Review: 2011 Kia Rondo simply does its job
as published on http://www.wheels.ca/Reviews/article/794147
SPECIAL
TO THE STAR JIL MCINTOSH
New-and-flashy
is what makes the headlines, but when it comes to finding the right
vehicle for the job, a model that’s been soldiering on for awhile
may be the one for you.
The
Kia Rondo, for instance, has been out since 2007 and hasn’t had any
major overhauls since then. But depending on your needs, it can still
be a great alternative to a compact SUV or even a minivan.
Each
December the Wheels editor
asks the auto reviewers to select the best car driven that year.
Rondo was my choice for 2007, primarily because of its functionality.
It’s not perfect, of course, but I’m still just as impressed with
it today.JIL
MCINTOSH
American
buyers didn’t flock to it — they only seem to like liftgates when
they’re attached to giant SUVs — and it’s out of Kia’s lineup
there. But the 2011 is now on sale in Canada and the company confirms
that it will continue here for 2012.
Two
engines are available. There’s a 2.4 L four-cylinder with
four-speed automatic, which ranges from $19,995 for the base LX trim
($20,995 if you want air conditioning) to $25,095 for the EX Premium.
My
tester had the 2.7 L V6, which comes with a five-speed automatic.
The
base trim line for the V6 is the EX, which starts at $23,895; the V6
climbs to $28,195 for the EX Luxury with a navigation system.
Both
the four-cylinder and V6 start with five-seat capacity, as my tester
did, and can be optioned with a third row to carry up to seven
passengers.
Having
crawled into those seats on another Rondo, I found it isn’t as
cramped as you’d expect for a car this small. And for those who
only occasionally fill up all three rows, it could easily take the
place of a minivan.
On
five-passenger models, the rear space includes two deep storage
compartments under the cargo floor, each with its own cover. When the
second-row seats are up, the cargo space is 90 cm long. Fold them,
and you have a completely flat storage space that’s 170 cm long.
All
models include six airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability
control and active front head restraints, which help reduce whiplash
in a collision. As well, there are power windows, locks and mirrors,
USB and iPod connector, Bluetooth, and a warranty that covers pretty
much everything for five years or 100,000 km.
Other
than the $150 extra-charge paint colour on my car, Kia increases
features by trim line rather than offering individual options.
My
EX tester included air conditioning, heated mirrors, a de-icer for
the windshield wipers, heated seats, cruise control and keyless
entry.
Moving
up to the Premium and Luxury trim lines, Kia throws in such items as
automatic climate control, sunroof, leather chairs, backup camera and
navigation system.
The
Rondo isn’t a pretty car, but its tall roof gives it considerable
headroom, while the large windows provide good all-around visibility.
Despite its height, it doesn’t feel tippy around corners.
The
V6 can get growly when called on for hard acceleration, but it’s a
gutsy little engine that offers plenty of power when needed for
passing on the highway. The bigger engine is probably a better idea
if you’re planning on filling it with passengers or cargo
regularly, and the difference isn’t all that much. The V6 EX is
$1,100 more than the four-cylinder EX, and Natural Resources
estimates that the six-cylinder adds only $126 a year in fuel costs.
The
steering is light and it’s easy to manoeuvre, especially in tight
parking lots, where its smaller footprint is an advantage over larger
minivans and SUVs.
While
its handling is smooth and responsive, it’s not a sports car and
doesn’t pretend to be, and that’s what I like about it. It’s
just a practical urban vehicle that does exactly what it’s supposed
to do.
The
interior is simple and functional as well.
Climate
is handled through three large dials that have a solid, good-quality
feel to them. The EX’s heated seats are operated by buttons that
stay on once they’re pressed, so that if you’re running errands
on icy days, you don’t have to keep hitting them each time you
start the car.
The
stereo is equally easy to operate, and all controls are backlit for
quick identification at night.
Cross-shopping
the Rondo isn’t easy, as few competitors can match that available
seven-seat configuration in such a compact package. The Mazda5,
redesigned for 2012, comes closest, especially since its
six-passenger seating is probably more realistic in a vehicle this
size. The Mazda starts at $22,995 with an optional automatic
transmission, but it only comes with a four-cylinder engine.
The
Rondo is one of the few “crossover” vehicles that’s really
deserving of the name, able to do double duty as a car, minivan or
SUV for many people.
It
isn’t fancy and, frankly, it doesn’t feel all that sophisticated.
Instead, it just gets the job done, and sometimes that’s all you
want or need.
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