Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Kia Rondo EX]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/23/in-the-autoblog-garage-2007-kia-rondo-ex/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/23/in-the-autoblog-garage-2007-kia-rondo-ex/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/23/in-the-autoblog-garage-2007-kia-rondo-ex/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click on the above image to view additional pics of the 2007 Kia Rondo EX

We just gave back the keys to a vehicle that would have shamed my old Camaro RS in more than just number of usable seats. It also had 12 more horses from two fewer cylinders, drank a little less gas, had a sunroof that probably won't leak until well after the 10 year warranty runs out and would carry as many as seven full-grown friends.

Kia's new Rondo is classified as a compact MPV in Europe, where it's been sold as the Carens since 2003. Add 17" wheels and that 182 hp V6, and Uncle Sam calls it a midsize wagon. Kia, of course, wants you to call it a crossover. Most shoppers will see it as a stylish, comfortable, affordable people-mover. Just don't call it a minivan.

Gallery: 2007 Kia Rondo EX

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Kia Rondo EX

In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Kia Rondo EX originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car reviewCarReviewfamily carFamilyCarin the autoblog garageInTheAutoblogGaragekia reviewkia rondokia rondo reviewKiaReviewKiaRondoKiaRondoReviewrondorondo EXrondo reviewRondoExRondoReviewFri, 23 Mar 2007 15:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Chicago Sneak Peek: Kia Rondo SX Concept]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/31/chicago-sneak-peek-kia-rondo-sx-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/31/chicago-sneak-peek-kia-rondo-sx-concept/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/31/chicago-sneak-peek-kia-rondo-sx-concept/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


click above to view a pair of high-resolution images

Kia will be using the 2007 Chicago Auto Show as the venue to debut its Rondo SX Concept. We don't have much information on the car, besides the fact that it's based on the Rondo and features a more aggressive front end with a big lower air intake and a revised rear with what we assume to be faux diffusers nestled between a pair of tailpipes. A glimpse of the driver side front wheel shows five-spoke alloy rims that are definitely not available on the current Rondo, as well. Kia says that the suspension will be tuned for performance and that there are other performance mods on the Rondo SX. The regular Rondo can be had with either a 162-hp 2.4L four-cylinder or a 182-hp 2.7L V6, so hopefully the Rondo SX will feature one of these engines pumping out more power than stock.

[Source: Kia]

Gallery: Chicago Sneak Peek - Kia Rondo SX Concept

Chicago Sneak Peek: Kia Rondo SX Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Jan 2007 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chicago auto showChicagoAutoShowconceptkia rondoKiaRondorondorondo sxRondoSxWed, 31 Jan 2007 12:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Kia Rondo on sale and priced to move]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/07/kia-rondo-on-sale-and-priced-to-move/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/07/kia-rondo-on-sale-and-priced-to-move/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/07/kia-rondo-on-sale-and-priced-to-move/#commentsFiled under: , ,



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]

Kia Rondo on sale and priced to move originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Dec 2006 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car buyingCarBuyingkia rondoKiaRondopricingrondoThu, 07 Dec 2006 17:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Kia Rondo found! And reviewed]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/25/kia-rondo-found-and-reviewed/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/25/kia-rondo-found-and-reviewed/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/25/kia-rondo-found-and-reviewed/#commentsFiled under: ,



Canadian Driver apparently took our "Where's Rondo?" challenge, found one of the mysterious Kias and wrote an in-depth review. Their opinion? They deem the Korean-made people hauler "a surprisingly likeable family vehicle."

The review says the Rondo is bigger than its direct competition (PT Cruiser, Matrix, Mazda5), has a more powerful available engine (182 HP, V6), can seat up to seven (one more than the Mazda5, two more than the PT), and has much more interior space. The Rondo even uses less fuel than all those others (25/34 for the I4, 24/36 for the V6). The biggest criticism is the oddly-designed exterior.

Even more odd, is that you still can't find the Rondo on Kia's U.S. website, not even in their media offerings. However, if you want a tiny bit of information, Kia's Canadian site has a few photos and a short description that ends with "Available in dealerships in December 2006."

So where's Rondo? Looks like it's in Canada, headed our way.

[Source: Canadian Driver]

Kia Rondo found! And reviewed originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Nov 2006 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kiakia rondokia rondo reviewKiaRondoKiaRondoReviewrondoSat, 25 Nov 2006 18:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Kia shows off next Carens at Madrid Auto Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/26/kia-shows-off-next-carens-at-madrid-auto-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/26/kia-shows-off-next-carens-at-madrid-auto-show/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/26/kia-shows-off-next-carens-at-madrid-auto-show/#commentsFiled under: , ,

More details on Kia's new Carens have surfaced, now that the mini MPV has debuted in Madrid. The five-to-seven seater is widely expected to show up in U.S. dealers as the 'Rondo' where it will mix it up with everything from the Mazda 5 to Chevrolet HHR and Toyota Matrix.

A marked improvement in the visuals over the previous iteration will help the Carens case, as will the fact that it's bigger in virtually every dimension: length, width and height. For the Europeans, at least, a 142 brake horsepower 2.0-liter gasoline engine will be available paired with a five-speed manual, along with a turbodiesel of identical displacement latched to a six-speeder. A four-speed slushbox will be available with either transmission. U.S. consumers can dream, but if the Carens crosses the pond, we imagine expecting the derv-burner would be a stretch.

The Carens is expected to base at around £12,000 ($22,300 USD).

A U.S. on-sale date has not been announced, but the model is slated to hit UK dealers this August.

[Sources: Reuters; Kia]

Kia shows off next Carens at Madrid Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 May 2006 21:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0-literCarensChevrolet HHRChevroletHhrdieselKiaMadrid Auto ShowMadridAutoShowMazda 5Mazda5MPVRondoToyota MatrixToyotaMatrixFri, 26 May 2006 21:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Kia's hoping we care about the new Carens]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/16/kia-s-hoping-we-care-about-the-new-carens/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/16/kia-s-hoping-we-care-about-the-new-carens/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/16/kia-s-hoping-we-care-about-the-new-carens/#commentsFiled under: , ,



That's because the Carens will be coming to the U.S. as the "Rondo" in its newly redesigned duds. Our foreign language sister site Autoblog Spanish has the scoop on the new seven-passenger CUV. The Carens appears to be a Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe-type vehicle and compared to its last iteration, the new version is a looker. Of course, this is a hot segment in the U.S. in which many attractive players compete, including the aforementioned Pontiact/Toyota twins, the Mazda5, Chrysler PT Cruiser and Chevrolet HHR. The ability to pack an extra pair of people in its interior compared to some of its competitors will be to the Caren's advantage, as will what we assume to be a traditional Korean high-content/low-price strategy.

[Source: Autoblog Spanish]

Kia's hoping we care about the new Carens originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Apr 2006 11:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carensrondoSun, 16 Apr 2006 11:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Kia's redesigned Carens MPV coming to U.S.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/02/kia-s-redesigned-carens-mpv-coming-to-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/02/kia-s-redesigned-carens-mpv-coming-to-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/02/kia-s-redesigned-carens-mpv-coming-to-u-s/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Kia sells a compact MPV in markets abroad by the name of Carens and its due for a redesign. The Korean company has released a sketch of the reskin and announced that its world premier will be at the Spanish Motor show on May 25. The new MPV follows the familiar trend of being longer, wider and taller than the vehicle it replaces, which will suit our North American market just fine when it arrives under the moniker of "Rondo" sometime in the near future.

[Source: motoring.iafrica]

Kia's redesigned Carens MPV coming to U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Apr 2006 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carenskiampvrondoSun, 02 Apr 2006 15:00:00 EST