A lot of visibility
The relatively-flat beltline of the Rondo ensures satisfying rearward visibility, thus making parking manœuvres easier.
And I must say that the front buckets are quite large and comfortable. In the Rondo EX Premium and EX-V6 Luxury (as tested), they’re even wrapped in leather. Note that all EX trim levels offer heated seats, even the cloth ones.
Two adults can comfortably sit on the middle-row bench seat. There’s also room for a third person, although comfort won’t be the same. Fortunately, the 60/40-split folding and sliding mechanisms really come in handy as far as access and versatility are concerned.
Seven-passenger models feature an additional 50/50-split bench seat. It’s obviously smaller and narrower, with low seat cushions on top of that, making it suitable for children only. You can see for yourself, but I’m warning you: foot room and legroom is pretty limited back there.
Folding all seatbacks forward creates an uninterrupted floor underlying a vast cargo area. In fact, the Rondo’s cargo capacity exceeds that of the Mazda5, not to mention both previously-mentioned Americans. Truth be told, however, the Element is slightly more generous.
Some question marks behind the wheel
Driving the 2009 Kia Rondo revealed some obvious flaws, including significant understeer and body roll as well as a fairly light steering.
Rondo buyers don’t seem to mind, though. While chatting with a few of them during my test week, they still showed tremendous satisfaction with the vehicle. Comfort, space and versatility dominated our conversations.
They certainly didn’t cry foul at the Rondo’s acceleration times (about 10 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h). Incidentally, the Mazda5 isn’t any quicker.
The relatively-flat beltline of the Rondo ensures satisfying rearward visibility, thus making parking manœuvres easier.
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| The relatively-flat beltline of the Rondo ensures great all-around visibility. |
And I must say that the front buckets are quite large and comfortable. In the Rondo EX Premium and EX-V6 Luxury (as tested), they’re even wrapped in leather. Note that all EX trim levels offer heated seats, even the cloth ones.
Two adults can comfortably sit on the middle-row bench seat. There’s also room for a third person, although comfort won’t be the same. Fortunately, the 60/40-split folding and sliding mechanisms really come in handy as far as access and versatility are concerned.
Seven-passenger models feature an additional 50/50-split bench seat. It’s obviously smaller and narrower, with low seat cushions on top of that, making it suitable for children only. You can see for yourself, but I’m warning you: foot room and legroom is pretty limited back there.
Folding all seatbacks forward creates an uninterrupted floor underlying a vast cargo area. In fact, the Rondo’s cargo capacity exceeds that of the Mazda5, not to mention both previously-mentioned Americans. Truth be told, however, the Element is slightly more generous.
Some question marks behind the wheel
Driving the 2009 Kia Rondo revealed some obvious flaws, including significant understeer and body roll as well as a fairly light steering.
Rondo buyers don’t seem to mind, though. While chatting with a few of them during my test week, they still showed tremendous satisfaction with the vehicle. Comfort, space and versatility dominated our conversations.
They certainly didn’t cry foul at the Rondo’s acceleration times (about 10 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h). Incidentally, the Mazda5 isn’t any quicker.
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| The dashboard looks modern but is pretty much devoid of originality. |