2009 Toyota Highlander vs. Kia Rondo: 7-Seaters...
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2008 Kia Rondo Review

STYLING | 5 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Less glamorous than a minivan...ugh
Car and Driver

Friendly face has few edges
Cars.com

Lack of pizzazz
Edmunds

Clean lines
Kelley Blue Book

Tall, reasonably stylish
New York Newsday

Reviewers from across the Web had lukewarm feelings toward the 2008 Kia Rondo’s styling, inside and out.

A five-door wagon with a tall shape and a thick side view, the Rondo is built for room, not for sex appeal. Car and Driver's review was perhaps the least complimentary, comparing the 2008 Kia Rondo unfavorably to the quintessential, dowdy, frumpy "soccer mom" vehicle, the minivan: "the Rondo ain't no Corvette in terms of sex appeal." Acknowledging the existence of body accessory kits, this source's final judgment: "even with all the tack-ons, no Rondo seems capable of setting our loins ablaze."

Damning with faint praise, Cars.com acknowledges this vehicle's "friendly face"; whether the "few edges" comment is complimentary or not can’t be ascertained. This source also goes on to state that the Kia Rondo's only "sign of aggression" is a "sharp air dam that's probably bigger than it needs to be."

There are differing opinions, of course. The New York Times describes the Rondo Kia's appearance as "an attractive design" with a qualifier: "the boxy shape shouts minivan." The nearby Long Island paper New York Newsday calls it "reasonably stylish," and Kelley Blue Book calls it "an attractive choice...a very inviting daily driver"--although TheCarConnection.com notes that these comments go beyond the vehicle's appearance.

Most sources were more enthusiastic about the interior design; while Edmunds states that the vehicle lacked "pizzazz," it praises the appearance of the interior, as does the New York Times, which calls it "an attractive and functional interior."
More than one source praised visibility from behind the wheel, including Edmunds, judging this to be "good."

Conclusion

You probably won't be thrilled by the 2008 Kia Rondo's looks.


Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Mazda5, which is the closest match to the Rondo in the U.S. market, has sliding doors, which many may prefer; it's also peppier and more fun to drive--with a standard manual transmission--and looks the part, with sportier, more appealing styling. But the Mazda5 is noisier, doesn't ride as smoothly as the Rondo, and lacks the surprisingly vast interior space. The Chevrolet HHR and Chrysler PT Cruiser are other alternatives; both offer hip (or not-so-hip) retro styling and flexible cargo arrangements, but neither has a third-row seat. Neither does the new Scion xB, which is also quite fuel-efficient, but beneath its boxy body, it doesn't feel exceptionally roomy.

Next Steps:

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See the Kia Rondo in Other Years:

2009 | 2008 | 2007

Comments (2 total)

  1. Mr.

    By tony spears | Posted: Jul 13th 2008, 05:07:54 PM

    I bought a 2007 rondo last april and I have put 35000 miles on it already and I find the vehicle is superb with its v6. I had a sedona before and it is a big change to the smaller rondo but it maneuvers much better.

  2. headrest

    By olive | Posted: Mar 8th 2009, 12:19:24 AM

    I rented a rondo recently. The headrest on it forced me to bend my head unnaturally forward, so I pulled it out and reversed it so I could sit back in the seat. Other than that, it's very comfortable for someone with my long legs - 34" inseam. I may buy one.

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