The Kia Rondo is the smallest and least priced seven-passenger car available at the time; it is shorter than a minivan but taller and shorter than a standard wagon.
It almost manages to achieve the utility of a minivan while maintaining the external dimensions of a small vehicle with seating for up to seven.
The seats were also unpleasant, the suspension noise was irritating, and the third-row seat was too small for kids.
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Are Kia Rondo vehicles good?
The Kia Rondo is what? The Rondo is frequently referred to by Kia as a crossover utility vehicle, which is undoubtedly a popular moniker. The Rondo’s appearance is more akin to a tiny minivan, which is the only drawback. This class of vehicle, also referred to as a “space wagon MPV,” is very well-liked in Europe and Asia. In actuality, the Rondo has long been offered in those regions (under the Kia Carens name).
The Kia Rondo offers a surprising lot of versatility and adaptability for its size and cost, even though it never really took off with consumers. The four-door Rondo, a hybrid between a minivan and a hatchback, can seat up to seven people. It has ingenious storage and is fairly maneuverable. The Rondo is a good, albeit frequently ignored, option if you’re looking for a used compact crossover or something smaller than a minivan.
brand-new Kia Rondo The Kia Rondo was made between 2007 and 2009. Initially, the car’s base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine put out 162 horsepower while the 2.7-liter V6 engine put out 182 horsepower. These increased to 175 for the four-cylinder (167 in California emissions states due to SULEV emissions rating) and 192 for the V6 for 2009. The four-cylinder came standard with a four-speed automatic transmission, while the V6 had a five-speed automatic.
The Kia Rondo isn’t particularly fancy, but despite this, it nevertheless excels in a number of areas. The Rondo is well-equipped starting with the base model and is offered in two trim levels, LX and EX. Important safety features, such stability control and antilock brakes, are included even in the base LX grade. 16-inch wheels, air conditioning, full power accessories, and an audio system with a CD player and an auxiliary audio port are additional gratifying standard features. The LX and EX both include an optional third row of seats, bringing the total number of passengers up to seven.
A 17-inch set of wheels, leather upholstery, heated seats, and a steering wheel wrapped in leather are added when upgrading to the EX grade level. Sunroof, GPS, iPod compatibility, and an improved sound are further choices. 2009 saw the introduction of leather, heated seats, a navigation system, and an iPod interface.
Despite its little size, the Kia Rondo is an extremely useful vehicle. The Rondo can accommodate seven passengers when the third row is added, however kids are undoubtedly the finest passengers in this row. The second-row seats may be moved forward and backward and divided 60/40 to fold flat. Although they split 50/50, the optional third-row seats also fold flat. Furthermore, there is ample storage, including 10 cupholders.
Our editors discovered the Kia Rondo performed unexpectedly well in road tests. The V6 and four-cylinder engines both produced smooth acceleration. The V6 was especially responsive, providing strong passing power and quick acceleration. It had good steering, especially for a somewhat tall family car. The Rondo never seemed tippy, even if we’d love less body roll. The Rondo could deceive you into believing you were truly in a little car in many common circumstances like parking and navigating traffic, which was exactly the objective.
Is the Kia Rondo an SUV or a car?
Kia Rondo models from 2009 The 2009 Kia Rondo is a wagon with rear doors that extend forward, resembling a minivan. The base LX comes with five seats as standard, while the uplevel EX comes standard with a third row that is optional in the LX.
What qualifies as a Kia Rondo?
The Kia Rondo is a compact hatchback that has been available for purchase in Australia since 2008.
Up to the series’ replacement in 2013, when a six-speed automatic was released, all variations of the first-generation Rondo were fitted with an automatic transmission.
The base 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine was upgraded in 2013 along with the launch of the 1.7-liter turbo-diesel model.
Why did Kia cease production of the Rondo?
The Kia Rondo will no longer be produced by Kia. With three rows of seating and a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine, this small minivan had an outward design that was more akin to a crossover. However, it added a significant amount of utility and could transport up to seven passengers. The Kia Rondo was never updated for 2010; instead, Kia allowed the leftover stock of 2009 cars to slowly deplete on dealer lots, leaving only a small number still on the market nationwide.
It’s never a good indication when a compact minivan choice disappears because so many expanding families need the minivan’s functionality, seating, and storage room without wanting to upgrade to a larger vehicle and spend more money than they have set aside for their car budget. Let’s look at the greatest compact minivan contender that is now available on the new auto market.
Mazda MAZDA5
The 2010 Mazda MAZDA5 is around $3,000 more expensive than the budget-friendly Kia Rondo, but it also comes with a few extra features that make up for the difference in price. The MAZDA5 is known as one of the best handling compact people movers on the market, and when combined with its spirited 153 horsepower four-cylinder drivetrain, standard manual transmission, and a suspension system created by the same engineers who created the Mazda Miata and the Mazda RX-8, this minivan has some serious cred through the corners.
A healthy 44.4 cubic feet of cargo capacity is available with the third row folded forward on the Mazda MAZDA5, which trades one seating position to the Kia Rondo in exchange for its ability to accommodate six rather than seven passengers. Additionally, it offers a variety of storage spaces, crevices, and compartments for stowing away equipment while traveling. The vehicle’s best-in-class fuel economy of 22 mpg in cities and 28 mpg on the interstate, figures that larger minivans find challenging to match, is perhaps the finest feature.
Other Compact Minivan Replacement Options
There are a few more mini-people movers worth taking into consideration, even if the departure of the Kia Rondo has essentially reduced the selection of compact minivans to just one (the 2010 Mazda MAZDA5).
- 2010 Scion xB: Although this box-shaped crossover may not have minivan-style seats, it does have a big interior, outstanding luggage space, excellent fuel efficiency, and a youthful, exciting atmosphere.
- 2010 Nissan Cube – The rectangular shape of the Cube matches its quirky exterior, which has wrap-around back glass. Square appears to be in for tiny crossovers. Again, the passenger accommodations are hardly van-like, but there is plenty space for storing equipment, goods, and other items.
- Kia Soul (2010) – The fuel-efficient Soul, which is smaller than the other two crossovers discussed here, does not take the place of the Rondo, but it does join the current of toaster-shaped compacts that are offering entry-level car consumers a more useful family alternative compared to conventional hatchbacks.
How many seats are there in a Kia Rondo?
The Kia Rondo is a compact vehicle with a lot of passenger room. The Rondo can now seat seven people instead of only five thanks to the third-row seat, which is now a standard feature on all versions.
Kia Rondo has all-wheel drive, right?
Front-wheel drive and a four- or six-cylinder engine are standard on all Kia Rondo models. The 2.4-liter inline-4 engine in the four-cylinder models produces 162 horsepower and 164 pound-feet of torque and is mated to a four-speed automated transmission.
Is the Kia Rondo a good car for 2015?
Even in the basic models, the new generation Rondo is a well-equipped and effective all-around vehicle. While the interior is sleek and functional, the outside is subdued. There are seven-passenger models available, but those in the last row might feel like they got the short end of the stick. Even though the automatic transmission has six ratios, the 164-hp four-cylinder occasionally works harder than is necessary, which has a detrimental influence on fuel efficiency.
Does the Kia Rondo have five seats?
The Kia Rondo is a spacious wagon that has 107.8 cubic feet of passenger room in the five-seat variant. Seven passengers can fit in the third row for an additional fee if a bench seat is added. Looking at the photographs, you might not realize that the Rondo can accommodate three rows of seats, says MSN.
How long do Kia cars last?
Maintaining the factory-recommended maintenance plan and taking care of problems as soon as they appear are the best ways to maintain your Kia in good working order. Any material or workmanship flaws should be covered by the Kia guarantee that comes with new and certified pre-owned cars, but these protections ultimately run out.
If your car needs repairs after the first warranty period has passed, an extended warranty might assist cover the cost of such unforeseen expenses. Kia has an extended warranty that may be purchased directly from the company, but you can also acquire coverage from third parties.
Independent extended warranty providers frequently provide more options for coverage, older vehicle coverage, a larger network of repair facilities, and more comprehensive benefits. Endurance and CarShield are two companies that we suggest.
Endurance: Best Coverage
Up to 8 years or 200,000+ miles of additional warranty coverage are possible with Endurance. Additionally, Endurance offers some of the market’s most comprehensive contracts. There are five different coverage options available, ranging from straightforward powertrain coverage to complete bumper-to-bumper warranty protection.
CarShield: Best Value
Additionally, CarShield provides extended warranty protection for cars with up to 300,000 miles on the odometer, potentially doubling the Kia factory warranty’s scope of coverage. CarShield offers a solid reputation in the market, a wide range of coverage options, and some of the most affordable contracts available.
For more information, see our comprehensive CarShield review. To get a free, no-risk CarShield quote, click the button below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kia is a dependable automaker. Overall, Kia receives a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 on RepairPal, placing it third overall (out of 32 brands).
Both Kia and Toyota are well-known for their dependability, and both have a 4.0 out of 5.0 RepairPal reliability rating. Kias may be marginally more reliable, while RepairPal puts Toyota seventh overall and Kia third.
Kias require an average of 0.2 unforeseen repair shop visits year, according to RepairPal. This is half of the 0.4 visits per year average for all brands. You have a one in five risk of needing an unforeseen repair each year, according to this statistic.
Previously, the Kia name was associated with low-cost, subpar vehicles. This is partly because the brand’s automobiles had a lot of issues when it first appeared in the United States. Since then, Kia has made fleet improvements and has earned a reputation for having great reliability.
Yes, Kias have a reputation for lasting just as long as other trustworthy cars like Hyundai, Honda, and Toyota. Although the powertrain is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty for up to 100,000 miles, many owners keep their Kias for much longer.