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So Rondo owners. What kind of MPG are you seeing with your Rondo? Please post engine type (4 or 6) along with the type of driving you do (City vs Highway). Any info would be greatly appreciated. I really want to get the Rondo, but I'd like some more info on mileage before I make a final decision. Thanks much.
I just returned from a trip in my new Rondo. I have a 4cyl lx with the third row seats. We went 2800 miles round trip from Florida to Ohio. I averaged 26 mpg. It seemed to do better in the mountains and the colder air of the north. I had my wife daughter and myself as well as enough luggage in the back to notice the space between the tires and the bottom of the wheel well had dissapeared. I love the car it was very comfortable all the way. I drove 15 hours straight through on the way home and felt great other than a little tired. The 4cyl engine had no problems going through the mountains or sticking to the wet curvy roads. There was just enough room for the luggage and I also took a cooler for snacks. Anymore though and I would have had to get the roof rack. I am very pleased with every aspect of the vehicle. If anyone has any specific Questions just shoot me a post.
Last edited by chillidawg : 03-05-2007 at 04:12 PM.
We drive a Rondo EX with 4 cyl. engine, auto. We have driven about 2000 km (1243 miles) of mixed highway/city driving with mixed passengers/cargo and have averaged about 11.8 litres/100 km (20mpg).
I tend to have a bit of a heavy foot, however, I was really hoping to realise better fuel economy than this. I'm sure I'll see some improvement in economy as we put a few more clicks on the car.
My Rondo has about 1400 miles on it. When I had about 600 miles on it, I took a trip across South Carolina and got about 27.4 mpg on one leg. Now all of my driving is in town, lots of stop signs and traffic lights, and I get about 20 mpg. Hopefully as the weather warms up and I take longer trips, it will improve.
I am seeing slight improvement in economy after nearly 3500 kms. My Rondo is now consuming about 11L/100km in mixed driving (helped by slight restraint by my right foot).
Anybody try messing with tire pressure? I have noticed that KIA's recommended tire pressure on the 17" tires is a bit lower that the max rating on the tires themselves...which makes me think that another 5psi or so in each tire, may reduce rolling resistance, improve cornering speed etc...
We drive the V6 and the fuel consumption is higher than the manufacturer claims, circa 13 or even 14 or even more litres/100 km, the more stop-and-go short trip driving I do, the worse it is. I can keep it around 11 if I do at least half highway driving.
We are actually just thinking about checking the tire pressure, and hope that helps. The funny thing is though that one reason for buying the Rondo is that I was getting downright arthritic from driving our old car (low seating position, standard transmission) that I couldn't walk much, but since the Rondo is so much easier on me, I will soon be able to walk more of those short trips, and perhaps in aggregate use LESS gas! That doesn't reduce the Rondo's fuel consumption, but it does ease my conscience :-)
I wouldn't go too overboard with the tire pressure. You will pay for it with a much stiffer ride IMO. Expect marginal improvement and you won't be disappointed.
If recommended is 32lb, I might go to 34lb pressure.
Drive like you are delivering eggs. Easy acceleration with moderate RPMs, do the speed limit or slower on the freeways. No one has changed the laws of physics. It takes energy to accelerate mass and more boost given the more energy it takes. It takes more energy to overcome higher of wind resistance.
Slowing down reduces stress. It may not reduce the stress of drivers around you but you won't be jockeying for position, hitting your brakes, accelerating to get around someone. Just stay the heck out of the passing lane and don't be self rightous about driving slower and messing with other drivers by being a pain. Do get up to speed and merge sensibly when entering highways.
I would recommend that you change the settings on the defroster setting to default to AC off. I'm smart enough to know when I need the AC on to dehumidify the interior window. It kills the already lower winter time mileage. Most of the time I need heat to melt the frost on the outside and having the AC going defeats the purpose.
Sorry about the preaching rant... If saving gas is important, there are higher MPG cars out there or the option of driving reasonable.
I'm still on the first tank, 95mi at the first quarter of a tank with 80% highway.
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So what kind of mileage are people getting?
I just returned from a trip in my new Rondo. I have a 4cyl lx with the third row seats. We went 2800 miles round trip from Florida to Ohio. I averaged 26 mpg. It seemed to do better in the mountains and the colder air of the north. I had my wife daughter and myself as well as enough luggage in the back to notice the space between the tires and the bottom of the wheel well had dissapeared. I love the car it was very comfortable all the way. I drove 15 hours straight through on the way home and felt great other than a little tired. The 4cyl engine had no problems going through the mountains or sticking to the wet curvy roads. There was just enough room for the luggage and I also took a cooler for snacks. Anymore though and I would have had to get the roof rack. I am very pleased with every aspect of the vehicle. If anyone has any specific Questions just shoot me a post.
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