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Back to the topic of this thread...reviews. Motor Trend Magazine has added the 2007 Rondo EX to it's fleet of long term test cars, so each month they're be a small write-up of how it stands up to the numerous drivers of the magazine's staff. Read the first article here: 2007 Kia Rondo EX - Long Term Test - Motor Trend
It's strange that I haven't seen a press release from Kia about this yet, but the Center for Auto Safety has named the Rondo as a Best Bet in their publication The Car Book 2008, along with five other Kia models. They also chose five Hyundai models. According to the CAS website:
Quote:
"Best Bets" are drawn from information in The Ultimate Car Book's Buying Guide, and are based on expected performance in ten categories (crash tests, safety features, fuel economy, rollover, overall, maintenance and repair costs, warranties, insurance costs, and complaints), with the greatest emphasis placed on crash test performance and complaints.
Quote:
2008 Car Book "Best Bets"
Subcompact
Hyundai Accent
Kia Rio
Compact
Honda Civic
Honda Civic Coupe
Hyundai Elantra
Kia Spectra
Nissan Sentra
Intermediate
Acura TL
Acura TSX
Chrysler Sebring
Hyundai Sonata
Kia Optima
Nissan Altima
Large
Acura RL
Buick Lucerne
Cadillac GTS
Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis
Lincoln Town Car
Minivan
Chrysler Town and Country
Dodge Grand Caravan
Honda Odyssey
Hyundai Entourage
Kia Rondo
Kia Sedona
Small SUV
Honda CR-V
Hyundai Tuscon
Jeep Liberty
Mid-Size SUV
Acura MDX
Honda Pilot
Infiniti FX
Kia Sorento
Lexus RX
Volvo XC90
Large SUV
Cadillac Escalade/Escalade EXT
Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon
Chrysler Pacifica
GMC Yukon XL/Cadillac Escalade ESV
Jeep Grand Cherokee
just picked up the new April issue of Consumer Reports (their annual automotive issue) and they state in the Best & Worst section, they have a heading "Most overlooked cars" saying These aren't top sellers, but all are good values and perform well. (they list four)
Kia Rondo with a overall test score of 76 is the fourth.
Some other interesting info:
On the Highs and Lows page, I found some of these lows interesting (because some of these I looked at before buying the Rondo)
"Medioctrity strikes three times - several new models from Chrysler have underwhelmed us. Jeep's new Patriot and redesigned Liberty SUVs are saddled with cheap-looking and uncomfortable interiors, and are too noisy and slow to be competitive with most small SUV's. And where do we begin with the disappointing Dodge Avenger sedan? With a stiff ride, uncomfortable seats, poor fit and finish, and limited visibility, it ranks near the bottom of the family-sedan class."
and another one:
"Good News, bad news - the freshened Ford Escape XLT V6 we tested now comes with better fuel economy and standard stability control, which aids its emergency handling. But its braking distance are among the longest of any vehicle we've recently tested, especially on wet pavement. (Ford has promised revisions for 2009)."
and I like this one as this has been brought up before: "Form over function - In an effort to be visually distinctive, more models are being designed with small windows and wide roof pillars. But that often creates huge blind zones that limit a driver's outward view. We've recently seen this in the Buick Enclave, Dodge Avenger and Nitro, and Scion xB."
In the section "Who makes the best cars? - Hyundai/KIA is in 9th place with a overall score of 66 and they said "Hyundai and Kia models are well equipped, comfortable, and competent but are not agile or sporty to drive. They have a long warranty and are generally good values.
Highs - logical controls, ride comfort, quietness, fit and finish, long warranty, standard stability control on most models, powertrain, value.
Lows - agility, fuel economy, suspension noise"
companies below this score are Volvo, Mitsubishi, Ford, General Motors, Suzuki and Chrysler.
In their editorial at the front of the magazine they say "ESC is, we believe, the single greatest advance in auto safety since the safety belt. It selectively applies brakes to individual wheels to help keep the vehicle under control when swerving to avoid an accident or cornering on slippery pavement, and it can help a vehicle stay out of a situation that could lead to a rollover"
the also added: "But stability control is available mainly on higher-priced vehicles; many small, inexpensive cars don't offer it. We think they should now. In fact, ESC is so critical to the safety of all drivers and passengers that we're giving it a greater weight in our auto evaluations in this issue"
glad its standard in the Rondo
In the Vehicle Profiles section was the following:
"Kia Rondo - The Rondo offers an impressive amount of room for its compact size. With seating for up to seven, it has minivanlike utility with the dimensions of a small car. It competes mainly with the six-passenger Mazda5. Built on the same platform as the Kia Optima, the Rondo also shares its 2.4 liter, four-cylinder engine, as well as the optional 2.7-liter V6. Fit and fnish is very good, and access is very easy. The ride is comfortable and quiet, and the powertrain is refined.
Handling is not particularly agile. Stability control and curtain air bags are standard.
Reliability: N/A
Satisfaction: N/A
Owner cost: (red circle with white dot - better)
Body style: wagon
Trim lines: LX, EX
Price: $16,395 - $20,195 (US); $19,995 - $26,095 (Canada)
Seating: 2/3/2
Engine: 2.4L 4 (162hp), 2.7L V6 (182hp)
Transmission: 4-spd auto; 5-spd auto
Fuel: regular
Version tested: LX V6
CR overall mpg: 21 mpg (US)
Acceleration: (0-60mph) 9.6
Braking (60-0): 140 ft
I'm all typed out!
__________________ Mileage: 21,200 km (13,200 miles), Ownership: 13 months
Last edited by conwelpic : 03-11-2008 at 02:35 PM.
Reason: adding vehicle profile
Thanks for the highlights, conwelpic. Now I don't have to buy that issue. Speaking of which, about the article in the December 2007 issue of Consumer Reports that talks about the Rondo, you guys can download the article from here (6 MB PDF file).
Yes, RapidShare is a free file-hosting site, hence the ads and time delay. You can't get nothing for free, dude (double negative alert). If you're suggesting that it's just one big ad and you couldn't see where to download the file, you click on the "Free" button, then wait for the timer to run down and then enter the code that's displayed. If you understood that already, I apologize for insulting your intelligence.
Thanks Trevor for all the typing. I chuckle a bit about 'size'. There is no way that a European driver would class a Rondo/Carens as 'small'. A Picanto or a Fiat Panda or a Mini is small. I know that a Carens can't be small because it only just fits in to the parking bays in the average UK car park/parking lot. A Sedona/Carnival is 'big' so the Carens/Rondo must either be 'medium' or even 'medium-large' in Europe. Perhaps we should all adopt clothing size descibers - eg XS, S, M , L, XL , XXL? On that scale I would place the Carens (if not the Rondo) as 'L'.
Speaking of which, about the article in the December 2007 issue of Consumer Reports that talks about the Rondo, you guys can download the article from 
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