- minivan
- 11,995 overpriced
- Palmdale, CA
-
- autoshopper.com
- minivan gasoline black automatic
2008 kia rondo review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. All-new small utility vehicle seats seven. introductionthe kia rondo is capable of carrying seven adults, yet it's small. We found the ride, handling and brakes of the kia rondo excellent. We found it to be strong, offering good acceleration performance for passing on two-lane roads, and it's smooth and quiet when cruising down the highway. It's rated 18/26 mpg and delivers more thrust more smoothly and adds just $1,000 to the retail price, making it a bargain. the seats are comfortable whether ordered in cloth or leather. The driver sits relatively high and the rondo feels like neither a car nor a sport utility. In addition to people, it can haul lots of stuff; just flip down the back two rows of seats. launched as a 2007 model, the kia rondo has no significant changes for 2008. The lx is also available without air conditioning, remote entry and cruise control 16,395). the rondo ex 19,195) adds a higher-grade cloth interior with leather trim, 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome grille, door handles and molding, foglamps, heated mirrors, windshield de-icer, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, lights for the vanity mirrors, and a cd/mp3 six-speaker sound system. Optional is a package with a 10-speaker infinity sound system and a sunroof 1200). the lx v6 18,895) and ex v6 20,195) are similarly equipped. options include the third-row seat 500); leather interior with heated front seats for the ex 1000); and a body kit 995) consisting of a front spoiler, rear valance, side sill skirts, wheel arch moldings and a rear lower spoiler. Roof rails come standard, but the crossbars to make them functional are optional 200). A cargo cover is available as a dealer accessory. safety equipment on every rondo includes front airbags, side airbags in front, full-length airbag curtains, anti-lock disc brakes, electronic stability control, and a government mandated tire pressure monitor. walkaroundthe kia rondo looks like a cross between a minivan and a five-door hatchback, and not like a small suv. The chin fascia holds projector-beam foglamps on the ex and a dark horizontal air opening below the grille. the rondo ex has chrome slats in the grille, chrome door handles and a chrome strip on the side, but the cheaper lx, with a black grille and no chrome on the side, looks cleaner. the pillars are black, creating an unbroken glass effect with tinted windows. The rear glass is a simple large rectangle, a bit wider on the bottom and smoothly sloped. It doesn't open separately. the wheelbase is long when compared to the total length, resulting in short front and rear overhangs (the part of the car that extends ahead of or behind the wheels). That helps maximize interior space. the five-spoke alloy wheels are simple, silver, and individual, with each of the five spokes having a stylish twist. interiorthe kia rondo has a versatile interior. Counting all the ways the three rows divide, recline and fold, kia cites some 32 different seating configurations with the optional third-row seat. since roomy seating is what makes the rondo special, let's start with a tale of the tape: leg room in the front, middle and third rows is 41. 3, 38. 2 and 31. 3 inches, compared to 40. 7, 35. 2 and 30. 7 in the mazda5, and 41. 8, 38. 3 and 30. 0 in the rav4. But inches expressed as numbers on a page aren't necessarily conclusive. It's cozy back there, not the best place for adults. On each side of the third row, there's a good-sized storage bin with a flip-up top like a console, and one cupholder. The second-row seats recline, as well. for cargo carrying, both the second and third rows fold flat easily; the second-row seat cushion folds forward and the seatback flops down, with the headrest flipping back. Each side of each row folds separately, so a long space can be created on one side of the car, suitable for, say, a short kayak. With all the rear seats down, there's a lot of cargo space. With the third row in use, there's only room behind the seat for a couple of brief cases. The cloth looks better in gray than beige: less old-fashioned. The perforated gray leather seats added a real touch of class, along with $1000 to the price. The driver's seat is high and affords good visibility; from behind the wheel, the rondo feels like neither an suv nor a car, which is what a crossover is about. The climate ducts are round and balanced, and the knobs are easy to understand and operate. The leather-wrapped steering wheel on the ex feels great, and there are steering wheel controls, as well. cubby storage includes a compartment on top of the dashboard, more convenient for the driver than the glovebox because it's easily reachable. For its part, the glovebox is a good size. The automatic shift lever is located up on the center stack, giving more room for the console between the seats, which is deep and square. The 2. 7-liter v6 produces 182 horsepower and comes with a five-speed automatic transmission with sportmatic. We played with the sportmatic and found it well-programmed. We ran the rondo up to 80 mph where it was quiet and smooth, feeling like no more than 70. We drove it like a sports car over twisty roads, and we could barely hear the engine when the transmission downshifted for acceleration; it was a bit slow to kick down into second gear, but was fine at higher speeds. The manual upshifts at 5800 rpm were sharp. both models use the same suspension, although the shocks are tuned a bit firmer with the v6 because of the extra weight. The ride and handling are excellent. In the lx, we deliberately hit. Cloth Interior✔ Bucket Seats✔ Power Windows✔ Cruise Control✔ Air Conditioning✔ Leather Seats✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Alloy Wheels
11,995 Palmdale, CAPalmdale, CA at autoshopper.com