Site RSS Feed2007 Kia Rondo
Kia Rondo: Lots of room for a little price
Thu, Oct 4th 2007
| VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS | |
|---|---|
| type | 5 door, wagon, 2wd |
| msrp | $20,195 |
| trans | automatic |
| gas mi. | 20mpg/27mpg |
| rating |  |
Rolling all the way from Korea into my carport this week was the Kia Rondo EX, a mid-sized station wagon with plenty of room for a family of six people, pups or any combination thereabouts. Having just stepped out of a Subaru Outback, I was prepared to be less-than-impressed by the incoming Kia, mostly because the Rondo’s sticker price is more than $1,400 less than the stately Subaru. What I discovered was that price isn’t everything.
In fact, my 6-foot-4 frame fit much better in the Rondo than the Outback, and with proper adjustment of the leather seats, I was left enjoying nearly three extra inches of headroom under the moon roof. I was also surprised to see that this smallish wagon sported a third row of passengers seats that feature a 50/50 split so one seat can fold flat while the other stays in place.
In fact, both back rows fold flat enough to handle many of your dogmobile duties with one cautionary note: When folded flat, the seats leave a deep “trench” that will need to be covered to prevent loose paws or toys from getting stuck. The floor-to-roof tailgate opens wide enough to fit at lease one crate (28 inches wide by 31 inches tall), and there’s even a small storage bin under the rear floor for small toys and treats.
But the best thing about the Rondo is the price. For a base of $20,195 -- or $23,495 fully loaded -- the Rondo EX is a great starter wagon to get you and your pack out and about.
Carguy Comments: The Kia Rondo comes in two styles: LX and EX ans two engines. The 2.4-liter, four-cylinder model produces 162 horsepower, while the larger, 2.7-liter, V-6 version puts out 182 horsepower. According to the Kia website, the total passenger volume for the 5-seat Rondo is 107.8 cubic feet, with cargo volume of 31.7 cubic feet behind the second row (5-seat configuration) and 6.5 cubic feet behind the third row in the 7-seat model. The Rondo can tow up to 1,000 pounds. In addition to the suggested retail price, options include a Leather Package (leather seat trim and heated seats) for an additional $1,000 and a Premium Package with power sunroof and Infinity sound system for $1,200 extra. The third row seat option costs $500. The total price for the model tested is $23,495.
-- Keith Turner, The Family Car
Kia Rondo adds element of surprise
Comments
Ok, Here’s a quote from the Rondo Manual re Maximum trailer weight.
without trailer brakes:
2.4L engine is 1000 lbs
2.7L engine is 1000 lbs
with trailer brakes:
2.4L engine is 1500 lbs
2.7L engine is 2000 lbs
maximum tongue weight:
2.4L engine is 150 lbs
2.7L engine is 200 lbs
2008-02-26 12:44:08
On Autonet.ca it states that with trailer brakes (actuator) the Rondo can tow up to 1500kg (3300lbs) w/ the 4 cyl, and 2000kg (4400lbs) w/ the V6. This is a far cry from the 1000lb towing capacity on the specs. I wonder if this is a typo, and they wrote kg’s instead of lb’s?!? You can almost always tow over the specified towing capacity if you have trailer brakes. Check out the link:
http://www6.autonet.ca/Spotlight/NewModels/story.cfm?story=/Spotlight/NewModels/2006/12/03/2654243-sun.html
2007-11-30 21:34:35
On Autonet.ca it states that with trailer brakes (actuator) the Rondo can tow up to 1500kg (3300lbs) w/ the 4 cyl, and 2000kg (4400lbs) w/ the V6. This is a far cry from the 1000lb towing capacity on the specs. I wonder if this is a typo, and they wrote kg’s instead of lb’s?!? You can almost always tow over the specified towing capacity if you have trailer brakes. Check out the link:
http://www6.autonet.ca/Spotlight/NewModels/story.cfm?story=/Spotlight/NewModels/2006/12/03/2654243-sun.html
2007-11-30 21:34:21
I just took delivery of my 5 seat rondo ex. It’s got more than enough headroom for my Karelian beardog mix, who can put both paws on my shoulder and look me dead in the eye (at 6’2, he’s a big fella). It’s got enough room back there to move around and should he need more room, I’ll drop the second row seats and he enjoy a little window time on the massive rear doors. We did opt to add the bumper cap so his claws wouldn’t scratch the shiny new black paint, but after test driving the Mazda 5, the Subaru forester and so on and so on…this was the best car, not just based on price. I’d recomend it to anyone
2007-10-18 17:26:24
Check your MSRP. I think you added an extra zero. :)
2007-10-17 07:03:45
To clarify, according to Kia’s specifications, the total passenger volume in the Rondo is 107.8 cubic feet, while cargo volume is 31.7 cubic feet behind the second row (5-seat configuration) and 6.5 cubic feet behind the third row in the 7-seat model.
I’m not sure where you found a higher towing capacity, because Kia lists it at 1,000 pounds for both LX and Ex versions, with a note to see the owner’s manual for more information. Perhaps that provides a clue about the discrepancy.
Keith
2007-10-07 11:45:02
Our bassett loves our Rondo. I have to help in though…
Actual cargo capacity is 74 cu ft, not 107.8 (where did you get that figure?) and my manual (V6) says it can tow 2,000 lbs.
Brian Williams, Gander, Newfoundland, Canada
2007-10-06 16:00:29
I completely agree. In fact, I’d go farther to say that third-row seating is a negative thing in a dogcar, altogether.
Gina
2007-10-06 09:08:15
If you can do without the 3rd row seating, the 5-seater is more dog friendly because there is no “deep trench” when the 2nd row seats are folded flat. There is also more rear under floor storage in the 5-seater.
2007-10-05 12:41:14
I love the way this is a safe family car with a great price. I will probably be purchasing the EX V6. In the next few months
2008-02-29 17:49:06