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Bought mine last week in Gettysburg, Pa - 5000 in rebates plus 4000 over Kelley Blue Book for my trade (2004 Dodge Neon SXT with 29000 - 5700 Kelly - dealership gave me 9700 on my trade) How could I say no. It will be my wife's daily driver - I Drive a 2007 4Runner and I love it but I really like driving the Rondo - it's why it was so easy to say yes. All negotiation done on the internet. We just showed up and picked our color (urban gray) and the deal was done!! I am glad the reviews are good. My biggest concerns are the seats (people say they spot from water) and some people complaining about their dealership not wanting to do warranty work - some justified some not. I am so glad I found this forum - I belong to one for the 4runner and it has been extremely helpful on a variety of issues.
Looking forward to learning from you!!
congratulations on your purchase and we look forward to your input on the forum, now if you could put all those details in your profile including your engine size and number of seats and of course your location - thanks.
I've only ever had one spot on the inner side of my drivers seat and was cleaned by my dealer using a 10/1 solution of Spray Nine, its been fine since. My seats have had rain and snow dropped on them without any marks. It was suggested two light coatings of Scotchguard to really protect them. My dealer - so far so good, but we will see what happens in the future.
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gottarondo - thanks for the picture, I'll try to look close at mine, but if any water gets in there and drains out okay, it shouldn't cause a problem, I would imagine it would be very difficult to 100% seal it. However, I'm taking my Rondo in for KROWN rustproofing shortly, used them before and it really helps and also if you do it within 6 months of purchase on a new vehicle you get a lifetime warranty.
__________________ Mileage: 21,200 km (13,200 miles), Ownership: 13 months
Consumer Guide has a review of the 2008 Rondo. The I4 got a score of 65 and the V6 got 70. CG places the Rondo in the midsize car category. The category average is 63 and the scores range from 48 to 74.
Note that in CG's review of the 2007 Rondo, the I4 got 57 and the V6 got 62. The class average was 59 and the scores ranged from 47 to 69. The Rondo was also previously named as a Best Buy for 2008.
just of interest I've come across the KIA Australia site and see they do call it the Rondo there, but its actually called the Rondo 7. It only comes in a 7-seater and has a 2.0L gas engine with 5 speed manual or 4-speed Tiptronic auto. Also noticed it has a storage drawer under the passengers seat. They have three models: LX, EX, EX-L, but in the brochure you can download it doesn't show a comparison list between the models.
just of interest I've come across the KIA Australia site and see they do call it the Rondo there, but its actually called the Rondo 7. It only comes in a 7-seater and has a 2.0L gas engine with 5 speed manual or 4-speed Tiptronic auto. Also noticed it has a storage drawer under the passengers seat. They have three models: LX, EX, EX-L, but in the brochure you can download it doesn't show a comparison list between the models.
You are bang up to date. The Rondo has only just been featured on the Australian web-site and I understand that sales will start in May.
Looking at the brochure, the Australian version is an interesting mix of bits from other markets. It is essentially the same as the topspec UK Carens (LS) but with the 2.O litre i4 petrol engine (the LS is only available as a diesel in the UK) and a choice of 4 speed auto or 5 speed manual. It also has ESP which is not available in the UK and a leather option which is a dealer fit here. It's interesting to me that in New Zealand where they also drive on the left, the car is called a Carens and is only available as a diesel i4 with the auto box. This shows I think just how powerful the importer is when it comes to the spec.
By the way, the UK Carens has the under seat (passanger) drawer and very useful it is too.
This review at New Car Net wasn't very enthusiastic about the Carens, stating that it "rolled on corners and the steering was distant and imprecise." As for the styling, the interior is "a bit Woolworth's" and the exterior is "no oil painting."
This mini-review from the Irish Times notes that there are definite improvements compared to the older generation Carens and the new Carens narrows the gap with its competitors, but the review has the same rumblings as the one above. "There is an almost comical level of body-roll and it pushes into understeer pretty early on. It's safe and manageable but nothing more." "I wasn't tremendously excited about the styling: they certainly didn't take any risks."
On the other hand, another review from the Irish Times has exactly the opposite take. "What was probably most surprising was the quality of the drive." "The Carens is a good-looking MPV...." This review is quite an interesting read, opening with a few paragraphs on Kia's challenge of shaking off its "bargain basement" image and closing with a few paragraphs on how the Carens stacks up against its rivals.
We've had a 2008 Kia Rondo tester for a couple of months now and it's been a reliable workhorse wagon. Starts up every time, first time. No breakdowns, no problems at all.
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The V-6 Rondo does use a bit of regular gas, though. We've been averaging slightly more than 9.5 litres/100 kilometres [in MPG, 24.7 US or 29.7 Imperial] combined for city and highway driving. That's okay, but not brilliant.
The 1,686-kg curb weight explains some of it, the 182-horsepower V-6 the rest. The Rondo does not lack for power and it feels refined enough for this class. It is just not quite as fuel thrifty as other smallish V-6 engines out there.
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2008 Mazda5 GT
Like
Sporty drive
Quality look to the interior
Overall functionality
Don't like
No stability control
When loaded, a bit more power needed
More money than the Rondo for comparable equipment
2008 Kia Rondo EX V-6
Like
Outstanding functionality
Impressive safety features that are standard
Comfy ride
Good visibility
Don't like
The functional design is not stunningly attractive
Handling is not very sporty
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The real winner in all this is the consumer. Both of these vehicles offer a lot for around $25,000 and I have no trouble recommending either one.
Here's the first "real" review that I've read of the Aussie version of the Rondo: CarAdvice.com.au
It's officially called the "Rondo 7" because of the seven seats (no five seater available). It's marketed as a URV, or Urban Recreational Vehicle, adding yet another set of initials to the lexicon.
It has a 106 kilowatts (142 hp or bhp), four-cylinder 2.0-litre gas (petrol) engine with a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission. Presumably, this is the same petrol engine that's available in the UK. I think it would struggle under slightly larger loads with that small of an engine. No V6 or diesel is available. Curiously, the five-speed manual is available only in the LX but not in the EX (for the benefit of our UK friends, the EX is the "higher end" version).
In my last post, I wondered if the small petrol engine would be powerful enough. This review has the same concern:
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Predictably, on the road the engine struggles to shift the Rondo’s 1600kg weight, even with just one person on board. With more people, it needs to be revved hard to produce the necessary urge.
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Having said that, the average people-mover driver is not looking for performance and the Rondo has more power than both the Picasso and Grand Scenic.
A diesel engine would be a better fit to the Rondo’s purpose and one should be available locally by next year.
The review also points out the lack of a telescopic steering column and that the Aussie Rondo lacks cruise control as an option. All in all, however, the review was quite positive.
I do not now about car reviews in the States and Canada, but in the UK we have the likes of Geramy Clarkson who feel that if the car does not do 150 + mph, or go round corners stuck to the tarmac they are not very good.
The majority of car buyers want practical, reliable cars.
This is my first Kia, has all the extras fitted, apart from leather trim, and has in two and a bit months and 9000 miles has been reliable.
Obviously it is soon due its first service which I will keep you updated.
In this time it has not used any fluids or oil.
Yes the miles per gallon are high, but it is a biggish car, and my fuel consumption has been within those published.
But all my journeys are mainly long treks, normally 200+ miles per day.
It is comfortable, my wife and mother in law love it, and as long as it is reliable I will have another.
One day when I can get to terms with technology I will post a picture.
Charlieboy
Last edited by charlieboy : 04-22-2008 at 04:28 PM.
And here's the first truly negative review of the Rondo that I've read, i.e., this dude didn't like anything about his Rondo rental: Wilful Disbelief (blog). I wasn't sure if I should add this to the list of reviews in the first post since it's not from an auto website or auto blog, but a review is a review.
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