Kia’s Rondo just might be the sleeper sales success of 2007. Right off the bat let me tell you that the Sainted Claudia has rarely been as enthusiastic about a car as she was about the Kia Rondo that recently graced our driveway for a week. I had a hard time getting the keys away from her long enough to be able to write something half-way intelligent here.
She loved the Rondo’s comfortable interior, the plethora of clever features that enhance the vehicle’s usability, it’s easy to drive and she thought the exterior was “cute.” The Rondo got double plaudits when it easily swallowed 50 cases of newspaper inserts for one of her clients. I think what really won her over, though, was the price tag, about which more directly.
The Rondo is based on Kia’s Optima sedan and looks sort of like a combination mini minivan crossed with a Toyota Matrix or similar tall wagon. If ever there was an example of designers designing from the inside out, however, the Rondo is it because the interior is spacious and inviting.
There is actually an available third row of seats that can be used by adults willing to do a little clambering to access them. The second row seats move forward and fold flat, plus they afford occupants lots of knee, shoulder and leg room. The front seats are great, too.
Rondo’s interior is bigger than expected and provides multiple combinations of seating and cargo capacity.
Power comes either from a standard 2.4 liter four cylinder good for 162 horsepower, or the optional 2.7 liter, 187 horsepower V-6 that powered our test Rondo. The smaller engine comes with a four-speed automatic and the V-6 with a five-speed automatic.
Acceleration with the V-6 was modestly sporting, registering an 8.59 second 0-60 mph time, which kind of surprised me in view of the Rondo’s 3,700+ curb weight. Fuel economy for our week was good, too, hovering right around 20 mpg.
In contrast to the expansive interior, the Rondo’s exterior looks smaller and trimmer than it really is. It’s a pleasant, if from some angles a bit ungainly, look. I didn’t care for it at first, but it grew on me, especially from the rear-three-quarters perspective that showed the tail lamps to best effect.
I said the price was probably the thing that clinched it for Claudia. It did for me, too. The Rondo offers genuine value in a package that is practical for lots of different people and uses. Loaded with leather, the V-6 and other premium touches, the Rondo still came in under $24,000. Kia may have a hit on their hands.
