Kia Rondo on sale and priced to move
The Autoblog staff was surprisingly impressed with the Kia Ronda that officially debuted at the 2006 LA Auto Show last week. The small people mover looks attractive, can seat up to seven with an optional third-row, and will come with Kia's standard battery of safety features and a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty. Our jet lag from the LA Auto Show has hardly subsided and Kia has already announced that Rondos are on their way to dealers and they're priced to sell. The base Rondo, fittingly called the Rondo Base, starts at a reasonable $16,995 and includes 16-inch alloy wheels, airbags everywhere you look and electronic stability control. A/C, however, is a $900 option. Next up we have the midrange LX model with both an inline four-cylinder engine starting at $18,495 and a tiny 2.7-liter V6 at $19,795. The range topper is the EX, which with the four-cylinder starts at $19,795 and the V6 at $20,795. That's as high as her base price will go. Check out our original post on the Kia Rondo's debut here, which includes all the info you could ever want on the Korean automaker's newest model.
[Source: Kicking Tires]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michael Karesh 7:06PM (12/07/2006)
With three kids, I'd love a compact, fun-to-drive seven-seater. But, after driving a Rondo last week, I can report that this isn't it. Very functional, but also very bland.
I'm also not so sure it's priced to move. I entered the pricing data into the database on my home computer last night, and the Rondo checks in about $1,000 over a similarly-equipped Mazda5 before adjusting for features, and about $1,500 more afterwards.
I might upload these prices to the server tonight.
My review:
http://www.epinions.com/content_285025537668
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Nick 6:37AM (12/08/2006)
If this actually does well here, maybe we'll see more of these MPVs come to the US. I'd really like to see Ford bring the Focus C-Max...
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dave 11:52PM (12/07/2006)
There are a LOT of references to eopinons and truedelta on this site.
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Bob 12:26AM (12/08/2006)
Sorry, Mike, it's not as easy as saying the Rondo is $1500 more. It's bigger, has a much more versatile interior, and has standard stability control, which isn't offered at all on the Mazda5. So the base Mazda5 at $19,130 doesn't have everything I want. But the base Rondo w/AC at $17,900 does. To each their own.
(Plus the Rondo's quicker. ;)
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Shawn704 1:10AM (12/08/2006)
The Mazda5 finally has some direct competition, I find the Rondo odd looking though. For 2007, Mazda added another trim level, Grand Touring which features leather and xenon lights and such. I think the Mazda5 is underpowered compared to the Rondo. However since the Mazda5 is based off the C1 platform, it doesn't allow for a V6 engine to fit under its hood.
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Fred D. 7:48AM (12/08/2006)
The Rondo isn't so "small":
Kia Rondo:
Headroom - front, mid, rr: 41.6/40.2/35.1
Legroom - front, mid, rr: 41.3/38.2/31.2
Hiproom - front, mid, rr: 54.6/53.9/40.3
Cargo - 3rd seat down, up: 31.7/6.5
Mazda 5
Headroom - front, mid, rr: 40.7/39.4/37.1
Legroom - front, mid, rr: 40.7/35.2/30.7
Hiproom - front, mid, rr: 52.9/58.3/40.9
Cargo - 44 cu.ft. (not specified how this is measured, but prob with 3rd seat down)
Chrysler Pacifica
Headroom - front, mid, rr: 39.2/40.0/35.4
Legroom - front, mid, rr: 40.9/39.9/29.9
Hiproom - front, mid, rr: 55.1/56.3/41.9
Cargo - 3rd seat down, up: 43.6/13.0
Ford Freestyle
Headroom - front, mid, rr: 39.4/39.8/38.6
Legroom - front, mid, rr: 41.1/40.4/33.3
Hiproom - front, mid, rr: 55.5/56/45.9
Cargo - 3rd seat down, up: 47.8/15.8
It appears the Rondo has about the same interior size as a Pacifica, just a couple inches narrower and a little less cargo capacity.
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$0.02 8:50AM (12/08/2006)
Isn't this just what Honda and Toyota once offered: a very good vehicle at a very good price.
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RJH 9:08AM (12/08/2006)
The prices listed on Kicking Tires include the $600 destination charge, despite their statement to the contrary. See Kia's media site: http://www.kiamedia.com/secure/rondo2007_msrp.html
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Asher 9:39AM (12/08/2006)
I'd say I'm working up a Rondo thirst, but I'm not really into it.
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Erik 5:13PM (12/08/2006)
Priced to move? Yes.
Designed to move? No.
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Glenn 1:56AM (12/10/2006)
A V6 Option in this class seem a very cool idea.
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Squad 12:24PM (12/10/2006)
Hmmm.
It look like better than mazda5.
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Lauren thompson 7:20AM (12/14/2006)
I just bought a Rondo with a 4 cyl engine. I love it!! The styling is very sexy and functional. I keep finding more and more little spaces to put things. It rides very nicely, feels sporty and can climb steep hills easily with its automatic shifter. When i saw the Rondo, it was love at first site. Just what I was looking for. A very nicely priced car with lots of value. And in addition, my insurance did not increase because of all the safety features.
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