[Yorkanuck]

Thanks for the holiday wishes! Now that you've learned Black Friday, you can add Cyber Monday to your repertoire.

Isn't that the Monday before Thanksgiving when Internet fraud is at its peak? Or have I got it wrong?

 

[OregonBruin]

It is the Monday after Thanksgiving.

 

[Sigdal22]

Kia Rondo Wins Drive Car of the Year Award for “Best People Mover”

See Australian web link that describes Kia Rondo Wins Drive Car of the Year Award for “Best People Mover”.

Kia Rondo Wins Drive Car of the Year Award for “Best People Mover” | Kia Auto Newss | Automobile.com

The family hauler has just won Best People Mover in Australia's Drive Car of the Year awards, a unanimous decision by the Fairfax Media organization's judging panel. The Rondo, known in some markets as “Carens”, bested candidates from Toyota and Peugeot to take away the honors, while beating its own parent company Hyundai as the only Korean company to win a Drive COTY.

The Drive judging panel looked to the Rondo's versatility, economy, excellent value for money and five-year unlimited kilometer warranty to support its case, after judging the car and its rivals on a weeklong evaluation covering some 20,000 km (12,500 miles). Key elements for consideration included driving dynamics, engine performance, price, quality and equipment offered, as well as comfort, practicality and safety.

 

[Sigdal22]

2009 Kia Rondo Wins Consumer Guide Automotive Awards

Nov 25 2008 -- Already recipients of numerous awards and accolades, three 2009 Kia Motors vehicles won "Best Buy" or "Recommended" awards from Consumer Guide. The value-laden Rondo CUV was marked as a "Best Buy" while the Rio sub-compact sedan/hatchback and Sedona minivan were named as "Recommended" vehicles by the prestigious automotive guide. The "Best Buy" award is given to vehicles representing the finest balance of attributes and price within their classes and for being the best choices for consumers.

see web link
2009 KIA RONDO, SEDONA AND RIO WIN CONSUMER GUIDE AUTOMOTIVE AWARDS | With Photos

 

[MedicineMan]

Australian Car Advice: Kia Rondo7 Long Term Update #2

Previous posts: Introduction, Update #1

 

[conwelpic]

I like the way this guy does the report and more everyday photos than the standard review and also hit on a lot more detail than what most reviewers cover - keep us posted MM.

It will be interested to see if he gets any feedback from KIA as he stated that they asked for a report every 10 days.

Wonder whats his comments would have been if he had our 2.4L engine under the "bonnet".

 

[MedicineMan]

Here's a Canadian review of the 2009 EX V6 by Tony Whitney, with whom I'm sure some of you are familiar.

The Rondo is practical, fun to drive and beautifully assembled and finished inside and out. Buyers who just can't get notions of early Korean cars out of their minds should take a close look at a Rondo and compare it with any Toyota, Honda or Nissan. Kia is right in there with the best of them. Some time back, we visited the main Kia plant in Korea and found it to be as advanced and as well-equipped as any similar operation anywhere in the world. Also, the company shares a very impressive research and development facility with Hyundai and again, it's one of the finest in the industry.

 

[MedicineMan]

Australian Car Advice: Kia Rondo7 Long Term Update #3

Previous posts: Introduction, Update #1, Update #2

 

[Hothersale]

Here's a Canadian review of the 2009 EX V6 by Tony Whitney, with whom I'm sure some of you are familiar.

Good review, but he got the horsepower wrong for the oh-nines.

 

[conwelpic]

Good review, but he got the horsepower wrong for the oh-nines.

also the pictures in the gallery are a '07 model and not the Canadian model

 

[MedicineMan]

Australian Car Advice: Kia Rondo7 Long Term Update #4

Report on a 1700 km family road trip with lots of pictures, including this one:

That's the Rondo on the far right (as though it matters).

Previous posts: Introduction, Update #1, Update #2, Update #3

 

[MedicineMan]

Here's a Canadian review of the 2009 EX Luxury.

The reviewer mentions that six-footers would be pleased if the rear hatch door rose higher. I'll have to agree because I don't know how many times I've come close to giving myself a concussion or gouging an eye out due to that low-hanging hazard (low for me, that is).

KIA Rondo a pleasant surprise
ANNETTE MCLEOD, Sun Media national automotive editor
(Source)

Lately, I find myself increasingly recommending Kia as a brand to people who ask what I think they should test drive, unless they're in the luxury market.

Looking for an SUV? "Try the Sorento;" a minivan? "I liked the Sedona." I'm about to add the 2009 Rondo to my list.

Kia's niche in the market has been to provide products that are much like what other manufacturers are offering -- seldom are they more innovative, prettier, sportier or better performers -- at lower prices, with a great warranty. The story is the same for Rondo. It's a pleasant surprise for the price, and because of its straddling the SUV/wagon/crossover markets, it offers a viable competitor in a variety of categories.

For those already drawn to the Kia brand, as a mid-size FWD wagon, it might be a step up from the Spectra5; without the third row of seats, an alternative to the Sorento. The small third row of seats in our tester makes it more of, say, a poor man's Mazda5.

That's a lot of fences to straddle, but Rondo manages quite well.

The tester I drove was a top-of-the-heap EX Luxury edition, with seating for seven, five-speed Steptronic transmission, 17-inch wheels, eight-way power adjustable driver's seat, leather, heated front seats, power sliding and tilting sunroof, trip computer, automatic climate control and a sound system that included CD/MP3 playability, aux and USB ports and Sirius satellite radio -- all for $26,595.

The third row is fit only for children, dogs or emergency cartage of two full-size people, as it's tight back there, and it makes the cargo space behind truly puny. The seats are easier than average to access, though, thanks to the fore and aft travel of the second row.

With the seatback upright, a few bags of groceries would fill 'er up. Third-row seats are easily folded flat, though, so the versatility will suit families who have to tote kids' friends some days and hockey gear on others.

Performance-wise, it was mostly another pleasant surprise. It steers and brakes well, with some minimal lean if I took a corner quickly, and the 2.7-litre V6 provided decent enough power around town and on the highway, although a little more mid-range oomph wouldn't have gone unappreciated. The sequential shift went a long way toward remedying that, although I generally can't be bothered with such things.

As someone with a long commute over the same flat, boring route, I am usually more concerned with interior comfort and amenities, and here the Rondo ranks well. Ride quality is quite good, even when the pavement isn't, if a bit floaty on the highway.

The cabin is a quiet, well designed space in which to spend time. I found the seat-backs a bit aggravating over the long haul, but in my increasingly pregnant state, I have become extremely hard to please in that regard.

Aside from the inexplicable horizontal split in the map pockets, which must be chalked up to form over function -- as in, it looks OK but your stuff falls out -- and a nebulous dead pedal, the design is uniformly pleasing and I'd give above-average marks to the easy grabability and readability of all instruments and controls.

I found the leather seating plasticky, but it also struck me as durable and easily wiped down -- an increasingly important concern with two dogs, as well as the baby on the way. The material quality overall was very good, as was its fit and finish.

One of its more SUV-like properties is the upright seating position, which makes for good visibility and ample legroom. The roof is high and the surrounding glass ample, which combined lends the cabin a welcome open air.

The doors struck me as overly large in tight parking spaces, but that made ingress and egress a breeze at other times (and hey, I live in suburbia, so tight parking spaces aren't much of a problem).

The rear hatch door is big enough and the load floor low enough to make accessing the cargo area convenient, but it would please most six-footers if the door rose higher. In addition to the third row, the 60/40-split second-row and front passenger seat all fold flat, to offer a cavernous space when it's needed.

The Rondo handles well, offers an enjoyable experience in a pleasant environment, and bears a low price of entry.

"Value" is one V-word that springs immediately to mind. Another is "versatility." It's your choice whether to go for seven seats or five, and the easy manipulation of the other seats mean the availability of just about all the cargo space you could hope for.

Have you considered a Kia?


2009 KIA RONDO

Trim level: EX-V6 Luxury

As tested (before taxes): $26,595

Options: None Freight: $1,650

MSRP range: $19,995-$26,595

Configuration: front engine/front wheel drive

Engine/Transmission: 2.7L V6/5-spd auto with sequential shift

Power/Torque: 192 hp/184 lb.- ft.

Fuel (capacity): Regular (60L) EnerGuide fuel economy ratings: 11.5 L/100km city; 7.7 L/100km hwy

Observed fuel economy: 10.7 L/100 km combined over 800 km

Warranties: 5 yrs/100,000 km comprehensive

Competitors: Dodge Journey, Mazda5, Nissan Rogue, Toyota Venza


Report Card:

Economy: 4 -cheap to get into, and cheap to stay in

Value for $: 5 -hard to beat

Styling: 3.5 -nice, but not noteworthy

Comfort: 3.5 -good, except for that third row

Performance: 4 -a pleasant surprise

Overall: 4 -an excellent alternative to a variety of vehicles


Strengths: good performer, comfortable ride and cabin, great value

Weaknesses: unremarkable styling

 

[MedicineMan]

A review from Open Road Podcast Blog.

It's a fair review in that the reviewer gives the Rondo its due and list many positives, but he ultimately thinks that the Rondo falls short of its promise. As such, I decided to label it as a negative review in my grand list. His one major complaint is that things don't really work together and he mentions this several times. Problem is, do you know what the heck that means? I surely don't. He never tries to explain himself nor does he present any concrete examples, thus leaving us to wonder just what exactly his beef is.

 

[JS08KIA]

A review from Open Road Podcast Blog.

It's a fair review in that the reviewer gives the Rondo its due and list many positives, but he ultimately thinks that the Rondo falls short of its promise. As such, I decided to label it as a negative review in my grand list. His one major complaint is that things don't really work together and he mentions this several times. Problem is, do you know what the heck that means? I surely don't. He never tries to explain himself nor does he present any concrete examples, thus leaving us to wonder just what exactly his beef is.

Agreed, but I think he is a SHE...

 

[MedicineMan]

Agreed, but I think he is a SHE...

You're probably thinking of the previous review, unless Christopher is a girl's name. You never know, though, since some gals are named Michael and I once knew a guy named Laverne (unless I was mishearing things and it was actually "The Verne"). :grin:

 

[Mikos]

I read some of the reviews. Even find the odd one entertaining. But the only review that matters to me is mine.

 

[JS08KIA]

You're probably thinking of the previous review, unless Christopher is a girl's name. You never know, though, since some gals are named Michael and I once knew a guy named Laverne (unless I was mishearing things and it was actually "The Verne"). :grin:

DOH,

My Bad, I thought you were referring to the previous post, and I do agree that the best review is our own review, that is what makes this board so informative!!!

 

[conwelpic]

A review from Open Road Podcast Blog.

It's a fair review in that the reviewer gives the Rondo its due and list many positives, but he ultimately thinks that the Rondo falls short of its promise. As such, I decided to label it as a negative review in my grand list. His one major complaint is that things don't really work together and he mentions this several times. Problem is, do you know what the heck that means? I surely don't. He never tries to explain himself nor does he present any concrete examples, thus leaving us to wonder just what exactly his beef is.

this quote from the review:
Not so nice are heated front seats that take forever to reach a no-more-than-adequate temperature.

not so from my experience. I start feeling heat within a kilometer and gets quite warm and feels sooo good in the lower and upper parts of your back, maybe on leather it doesn't function as well as the cloth seats. But to me it works superb and can't say enough about this feature - don't do without it if you live in Canada or the northern states for that matter.

 

[Mikos]

not so from my experience...........

I agree with conwelpic. And this is a great example. Everyone has their own opinions. That's why I say who cares what these people write in their reviews.

 

[MedicineMan]

Motor Trend's long-term evaluation of the 2007 Rondo EX (V6, seven seater) has come to an end. Here's the final verdict. There's nothing new there--we've heard it all before, the pros and cons. BTW, no report of a pull to the right.

Here are all the past reports:
Long Term Arrival: 2007 Kia Rondo EX
Update #1
Update #2
Update #3
Update #4
Update #5
Update #6