2009 Kia Rondo - Styling Review

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Shopping for a 2009 Kia Rondo? MSRP: $17,495 - $22,295

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Inside and out, TheCarConnection.com notices that reviewers have little to get excited about when assessing the 2009 Kia Rondo’s styling.

The Rondo is built for room, not for sex appeal, with its tall, bulbous profile and five-door configuration. Car and Driver's review was perhaps the least complimentary, comparing the 2009 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 weighs in with its final judgment: "even with all the tack-ons, no Rondo seems capable of setting our loins ablaze."

Cars.com states that the Kia Rondo's only "sign of aggression" is a "sharp air dam that's probably bigger than it needs to be." Damning with faint praise, the reviewer acknowledges this vehicle's "friendly face" and notes that there are “few edges”—we’re not sure if that’s a positive.

Other reviewers warm up to the design because of its inherent practicality. 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 deems it "an attractive choice...a very inviting daily driver"—although TheCarConnection.com notes that these comments go beyond the vehicle's appearance.

Interior design is another story; most sources are quite thrilled about it. Edmunds states that the vehicle lacks "pizzazz," but it praises the interior, as does the New York Times, which calls it "attractive and functional."

More than one source praises visibility from behind the wheel, including Edmunds, deeming it "good."