Used 2009 Kia Rondo Consumer Reviews
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Poor Gas Mileage Weak Performance
We bought this car June 21st, 08 July 2nd we left from FL. to CA. for a month long trip.We averaged 19 MPG on the highway and had to turn the AC off for more than half the trip as it was so week to pull the hills. WE traveled I-10 going to CA. and I-40 coming back as we went to the Grand canyon and all. Before we even left for our vacation the seats started coming apart and by the end of our trip we had several issues. We feel Kia had a great idea but this model needs some work. It would be a great car "IF" they could improve the gas mileage, performance & quality of workmanship.
Fun
what a great little car. lots of cabin room for 4 golfers, cargo room for all golf bags +. Quiet & Smooth, plenty of (4 cyl) power. At 70 yrs. old, I can still have a fun drive with the manual auto shift. Power everything, air bags everywhere, with ESC, and ABS, all for 18K. Good job Kia.
Excellent family car but not for everyone
If you are looking for a fuel efficient great cargo family car, Rondo will serve you the best. Nonetheless, driving is no fun. Four cylinder seems little weak but doable. Bottom line what the hack great car for family and small to mid size delivery but for fun, go get some other car. I have no mechanical problem so far almost 2 year now
Best little car we drove
We test drove many cars in this range, the Matrix, the Vibe and a few others. This one beat them all out and continues to impress us. 28 mpg on trips. Low entry cost and with a V6 as well. Seating for 7 so we can take extras and plenty of little storage spots. But also it is quite peppy and handles like a dream. A very welcome car after the Dodge Grand Caravan.
Interesting
Just bought this crossover/suv/van/whatever you call it. If you see one or drive one you will understand. Not that is a bad thing, it is not as attractive as other vehicles in this size, but the price was right. Also the 3rd row is what my family needed. Overall it drives nice and there is plenty of room in both front and second row. The 3rd row is for children, but how many adults ride in a 3rd row? There is virtually no room if the 3rd row is up. As most vehicles in this size there is not room with a 3rd row. The fold down of the 2nd and 3rd row is nice and has plenty of room if needed for storage with this feature. See below for check engine light issue.
Good Vehicle
We have the car exactly 1 year, almost 17000 miles. Not 1 problem. Great for taking the kids to college. Plenty of rear space and great rear cargo for holding grocery bags. The V6 is perfectly matched to the car.Great visibility. Good car, and even better was the price. Look at Honda, Saturn, Mitsubishi and Mazda. Buy the KIA.
Good versatility at a can't beat price!
Wanted a smaller vehicle to replace a Kia Sedona minivan but wanted the versatility of 6-7 passengers in a pinch. To be honest I was ready to purchase a Mazda5 but decided to stop in at Kia one day and got a deal that is hard to beat and purchased the vehicle for a good amount less than I could get the Mazda. Styling is bland compared to the Mazda5 but it does seat 7 instead of 6 (although very tight) and has ESC which the Mazda didn't, among many other good safety features. The vehicle gets good gas mileage, handles well and has decent power with the V6, and the price was right for us.
Great Car! Great Price
You cannot beat the quality of this little mini-mini van! We purchased the V6 version, and the pickup is great! Lots of special features like air vents in the back seat, plenty of cupholders, storage-did I mention the back seats recline a little (which is great for long trips). We purchased this used with 10,000 miles on it-but it's still like brand new. I could go on and on about how much we love this car-from plenty of storage room, the quietness of the car and leg room-this car is a must have for small families. Don't be put off by the Kia name (which is owned by Hyundai, by the way). This car is just as good as a Toyota or Honda-for thousands less!
Great car for the money
I just purchased the 08 Kia Rondo, new in 09. Got a great price, $14,900 for a V6, seats 7. Wanted a car with a good warranty, and didn't want to pay a fortune for it. I am very pleased with everything so far!
Great Car, Greater Price!!!
Bought a 2008 Rondo used, only 16,000 miles got the LX with the V6. Couldn't be happier space inside is great for having car seats, plenty of storage in the back ( I have the 5 seater) Very comfortable to ride, good pick up on the pedal. I dont have the annoying wind noise in the driver side. Just love it!
SO FAR SO GOOD,KIND OF SURPRISED
Bought this 2008 new.Have driven it for a month. Wanted a hatchback instead of a sedan. Looked at Vibe,Mazda,Matrix but for the price of the KIA, others weren't close. The most striking thing is the interior. LOTS of room everywhere. Not cheap looking and its loaded,remote,power windows,locks,cruise,ESC,ABS. Lots of storage space. The 4-cylinder gets to 65-70 smoothly and is surprisingly quiet. Gas mileage isn't great for an engine this size though. I'm a little worried about the recall on the fuel pump. Under the hood,seems accesible, isn't jam packed Don't complain about how the car looks from the outside if you ended up buying it...duh. If my Rondo is this good in a year, I'll be sold.
dig it
Got an 08 KIA Rondo of the used lot of a dealership, for under 10k. Only had 20,000 miles on it. Looks brand new for the most part. Drives well, i love the extra kick that the v6 gives. Add's a lil boost that some other crossover wagon type veichles dont give you. all the usual stuff, power windows, power doors, am/fm/cd, ac/heat. The rondo is very spacious in the back. Lots of room for kids, groceries, camping...whatever. Im pleasantly suprised with this ride, so far!
Impressive....
I have never heard of the Rondo. I bought an 08 with a little more than 7,000 miles on it for $10,900.....bout 3,000.00 below book. I did a test drive....and LOVED it!! Its got lots of zip! Handles well! Lots of leg room. Very comfortable. Storage compartments are hidden in the back cargo area. Very quiet inside. I was/am VERY impressed with this car. Its got lots of compartments that are convenient in the front for the driver and passengers. I would recommend this car highly and I am so glad that I now own one.
Second Kia
This is my second Kia, had a Sedona before with few problems that the dealer took care of with no hassels. I drove the Rondo and was impressed with the ride and drive in the 2.4 4 cylinder. Big room inside and better gas mileage than the Sedona. Yes Kia has come a long way.
A GREAT BUY!
The Rondo may not get you looks on the street but the function is superior of any car in its class. This is a GREAT buy for people who need room and don't want to bleed your wallet. The ride is wonderful and the finishes are excellent! I purchased a FULLY LOADED Rondo for less than half loaded competitors cars. Unbelievable deals are out there on Kia's. I would absolutely tell anyone interested in a new car to look into a Kia. The warranty itself is a no brainer.
Always look forward to driving it
We love the roominess of the interior plus the storage is great. It has more cupholders than all of my previous cars combined (6 cars). I love the high seating that doesn't require me to climb up into it. We did have the check engine light come on after the first fill-up due to not tightening the cap correctly, but no problems since. I do mostly city driving and have gotten between 19 and 21 mpg. I like having the multiple 12v ports, espcially having one in the back that we can use for our electic cooler or a car vac. No complaints about wind noise. We had a very thorough test drive with this vechicle before buying it so we could dectedt any obvious flaws or even not so obvious. Great car.
Lots of features for budget family
I was looking for a car to replace my 13yr old Saturn wagon with more passenger and cargo capacity and a moon roof. We set a budget of $20k and had our eyes on the Mazda5 for the past several years. Recently we realized the Rondo to be the only direct competitor of Mazda5 that fulfilled our requirements. It has good mpg for my daily driving mostly on local. Highway mpg is slightly lower than expected but should be improved after breaking in. The V6 has good acceleration and is very quiet. The second row is roomy even with someone sitting in the 3rd row. With the $4K cash rebate, we got it loaded with options (leather, moonroof, 6CD/MP3, etc) and still within our budget.
Roomy & Right-sized. Thumbs up overall.
Really like my Rondo. Getting 21 city 26.5 hwy. Good power/very roomy. Front of vehicle looks a little plain, but I like the back end and side views. I did a 20% tint on the back windows (not driver, passenger-front or windshield) and it really increases the exterior appeal. Suggest you spend $150 and do the same. Also drove a 4 cylinder Rondo; seems even more peppy in city driving than the 6 cylinder! Wouldn't shy away from buying a 4-banger. Both pull 2500 RPMs at 70 MPH. But the tranny on the 4 seems a little smoother shifting. Great dash set up; lots of rear leg room; sits higher up than sedan and slightly lower than an SUV - a happy median. Drivers seat height good for long legs.
Just What I Was Looking For
I had a 2000 Kia Sportaqe for 8 years and could not kill it. Therefor I wanted another Kia but with more cargo space. Great to drive with good gas mileage. I get 21MPG in mostly city type driving. Highway is near 30MPG. Cargo space is fantastic compared to other similar models and makes. Kia motors were very helpful in transferring the warranty to me on the day of purchase. With only 15,000 miles on the odometer, I got a "new" car for a great price.
Dump your SUV's and minivans.......
For most people, their practical needs in a vehicle are gas consumption, space, highway performance, handling in city driving, and price. I've had this car since February, and even though I'd never even heard of this car until 9 days before I bought it, it is by far the best vehicle I've ever driven on all of the practical counts above. You can use it like a cargo van with all seats down, you can carry 7 passengers, it's deceptively fast on the highway (cruises at triple digit speeds while quiet as a luxury sedan inside), and comfortable in ways you'd never thought of before (best seat entry ever), the ABS and ESC make handling smooth. Not for drag racing, but who really does that anyway?
new to rondo
i have owned many kia's,currently a new amanti,and i have to say that many people with negative comments need to contact kia corporate !they will make sure your problems are resolved ! anyway,roommate needed to get rid of very old & tired olds ciers,so we went to my kia dealer,test drove a 2008 rondo lx-v6 with 41000 miles.all i can say is very nice ride !
Love It!
We had done some research on the Kia Rondo. Love how in handles! It's a great bang for your buck. LOVE driving it! Very rugged. Great features. Like others have posted, not absolutely crazy about the exterior design. Looks more van like than crossover as Kia likes to call it.
Can't Give It Up
I have to agree with the others. I love my Rondo. Previously owned the Optima and a Sorrento. Never heard of a Rondo until I happened see one on a lot. I didn't buy that one but I bought a different one a couple of months later. Checking all the reviews, it seems the troublesome ones are the 4 cyl models. After test driving the 2.7 6 cyl I told the seller not to bother putting it away, it was going home with me. The cons are that parts are hard to find and costly. There is no logic behind that, I've just excepted it because I love everything about my Rondo. I'm the kind of person that likes to be prepared and the hidden storage space in the Rondo lets me carry around the extra tools and accessories I like to have just in case. Example: I like to have a spare pair of shoes, change of clothing, a towel, first aid, thermal sleeping bag, paper towels, a few fast food eating utensils, and water. I also carry window cleaner, extra oil, and powerful flashlight. The Rondo hides it all so my car doesn't look cluttered. I like that the whole family fits comfortably with room left over for the luggage or groceries. It's got enought pep to zip in and out of traffic and quickly jump on the freeway. The thing is, now I have put over 200,000 miles on it and should really be looking at an upgrade but I can't bear the thought on not having it. I go back and forth with "New Car or new motor?" Actually, I could easily get another 100 k out of it, and I may just try that if we are not forced into going electric.
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Okay, but not built to last
Owned this vehicle for almost 7 years. Bought used in 2016 with almost 40,000 km. Seats 5. Pros: Nice sized crossover type SUV, paint is fairly good quality. Cloth seats are quite comfortable and supportive. Seat material wears well. Great visibility for driver, sitting higher than a car. LX model, 2.4 litre 4cylinder engine is adequate. Has a good list of standard features such as decent A/C, heated seats, decent stereo, power mirrors, power windows, power locks, cruise control. All controls easy to reach for driver. Good steering, decent brakes. No problems with transmission, changed transmission fluid at 120,000. No problems with coolant system. Always started in cold weather. No fuel pump, water pump, or timing belt, or brake fluid master cylinder issues. Cons: Feels a bit too heavy for the size of the 2.4 litre 4 cylinder engine. The 6 cylinder is probably much better. While acceleration is okay, gas mileage is only fair, around 19 imperial mpg combined. A 55 litre gas tank, wish it had a 60 litre size instead. Initially, only had a couple of major problems, an electronic computer circuit board in the dash failed, which controlled a lot of the power functions and stereo including the power windows and locks. The new part was $900 to replace, plus labour. Local Kia dealer gave us a free loaner, but it took them 4 weeks to complete the repair. Front suspension noises, needed 2 new control arms. Last year gave us a few problems, I got the feeling everything was starting to wear out at 190,000 km. Terrible in the rain right from the beginning as serpentine belt slips and power almost cuts out. Not that good in snowy weather, wish I had AWD. Because of these problems, I made sure I had high quality Michelin then Nokian tires installed. I installed a new battery and new serpentine belt around 120,000 km. Power steering fluid does not seem to stay at full level. Engine oil pressure light came on and I checked the oil level and it was very low. I discovered that the oil pan had rusted out and that is how I lost almost all the engine oil. No other rust problems and no other engine oil leaking issues. I have never owned a vehicle where the oil pan rusted out within 12 years. A few years ago, the airbag light came on, but I didn’t repair the airbag system because the repair estimate was $2,000. A couple of years later, the airbag light turned off by itself? My last problem was a failed power steering system. May have a failed power steering rack. At this point, with lots of things starting to go wrong, I don’t feel like putting a lot of money into the vehicle, because I don’t know how long the engine and transmission will last. A friend who owned the exact same 2009 Rondo EX also started to experience lots of problems, so they traded it in. I should have done that, too, a year ago. I am loathe to bring my Rondo to the dealer for service because they are quite expensive. I try to use highly rated local garages. In conclusion, the Rondo has been an ‘okay’ vehicle, but Kia doesn’t seem to have the long term quality or reliability as other car manufacturers like Toyota, Honda, Subaru, or even Ford. I had previously owned 2 Subaru Outbacks (1998 and 2002), both of which were excellent cars, except the 1998 4 cylinder model had the dreaded blown head gasket and a few other gasket oil leaks. I also owned a used 1993 Volvo 850 GLS sedan for 5 years, fully loaded, which was a very good safe car on the highway, with a great engine and the most comfortable seats I have ever owned. The only serious problem with the Volvo was that the maintenance was very expensive and frequently required, needing a garage which specialized in working on Volvos. I will not purchase another used Kia vehicle and I can no longer afford any type of brand new vehicle. I am currently looking for something more reliable.
The worst drive ever
I do not know what to say. The car has the worst seats of any car I have driven, the visibility is not the best, the transmission shift like a 1980 Chevy Citation with 100k on it. The 4speed auto is so outdated. I have this as a long term rental.
Do Not Buy This Vehicle
They are ok little cars. Too heavy for the 4 cylinder engine. Book value sucks on them. All around I say 2.5 stars outta 5.
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Interior Room Light
2008 Kia Rondo Why does my room lights( the 2 lights in the cargo bay) stay on whenever I turn my headlights on? I've move the selector to: on/off/door and they never turn off. its distracting when driving at night. Any suggestions/remedies? YIKES!!! help.
Love My Rondo!
Excellent value
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Good car, Great buy
We bought our Rondo as a leftover in 2009. After driving it for the 10 months we have had it we are still surprised at the huge interior and the diminuitive exterior. It is comfortable, easy to enter and exit, gives us reasonable mileage, and easily and comfortably carries four adults 95 miles to visit grandchildren. The fuel pump deserted us at 10k and was promptly replaced by Kia. We were told it had been replaced under a recall earlier while at an Orlando dealer before it was sent to our dealer, hmmm. We are very satisfied but keep an "eye out" for further fuel pump problems. good car for older prople who have mobility problems.
Kia Rondo
When driving there is cold air coming through the door handles-buttons- speakers or any place like that. Also the doors are cold to the touch.
Would make a few minor changes.
I gave up a SUV with lots of bells and whistles for this car. We wanted 3rd row seating, to use occasionally, but we didn't want a large van or gas hog. I may have some complaints about this car but it is mostly because I am comparing to my previous vehicle.
I wish I could Take it BACK
I bought this vehicle because I needed a bigger vehicle. At the dealership I did a test drive around the block. Everything was ok. The external look for this car was verrrry ugly. But I needed a bigger car for my family. I later noticed that when I drove it o the freeway I have to steer more to the left to keep from FLOATING into the other lane. I just figured it was all of a sudden very windy outside. But of course it wasnt. The storage in the back I'm not too fond of. I can hear everything sliding back n forth. Did I mention I hate the way the outside looks. Im use to a car that when u start to drive the doors lock, but this car doesnt. Think hard before u buy, i dont c to many around!
Gas Mileage Disappointing
Love the look and handling of the car- pleased with the price. My only problem is with the gas mileage. After 4 fill ups I am averaging about 16 miles to the gallon. I traded in an 11 year old Subaru with 130,000 miles and was getting an average of 15 mpg doing the same type of driving. Granted most of my trips are less than 4 miles each way, and the air conditioning is running. Hopefully, when fall comes, and the air is no longer needed, the gas mileage will improve. Still, I expected to average 20 mpg. Very disappointing so far.
Fun, functionality & a bargain to boot
I bought my Rondo off-lease 15 months ago with just under 16k on the odometer. I've driven it on the interstates, urban byways, country lanes, mountain roads, etc., and have no performance issues. No problems at all beyond the scheduled maintenance. It's well made, well equipped and is very functional--a terrific little multitasker at a bargain price.
A Great Bargain
I somehow managed to purchase my Rondo with 30k on the odometer for merely 10k. what a surprise! Seven months later and I still love it. You can haul all kinds of stuff, great acceleration, and it is so comfortable it feels like you're driving while sitting on your favorite couch. The car is an ugly bubble, don't get me wrong. Your friends will might have a few jibes for you. But for the price and the ride quality/reliability, you won't find anything better.
Wow ...Rondo...What??
The 2008 Kia Rondo is a pleasant surprise. We considered a Matrix or Vibe but the Rondo won the day. Its clearly a great value. The quality of the Rondo is impressive. Kia has grown up here and can compete with the big boys. Good work Kia! The utility, roominess and ride of the Rondo is impressive. Seven seats in this size of car is amazing. The car does what it's supposed to, has all kinds of bells and whistles (the heated seats are nice) and the price can't be beat. Great for small families who don't like big 'mini' vans. The 4cyl engine and transmission are more than adequate. I'm looking forward to seeing how the quality of this vehicle holds up over time.
A real sleeper!
The Rondo is a well put-together small car that feels bigger on the road that it really is: the V-6 engine is very quiet, the transmission shifts smoothly, and the amount of room for 5 passengers is simply amazing. I'm 6'5", and the Rondo has plenty of head, shoulder and leg room for me and a 6' passenger riding behind me. Maybe it won't set you heart on fire, but it sure gets the job done without any fuss.
Great for the price
Great vehicle for a small family car, seats are a bit small but not uncomfortable. Lots of room for kids to stretch without burring knees into back of seat. Two row has a lot of storage options. Nice pep off the line but lags above 50 mph. Exterior doesn't command a lot of attention, but doesn't repel the date for the evening either.
2008 kia rondo; RIP
i really liked this vehicle over the 11 years i owned it. weak link were the brakes. always had to replace brakes and rotors ... brakes were undersized.... finally after 113454 miles i have to get rid of it due to leaky water pump, and cracked block. but of ot were still made i'd buy another one. it was only sold here in the usa 2007-2010. very versatile vehicle for a family.... paul k.
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Best kept secret in used cars
I've had two of these. First was a 2008 LX with the V6. Great driving, lots of room, comfy seats. The V-6 is punchy and responsive. Mileage is about 22 in local driving and 28-30 on the highway. Bought in 2012 with 22K miles. Then gave to my son where it has 130K and still going strong. After I found another one to replace it for me. It is a 2008 EX with the V6. Bought with 33K and still going great at 70K miles. Only maintenance items on these seem to be the front brakes. I get about 30-40K miles and then the brake rotors warp enough that they had to be replaced because you'd get the shimmy in the steering wheel. Also the V6 does have a timing belt. The factory says to replace at 60K miles. I replaced it on my first Rondo at around 70K and old one looked like new. It's surprising to me this car was only around in the USA for 3 years. Kia still sold it internationally as the Carens model for many years. It's one of the best kept secrets in used cars.
Great family car
After extensive research and test drives, we decide on the Kia. We are so happy we did! It is a great car to drive and has so much flexibility.
Extremely Disappointed
I now believe I made a mistake buying this vehicle. I thought it was going to be a great investment. Not so. The gas mileage is poor and there is this extremely annoying wind noise on the drivers side. based on other commentary, it would seem that it can not be fixed. Yeah, the vehicle does not look great but we bought it for the features and the price. We are very disappointed and are looking at our options of getting something else. It does not handle particularly well on the road. It has a tendency to float and I can almost see the gas gage move. Like one other guy said, I guess you get what you pay for.