2007 Kia Rondo
Kia Rondo: Lots of room for a little price
Thu, Oct 4th 2007
| VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS | |
|---|---|
| type | 5 door, wagon, 2wd |
| msrp | $20,195 |
| trans | automatic |
| gas mi. | 20mpg/27mpg |
| rating |  |
Rolling all the way from Korea into my carport this week was the Kia Rondo EX, a mid-sized station wagon with plenty of room for a family of six people, pups or any combination thereabouts. Having just stepped out of a Subaru Outback, I was prepared to be less-than-impressed by the incoming Kia, mostly because the Rondo’s sticker price is more than $1,400 less than the stately Subaru. What I discovered was that price isn’t everything.
In fact, my 6-foot-4 frame fit much better in the Rondo than the Outback, and with proper adjustment of the leather seats, I was left enjoying nearly three extra inches of headroom under the moon roof. I was also surprised to see that this smallish wagon sported a third row of passengers seats that feature a 50/50 split so one seat can fold flat while the other stays in place.
In fact, both back rows fold flat enough to handle many of your dogmobile duties with one cautionary note: When folded flat, the seats leave a deep “trench” that will need to be covered to prevent loose paws or toys from getting stuck. The floor-to-roof tailgate opens wide enough to fit at lease one crate (28 inches wide by 31 inches tall), and there’s even a small storage bin under the rear floor for small toys and treats.
But the best thing about the Rondo is the price. For a base of $20,195 -- or $23,495 fully loaded -- the Rondo EX is a great starter wagon to get you and your pack out and about.
Carguy Comments: The Kia Rondo comes in two styles: LX and EX ans two engines. The 2.4-liter, four-cylinder model produces 162 horsepower, while the larger, 2.7-liter, V-6 version puts out 182 horsepower. According to the Kia website, the total passenger volume for the 5-seat Rondo is 107.8 cubic feet, with cargo volume of 31.7 cubic feet behind the second row (5-seat configuration) and 6.5 cubic feet behind the third row in the 7-seat model. The Rondo can tow up to 1,000 pounds. In addition to the suggested retail price, options include a Leather Package (leather seat trim and heated seats) for an additional $1,000 and a Premium Package with power sunroof and Infinity sound system for $1,200 extra. The third row seat option costs $500. The total price for the model tested is $23,495.
-- Keith Turner, The Family Car
Kia Rondo adds element of surprise
Comments
Anyone that falls for 38-MPG from a salesperson, is aaah err hey I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn for sale cheap.
This is a great vehicle not perfect but as said before much better then the Vibe/Matrix and other wannabes. Our Malamute and Siberian love this car.
2010-04-29 14:10:55
i have an 07 ex kia rondo, i am a paint contractor, i tow a 4×8 light wight trailer w/ painting equipment and two 90 lb dogs. it still get 19 miles to the gal loaded w/ tarps, spray pump and two ladders on the roof rack, i also live in a mountains area mear paso robles, its better than my 02 dodge ram 1500 reg cab , i am geting 12 mpg in that truck, get a kia rondo, go green my friends!
2010-04-25 19:51:36
I have an ‘08 Rondo EX V6 with the 3rd row option. It’s great for hauling large dog cages as well as my 100 pound chocolate lab and my 16 pound puggle. They love the car and the fact that the windows go all the way down in the back. HOWEVER!...the resale value on this vehicle is TERRIBLE!!! I’ve been making payments on this car for over a year now (financed for 5 years) and I owe double what trade-in value is. TERRIBLE! I’ll be stuck in this car forever!
2010-01-03 00:37:32
I’m thinking about buying a Kia Rondo 2009 5 seater and would like to know opinions about it…. I have seen a lot of reviews of the 07 and 08 but not the 09 yet… hope it’s even better than the past models…
2009-09-16 21:31:19
I have a 2008 Kia Rondo and I am NOT impressed so far, bad fuel economy, towing capacity sucks, if I had been told that when they added the hitch I would of said no thank you. Radio has been replaced 3 times and still cuts out. The fuel is what burned me the most, being told 38mpg and then lucky if I get 20-25mpg. I was going to get another Grand Caravan, and now kick my self for not!!!
2009-08-13 11:27:52
Have an ‘08 and so far it’s been great. Got the 3rd row option which pretty much just stays flat almost all the time but it’s great to have the flexibility in a pinch when needed since I often transport my kids an their friends. Otherwise, my border collie has more than enough space in back along with 4 humans, and with a car top carrier for most of our gear it is great for long trips. Downsized from a van and thought I was going to miss all the space but it’s been easy to make the transition. Averaging about 22-23 mpg with the V6, which could be better, but this is a lot of car for the money, particularly since I got a $4000 rebate when I bought it back in January which brought the price under $15K out the door. Only other issue I have had with it is that when you open just the rear windows there is some kind of resonance going on inside the car with the wind which makes it impossible to deal with. I have to at least crack the front windows. Never had this weird annoying problem with any other car I’ve owned. Overall though I would rate this a great dog car.
2009-08-02 20:54:22
I love my 08 Rondo.. We have a 150lbs Great Dane x German Shepherd, Italian Greyhound and a Jack Russel and all three can be in the car with plenty of room for camping gear, groceries or extra passengers.. The dogs love it and we do to. I have never loved a car so much.
2009-06-18 15:50:10
If you’re in the market for a Rondo you might check Enterprise used car sales (rentals), they sell a bunch of them in the $10k USD range with moderate mileage, at about half the price of a new one in many instances. fyi. WOOF.
2009-05-31 09:45:54
Works great for my Akita and me in a 2008 Rondo. Can’t beat the price at this level of comfort, utility and safety.
2009-05-15 11:57:51
Our 08 Rondo (5 seater) is tagged “BigDogs for a reason. We have 2 Saints and the Rondo is perfect for them. Easy to clean on the inside and lots of windows for viewing the passers-by. Their area is actually raised enough they can lie down and still see out the windows. Lot’s of headroom, adjustable everything, rear ventilation fan and great safety features, handles great. With the seats dropped there is only a small area behind the front seats that I have to pad to prevent paw injuries. Just checked out the new honda doggie friendly element and I’m sticking with my Rondo.
2009-04-18 10:33:18
Im looking in to buying a Rondo. I haven’t seen one yet in person yet though. Just online. I have a 60 pound Pit Bull, a 6 month old Lab,(who is now, at 65 pounds, bigger than my Pit Bull)and an * pound Chinese Crested. As far as price, this car seems ideal. Just wondering if anyone else had multiple large dogs with a Rondo and how it works for them. Thanks!
2009-03-02 22:04:29
I love the way this is a safe family car with a great price. I will probably be purchasing the EX V6. In the next few months
2008-02-29 17:49:06
Ok, Here’s a quote from the Rondo Manual re Maximum trailer weight.
without trailer brakes:
2.4L engine is 1000 lbs
2.7L engine is 1000 lbs
with trailer brakes:
2.4L engine is 1500 lbs
2.7L engine is 2000 lbs
maximum tongue weight:
2.4L engine is 150 lbs
2.7L engine is 200 lbs
2008-02-26 12:44:08
On Autonet.ca it states that with trailer brakes (actuator) the Rondo can tow up to 1500kg (3300lbs) w/ the 4 cyl, and 2000kg (4400lbs) w/ the V6. This is a far cry from the 1000lb towing capacity on the specs. I wonder if this is a typo, and they wrote kg’s instead of lb’s?!? You can almost always tow over the specified towing capacity if you have trailer brakes. Check out the link:
http://www6.autonet.ca/Spotlight/NewModels/story.cfm?story=/Spotlight/NewModels/2006/12/03/2654243-sun.html
2007-11-30 21:34:35
On Autonet.ca it states that with trailer brakes (actuator) the Rondo can tow up to 1500kg (3300lbs) w/ the 4 cyl, and 2000kg (4400lbs) w/ the V6. This is a far cry from the 1000lb towing capacity on the specs. I wonder if this is a typo, and they wrote kg’s instead of lb’s?!? You can almost always tow over the specified towing capacity if you have trailer brakes. Check out the link:
http://www6.autonet.ca/Spotlight/NewModels/story.cfm?story=/Spotlight/NewModels/2006/12/03/2654243-sun.html
2007-11-30 21:34:21
I just took delivery of my 5 seat rondo ex. It’s got more than enough headroom for my Karelian beardog mix, who can put both paws on my shoulder and look me dead in the eye (at 6’2, he’s a big fella). It’s got enough room back there to move around and should he need more room, I’ll drop the second row seats and he enjoy a little window time on the massive rear doors. We did opt to add the bumper cap so his claws wouldn’t scratch the shiny new black paint, but after test driving the Mazda 5, the Subaru forester and so on and so on…this was the best car, not just based on price. I’d recomend it to anyone
2007-10-18 17:26:24
Check your MSRP. I think you added an extra zero. :)
2007-10-17 07:03:45
To clarify, according to Kia’s specifications, the total passenger volume in the Rondo is 107.8 cubic feet, while cargo volume is 31.7 cubic feet behind the second row (5-seat configuration) and 6.5 cubic feet behind the third row in the 7-seat model.
I’m not sure where you found a higher towing capacity, because Kia lists it at 1,000 pounds for both LX and Ex versions, with a note to see the owner’s manual for more information. Perhaps that provides a clue about the discrepancy.
Keith
2007-10-07 11:45:02
Our bassett loves our Rondo. I have to help in though…
Actual cargo capacity is 74 cu ft, not 107.8 (where did you get that figure?) and my manual (V6) says it can tow 2,000 lbs.
Brian Williams, Gander, Newfoundland, Canada
2007-10-06 16:00:29
I completely agree. In fact, I’d go farther to say that third-row seating is a negative thing in a dogcar, altogether.
Gina
2007-10-06 09:08:15
If you can do without the 3rd row seating, the 5-seater is more dog friendly because there is no “deep trench” when the 2nd row seats are folded flat. There is also more rear under floor storage in the 5-seater.
2007-10-05 12:41:14
Have an 07 Rondo 7 passenger and have had nothing but troubles with it. I have had it in 3 seperate times for warranty work – the A/C, both front rotors and now the front rt bearing and hub is shot. Resale price does not come any where near what is left owing on the 5 yr loan. Also the financing almost doubled the msrp!! NEVER AGAIN!
2010-07-05 05:53:08