughed at me. Then he said, "A Rondo? I don't even know what that is."
I really do like our Rondo. It's versatile, roomy, of high quality and pleasingly affordable. But I think Kia faces an uphill battle. Nobody knows what it is. Plus, a female associate of mine had this reaction upon seeing it: "I would never drive it. It looks like a minivan." I suspect there are plenty of other young drivers out there with a similar opinion.
Then again, Kia and Mazda have the "mini minivan" market to themselves right now. So maybe they don't need a homerun since a double will do. If you're curious, here are the November 2007 YTD sales figures as reported by Automotive News.
Kia Rondo: 24,128
Mazda 5: 12,089
Those of us who work in this business do so because we really like cars. We know a fair amount about them, some of us have raced or wrenched them, we have read car magazines and books, we have Speed Channel in our cable package; one of us even Tivos the Barrett-Jackson auction. But there are a whole lot of people out there who feel a car is simply a conveyance, a way to get from A to B. Nothing more, nothing less.
They wouldn't know a Merkur from a Maserati.
I believe the Kia Rondo is for these people. It's very easy to drive and get to know. It's plenty spacious, not really a station wagon and not really a sedan. All the buttons are where they should be, nothing particularly out of place, and it's got a heating system and a stereo and lights and all that. But I have absolutely no Feel for it, no Passion, nothing that rubs me one way or another. As a dyed-in-the-wool opinionated car lover, there's nothing I really DIS-like about it, but there's also nothing I particularly LIKE about it. You get in and you drive it and you park and you forget it. OK, to be honest, I don't particularly like how tall it is. But I don't dislike that either. It's just sort of a very good blah. And there happens to be a very large audience of people who want exactly that.
Rondo: The Car for People Who Don't Like Cars. or Rondo: If All You Care About Is Getting There. OK, maybe I need to work on these.
I spent a wet weekend in our 2007 Kia Rondo, after having spent a few days in our Scion xB. Both vehicles serve similar functions and compete for the attention of similar types of buyers (though the xB obviously skews toward a younger demographic). The experience of having driven both back-to-back made it very clear to me that if forced to choose between the two, I'd pick the Rondo in a heartbeat.
Here's why:
-The Rondo trumps the xB in the area of visibility. True, the xB's wide pillars look cooler than the Rondo's awkward glass-laden greenhouse, but they pose a real challenge when it comes to navigation. I had a couple of harrowing parking lot episodes in the xB, trying to gauge whether or not I had enough room to maneuver my way into tight spaces. Not fun. Navigating in the Rondo, on the other hand, is like being on a bicycle — always a clear view of everything around you. This Rondo-ful visibility was especially appreciated this weekend, given the rainy weather.
-The Rondo also gets my vote in the area of power. Now that I've spent more time in the xB, I've come to realize that its 158-horsepower inline four feels a bit starved in certain situations. Our Rondo, with its 182-hp V6, doesn't share this affliction. It's a lot peppier, and more enjoyable to drive.
Picture #1: our longterm 2007 Kia Rondo
Picture #2: some lady's pants
Question: What does a Rondo have to do with this lady's pants? Give up? Click the handy link below.
Answer: a low beltline.
The Kia's racy beltline may not win it awards for high fashion, but it is truly a functional design element. Visibility from the Rondo's driver's seat is panoramic, making for stress-free driving. In urban areas, you just plain see everything around you. It sounds simple but it's not as common as one might expect.
Also, the low beltline lends it a sense of airiness inside. On the Kia, not the lady.
Time to check in with our long-term Kia Rondo's fuel log. If you've been following the adventures of our mostly city-driven Rondo-mobile, you'll already know that our real-world numbers have been falling short of the official EPA estimates for the 2007 6-cylinder Rondo of 20 city/27 highway. You may also know that the EPA changed the way it tests vehicles for the 2008 model year to reflect modern driving conditions better. What you might not know is that the EPA has published adjusted fuel economy estimates for vehicles made from 1985-2007, too. So I decided to see how our numbers stacked up to these newly adjusted numbers. And it turns out that we're actually doing better than the EPA's estimate for city driving.
Check it out: The EPA's adjusted estimates for the 2007 Kia Rondo with the V6 are 18 city/25 highway. Our Rondo's lifetime average is now at 18.84 mpg.
Not staggeringly better, but at least we're not doing worse anymore (for the moment).
This weekend, I had our long-term Kia Rondo and the pleasure of taking my husband, two of his cousins and our child out to dinner. Given that the Rondo is marketed as a family-pleasing shuttle, I seized it as an opportunity to assess the seating comfort of the Rondo when carrying more than just my little family.
The Rondo's Passengers
Adult female driver: Me, 5 feet 7 inches, slight build
Passenger #1: Stanley, Adult male, 6 feet 2 inches, medium build
Passenger #2: Muriel, Adult female, 5 feet 5 inches, slight build
Passenger #3: Hank, Adult male, 5 feet 9 inches, slight build
Passenger #4: The Toddler, 2-year-old female, average build, big cheeks
The Report
On the way to the restaurant, the seating arrangement (presented clockwise) was me in the driver seat, Stanley in the front passenger seat, Hank in the second-row seat behind Stanley, The Toddler in her rear-facing child seat in the center position of the second-row seat, and Muriel in the second-row seat behind me. We did not utilize the third-row seat.
No complaints came from the second-row seat. But Stanley found the limited front passenger seat legroom (with the rear-facing car seat preventing adequate rearward adjustment) unpleasant. On the way home, he decided to try his luck in the second-row seat behind me. This provided better legroom, but then hip room was tight, the culprit again being The Toddler's child seat.
Overall, the Rondo took on this challenge well and still managed to feel peppy when it needed to, though, I think that if my life required hauling this many adults more regularly, I'd want a larger vehicle, like a minivan or a crossover SUV.
That old, vaguely creepy adage states that children should be seen but not heard. Of course, this isn't meant to imply that kids should be struck mute. Instead, it makes reference to the fact that some folks think that obedient children should exist with invisible efficiency, getting the job done (whatever that may be) without ever furrowing the brows of us busy grown-ups with behavior that's in any way challenging or wayward.
The Kia Rondo is a model of this kind of obedience.
This weekend, as I scooted around town from Whole Foods to the CD store, it did its job quietly and without fuss. When I decided to make an impromptu trip to a restaurant some 50 miles outside Los Angeles, it didn't ask any questions. As I mashed the throttle to enjoy the unusually clear 405, the Rondo dove in with a cheerful smile. It's not sexy or exciting or hot. But it is pleasant and accommodating, and sometimes that's good enough.
I was given a rather odd assignment earlier this month: test drive and "test live" an RV for three days from Riverside, Calif., to Phoenix for Super Bowl XLII. Vehicle Testing Assistant Mike Magrath went along with me, but certainly not to add experience to the ticket. The closest either of us had previously come to a recreational vehicle was blowing by one at high speeds on the freeway, and being in our mid 20s, we were hardly stereotypical RV folk. And as our drive story Two Guys, a Truck and a 31-foot Fleetwood shows, it was hardly smooth sailing. But unlike Top Gear, at least we didn't burn down our Caravan.
Before we could depart from Fleetwood RV headquarters in Riverside, though, we had to get there from our Santa Monica headquarters. Our long-term Kia Rondo was chosen for no particular reason, but it capably held our ample amount of stuff for the journey. I was greatly impressed by its 2.7-liter V6 engine, which aided in slicing through traffic in the Inland Empire to avoid being late. The transmission is quick to downshift and there's plenty of passing power, although it felt just wrong driving that aggressively in our humble Rondo. That was nothing compared to the 20,000 pounds of truck and trailer to come, though.
Feature Drive Story: Two Guys, a Truck and a 31-foot Fleetwood
Our long-term 2007 Kia Rondo defies categorization. For lack of a better word, we call it a people mover. Undignified, to say the least. Because it's not really a station wagon, and it's not an SUV, and it's not really a sedan, and it's not a crossover.
It just is. I wrote some time back that it's a car for people who don't like cars. Which, in hindsight, I feel is a trifle harsh. Because I like the fact that it can't be categorized. It's not trying to appeal to as many segments as possible, but what it does, it does very well. You can carry four people, maybe two adults and 3 kids, in decent comfort, and a bunch of groceries as well (or in my case, gear for a rehearsal). Its controls are simple. You turn it on and go. You want FM, punch the FM button. CD, the CD button. Flip on the lights, put it in D and go. It's just so straightforward and honest.
And yes, unpretentious. Get in and drive it and it does everything it does well. With no attitude and no claims to be anything other than it is. For people who just want to get around and carry some friends and their stuff, it's actually a great choice.
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.
I don't know why but every time I'm out driving around and I see a cop car, I get nervous as if, "The jig is up! They found me!" And then I'm ultra aware of every movement I make, trying to toe the line so that I won't get pulled over and arrested for...whatever. Yes, I just have an exaggerated respect for authority.
I was driving our 2007 Kia Rondo to work this morning when I had an encounter with a cop car.
I didn't see him at first as I was behind a really slow-moving Mercedes sedan. For a split second I thought about switching lanes to get around the slow poke but then I saw the cop car.
I decided to stick behind the Mercedes and act like I liked it there, driving 5 mph below the speed limit. Had I been in our 2002 M3, I'm sure he would have seen through my charade. But in the Rondo, I looked like a happy commuter on her way to work, not in a hurry at all: "There's no need to hurry when I could sit in my tall car enjoying my tunes and fiddling with the climate control."
Little did he know that in this unassuming vehicle was a girl who has a penchant for extra-legal speeds. He just happened to catch her in a quiet moment, in the Rondo. And for this disguise I was thankful. The cop moved on.
The Kia Rondo has endeared itself to many of our staff because of its pleasant personality. Believe it or not, most of the time we're not blazing around a race track or tearing down the quarter mile. Like most folks, we're usually either commuting (i.e. slogging) through "rush hour" traffic or running errands. The Rondo is smooth, quiet, roomy and comfortable. It's also easy for shorter people to get in and out of thanks to its low step-in. Though it may look like a compact crossover SUV, the Rondo is actually a tall wagon (AWD is not available) so the step-in height (measuring at 13 inches to the door sill) is lower than your typical crossover's. Just another way the Rondo reduces hassles.
We're overdue on a fuel mileage update (keep in mind that many of these miles are amassed in L.A.'s perpetual gridlock) so here ya go:
— Best tank to date: 26.98
— Worst tank to date: 14.27
— Lifetime average: 19.2 mpg.
EPA's numbers come in at 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined.
Regarding the busted rear window, it's been replaced. The total cost was $389.57 ($289.57 for the glass and $100 for the install labor). Rumor has it that Mr. Sadlier has taken an axe to the offending and foolishly located cabinet that was the undoing of the Rondo's original rear window.
There's something about the Kia Rondo's boxy proportions that make me think that it's wheels look too small. Twice this weekend I approached the Rondo thinking, man, those are some smmaaaall wheels, only to remind myself that they are in fact, 17-inchers.
Do you agree?
What makes the Rondo feartastic?
Well, it's not dissimilar to the Fit in the acceleration category. That is, if you yanked out the Fit's sewing machine motor and dumped in a 500ci V8 from a 1970 Eldorado. And strapped on a blower. What it may lack off the line, it more than makes up for once you're up to speed.
Kicking down two gears summons power than is completely unnecessary and will put you into the triple digits before you can curse someone else's mother.
It also compares to the Fit in terms of handling. If you put a 500 pound dumpster to the roof of the Fit. And filled the dumpster with 500 pounds of moldy cantaloupes. You see, the Rondo weighs a staggering 1000 pounds more than the Fit. And where the Fit is happy to bound and dance through corners, the Rondo makes like it's about tip over and scatter your moldy melons all over the road. I can't imagine how frightening it looks from the outside.
So now that you're barreling towards your favorite corner, a corner you've sped through a hundred times in the trusty Fit, you suddenly realize that the Rondo's going a thousand miles an hour and is on the verge of tipping over. This is more than a little scary, but also more than a little fun! It's feartastic!
I wonder if it'll do a burnout...
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.
Upon arriving home from work today I was greeted by my wife's grade-school chum and her two daughters. They were hungry. "Let's go the the pub," my wife suggested.
No, the pub in question was not the Winchester, and we were not being persued by suburban zombies (not that we know of, anyway.) We were headed to The Olde Ship, an authentic family-friendly joint about a dozen miles away.
With Shepard's pie and curry in our sights, I loaded everyone into our 2007 Kia Rondo for an impromptu test of its 7-passenger capability.
They were reluctant at first, but the second row's easy fold action allowed two representatives of the 9 through 10-year old demographic to scamper easily in the third row. The second row, slid all the way back with no complaints from the back seat contingent, carried three: my wife's friend, my pre-teen daughter, and a wee one in a booster seat. My wife and I fit up front, and I was able to put my seat where I usually like it.
Everyone fit easily — no complaints at all. And the 2.7-liter V6 engine had plenty of steam to merge comfortably onto the freeway and keep the Rondo moving along at a good clip.
There isn't much cargo room when the third-row is in use, so it's best to view the third seat here as a supplemental one for those times when young relatives or your kids' friends ride along — like this trip to the pub, for instance.
When this Kia was introduced, no one could quite see how it fit into the US automotive landscape. Who was looking for a mini minivan-type wagon thing, anyway? Now that downsizing is something a lot of folks are suddenly considering and compacts are flying off the lots, the 3-row Kia Rondo seems well-positioned to scoop up some young family converts.
And it drives nice, too.
When we last checked on our Kia Rondo, the odometer was shy of 11,000 miles and its long-term test was 3 months from completion. At this rate we still had 9,000 miles to reach our goal. So we found a volunteer.
"Don't come back until it turns 20k," blurted a shapeless mass of editors as it shoved our eager volunteer out the door. "Welcome to the team."
One month and 5,000 miles later the Rondo returned. Our mileage experiment fell short of expectations, but the Kia took it all in stride. At one point the tire pressure warning light clicked on. We topped off the tires for now, and will check them again in a couple of days.
We took the Rondo to Stokes Tire Pros in Santa Monica to figure out what was going on with our tire pressures. We got some funky readings:
Left front: 10 psi
Right front: 25 psi
Left rear: 26 psi
Right rear: 11 psi
Recommended: 32 psi
A nail was the culprit in the right rear, which the guys at Stokes patched. At our request, they also did a thorough examination of the front left tire that was reporting 10 psi. They pulled it off, inspected it, replaced the valve stem core, cleaned the wheel bead and the rebalanced it. No other leaks were found. All four tires are now up to the recommended pressure.
Total cost: $42.50
I'm always a little surprised when I fire up the Rondo's engine and find that this Kia leaps into action with the eagerness of, um, a car that doesn't look like a dull compromise. As many times as I've driven it, you'd think I'd know what to expect. But the Rondo just looks so darn functional; it always lulls me into anticipating the very worst.
Acceleration from the V6 is enjoyably quick. The 5-speed automatic transmission is a pleasure as well, with fluid shifts that keep things creamy smooth. Nice choice if you're looking for a roomy family hauler that won't leave you in Snoozeville when you're behind the wheel.
Our Kia Rondo's overall functionality has earned it numerous unenviable assignments, and once again it finds itself vacationing in the 114-degree California desert.
Cool air conditioning, a wide-opening rear hatch, and a no-frills interior make it the perfect sand city compadre.
I was offered the chance to drive the Rondo on its last night, provided I wash and gas it before we give it back. I hadn't driven the Rondo at all so I thought it fitting that I drive it on the last full day it's here.
I liked the tall glasshouse design as it really made me feel I was driving something like the Popemobile. All that light being let in really brightened up the cabin. I also liked the torquey engine. Though I don't think the tires were up to the talk. In fact, during a freeway merge at moderate acceleration the tires were squealing so much that it freaked me out and I backed off hard from the gas pedal.
I took the car to get washed the next morning only to find a treasure trove of glass bits in the third row. A legacy of an accidental parking job.
It was a little strange to watch the guys wash the car down knowing it would be leaving us forever. I had hardly known our Kia but I think I'll miss it.
Wrap-Up
Why We Bought It
Durability
Performance and Fuel Economy
Retained Value
Summing Up
The Power to Surprise — Kia's advertising tagline — is fitting for this Korean automaker. It has evolved from a purveyor of bargain-basement specials only appealing to those with no other financial choice into a full-line automaker sporting competitive vehicles backed by one of the industry's best warranties.
This advertising motto is not, however, right for the 2007 Kia Rondo EX V6, a high-waisted wagon-style crossover with seven-seat capability. After 12 months and 20,000 miles in our fleet of long-term test cars, we've found that the Kia Rondo's strength lies in its utility, predictability and reliability — in other words, its utter lack of surprises.
Why We Bought It
It's all a matter of philosophy. As Vehicle Testing Assistant Mike Magrath wrote in our blog for long-term test cars: "Kia's philosophy is pretty simple, and pretty appealing: reasonably priced, well-built cars with a long warranty. Recently, the recipe made for an enjoyable year in our long-term Kia Sedona minivan, so we decided to have a go in the Korean brand's brand-new people mover."
It's no secret that around these parts we like our minivans. Their unassuming nature, high seating position and space to spare ensure the keys are constantly in someone's pocket. For some of us with large families they're a near necessity. Of course, they're not perfect. They're big and, compared to wagons, they're thirsty. And a recognition of the minivan's enduring appeal led Kia straight toward the kind of vehicle that has been unfashionable for more than a generation — the family station wagon. The Rondo might have some pretense of crossover character with its passenger-car components packed in a faintly SUV-style body, but it is a wagon in every way. And since no wagon without wood paneling has been successful in capturing the attention of this nation since your parents were kids, we thought we'd give the Rondo a try.
If Kia was banking on a cultural swing to rational vehicle choices, we were all too happy to play along.
Durability
It's hard for us to use the A-word when talking about cars, but we're forced to do it for the 2007 Kia Rondo. It is one of the most trustworthy, dependable appliances we've ever had in our long-term fleet. Not one unscheduled service. Not a single warning light. Just a year of uninterrupted service.
While we were glad there were no warning lights, a maintenance reminder light would have been helpful. Surely at least one of our service appointments was belated due to a lack of warning.
Despite excellent visibility afforded by an enormous greenhouse, parking the Rondo (especially in Reverse), can be a formidable task because it surprisingly measures 179 inches overall. Associate Editor Josh Sadlier became all too familiar with the Rondo's length: "I was creeping back, stopping, creeping back, stopping, cree-CRASH! After a 0.5-mph impact with that weird wooden cabinet thing in my garage, there went the window on the Rondo's liftgate — right before my unbelieving eyes. I really, really wanted to get away."
Underestimating the Rondo's length and backing into a cabinet cost Josh Sadlier his dignity and cost us $389.57 to repair. Rondo rear windows are not a common part and one had to be ordered, thus keeping the otherwise faithful Kia out of service for three days.
On the inside of the Rondo's cabin, the theme is the same: uncluttered functionality. "Its controls are simple. You turn it on and go. You want FM, punch the FM button. CD, the CD button. Flip on the lights, put it in D and go. It's just so straightforward and honest," wrote Senior Copy Editor Doug Lloyd.
Total Body Repair Costs: $350
Additional Maintenance Costs: $389.57
Warranty Repairs: None
Non-Warranty Repairs: None
Scheduled Dealer Visits: None
Unscheduled Dealer Visits: None
Days Out of Service: 3
Breakdowns Stranding Driver: None
Performance and Fuel Economy
In 12 months we put 22,192 miles on our V6-powered 2007 Kia Rondo. The 182-horsepower V6 was a $1,000 option over the base Rondo and came with a five-speed automatic in place of the four-speed that's standard with the four-cylinder. This combination is rated at 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway by the EPA. Our best tank came to 27.2 mpg, just a hair over the EPA's highway average. While 25 and 26 mpg tanks were frequent, there was only that one in the 27s. More common were tanks in the 18-20 mpg range as evidenced by our overall average of 19.5 mpg.
But then again, it may have something to do with our driving. "Kicking down two gears summons power that is completely unnecessary and will put you into the triple digits before you can curse someone else's mother," wrote Photo Editor Kurt Niebuhr. While this V6's 182 hp might seem meek by today's standards, it was enough to propel the Rondo to the end of the quarter-mile in 17.0 seconds at 82.2 mph. "Engine sounds sporty without being thrashy," came the report from one of our test-track drivers.
At 3,706 pounds and wearing 225/50R17 Michelin MXV4 all-season tires, the Rondo didn't seem likely to burn down our test facility during handling tests. Its 0.75g performance on the skid pad is on par with our expectations, as is its 63.3-mph speed through the slalom. Our test driver noted: "pronounced body roll," "quick steering" and "predictable nature."
In the real world, the combination of such compliant suspension tuning with all-season tires delivers a comfortable ride with balanced handling and dependable traction in all kinds of weather. When you're driving around with six people from the friends-and-family category, this is the kind of performance you want.
Best Fuel Economy: 27.2 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 15.3 mpg
Average Fuel Economy: 19.5 mpg
Retained Value
At the end of its service cycle, our 2007 Kia Rondo had 22,192 miles, which is not quite double that of the average family's yearly accumulation. The mileage is in part to blame for the nearly $8,000 depreciation ($7,868) from a vehicle that only started at $21,000. That $7,868 figure represents a mighty third of the original price, even though we only used up one quarter of the 100,000-mile warranty.
While still quite high, the depreciation figure becomes less shocking when researching the True Market Value (TMV®) of the Rondo's closest (only?) competitor, the Mazda 5. With similar mileage, equipment and condition, the TMV for a used Mazda 5 is approximately $15,000 — a $7,000 hit to the original equipped price of 22 large. It could very well be that the Kia name isn't hurting resale value here, but instead the price reflects the fact that there's an extremely limited market for a car that is solely utilitarian.
True Market Value at service end: $14,627
Depreciation: $7,868 or 34% of original paid price
Final Odometer Reading: 22,192
Summing Up
Our 2007 Kia Rondo EX V6 was the unsung hero of our long-term test fleet this last year. It carried us to work. It safely and swiftly brought our children to school and soccer games. While it never wowed, it also never failed — and it never disappointed. Senior Copy Editor Doug Lloyd wrote, "It's just sort of a very good blah kind of vehicle. And there happens to be a very large audience of people who want exactly that."
Of course, a Rondo owner (a self-admitted car enthusiast) took particular offense to this remark and perfectly summed up the Rondo's brand of dependable, comfortable utility: "It is everything that my family needs, and no more. That last part is important. For its intended role, this vehicle carries no excess of anything — weight, length, fuel consumption — like so many other vehicles that families use to ferry themselves around." — by bgw on January 3, 2008 6:08 AM
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.