2007 Kia Rondo

Welcome to the Driving Range with Dave Jordan - Your Auto Guide to the South Shore of Nova Scotia. All you need to know about Nova Scotia's South Shore Auto scene.

This week, Dave Jordan checks out the 2007 Kia Rondo:

Every now and then a pleasant surprise occurs that makes our driving experience safer or more gratifying, albeit disguised at times by such things as new technology or hidden safety features. Other times it's the development of a niche product no one would have thought about filling. And sometimes it's a simple matter of getting a lot more than you expect from a vehicle manufacturer. The latter is the case with the new Kia Rondo. I have driven a couple of Kias in the past that were fine vehicles but really didn't exhibit any characteristics I wasn't expecting. My expectations this time around were about the same until I jumped into this latest Kia, closed the door with a resounding "thud" and viewed the interior design and high-quality materials while actually saying to myself, "Wow." I was momentarily reminded of the same observations I made when testing some well-known, well-built German cars. I was intrigued.

The new Kia Rondo is a diminutive-looking but well-packaged small crossover they call an "Urban Utility Vehicle" (UUV), residing in the category occupied by such cars as the Toyota Matrix and Chrysler PT Cruiser. Unique to the Rondo, however, is the availability of a V6 engine and third-row seating you can't have with any of its immediate competitors. Thanks go out to Bridgewater KIA for the loan of a 2007 Rondo LX in silver over a grey cloth interior.

Looking at this newest Kia exterior kind of reminds me of a shrunken SUV/van combination. With its strong horizontal character line just above the door handles, large headlights and Spectra-like tail light treatment, the Rondo looks taut and compact. This car looks quite small from the outside but the interior surprises with the amount of passenger room and generous cargo area – almost 32 cu. ft. (898 L) – in the 5-passenger model. Cargo space shrinks, however, to 6.5 cu. ft. (185 L) with the third-row seat option in place. As anyone who has travelled in the third-row seat of vehicles so equipped knows - save a few vans or larger SUVs - the call for "shotgun" the next time around is likely forefront on your mind. It's great for transporting extra buds around in a pinch, but less than desirable for extended road trips. Speaking of storage, I think the Rondo wins the cubbyhole challenge with no fewer than nine storage compartments of varying shapes and sizes in the cabin area alone. Cupholders, map pockets and other compartments can be found in the second-row area while some very useful storage boxes are tucked under the rear cargo bed. Both second and, if equipped, third-row seats are easily lowered for quick transformation from people mover to cargo hauler.

My Rondo was equipped with the smaller of the two engine choices in the form of a fairly strong 162-horsepower, 164 lb. ft., 2.4 L four-cylinder with the four-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. No manual tranny is available at this point. This drivetrain combination worked very well together, exhibiting V6-like acceleration with smooth, crisp shifts and plenty of power when needed. In fact, I had to check to be sure I wasn't driving the V6 model, such was the power delivery and refined operation of this unit. If you do opt for the V6 engine that comes with the five-speed automatic, you should experience some pretty good performance numbers as it cranks out 182 horsepower and 182 lb. ft. of torque.

Driving dynamics were also a pleasant surprise thanks to a well-damped suspension that absorbed bumps effectively and traversed undulating transitions with aplomb. No amount of broken or rough surfaces seemed to upset the Rondo's composure, while handling was sure-footed and neutral, exhibiting very little body roll when cornering forces were applied. There's a lot to be said for independent suspension on all four wheels and the Rondo's performance proves once again that this set-up is the preferred format for accomplishing the best compromise between ride and handling. This UUV is well buttoned together and it shows. Well done, Kia!

The Rondo interior design is thoughtful and nicely put together with a tasteful blend of materials exhibiting varying textures and colour combinations. Even the requisite faux aluminum trim pieces are of high quality and match the interior ambiance well. The front seats are very comfortable with just the right amount of lumbar, hip and thigh support — firm but not so hard as to cause fatigue on longer trips. Large buttons and dials with excellent quality feel are on the Rondo menu, as well as easy-to-read gauges and intuitive controls. Overall, a very pleasant driving environment.

Kia offers three trim levels for the four-cylinder Rondo and two for the V6 versions. Base LX models come fairly well equipped with 16" aluminum wheels;power windows, mirrors and door locks; tilt wheel; mud flaps; floor mats (these cost extra with some cars); and a good-sounding four-speaker sound system. Safety specifications are impressive and include four-wheel discs with ABS all around and EBD - electronic brake distribution. Dual front, side and side-curtain airbags are standard on all models, as is stability and traction control. The doors will even automatically unlock in the event of an impact. And of course Kia's impressive 5-5-5 warranty should make living with the Rondo worry-free. You can have all this for around 20 large, but will pay more of course for the upgraded versions right up to the fully equipped EX-V6 Luxury seven-seater at around $26,000. Not a bad price for all of the extras such as leather, power heated seats, sunroof, the V6, 17" wheels, fog lights, heated mirrors, keyless entry, roof rack, upgraded sound system, A/C, cruise, the extra passenger capacity and more.

Kia packs a lot of overall value in its vehicles and the new Rondo is a true testament to that fact. The engineering and build quality really impressed, as did the overall driving experience. My expectations are now set at a higher level for the next KIA model I test, so I look forward to being pleasantly surprised once again.

Dave's Auto Archive – Kia's early days saw them producing steel tubing, bicycle parts and bicycles themselves. Their first motorized vehicle, the C-100 scooter, began production in 1957.