Competence on the road
What impresses me most about the Rondo are its road manners. The Kia never feels out of sorts or as though it is doing something it should not. In the city, the Rondo's reasonable turning radius, good visibility and compliant shock absorbers team up to create a surprisingly competent urban vehicle. As speed increases, the Rondo's remains calm and stable. Wind and tire racket become more audible but the Kia continues to firmly grip the tarmac. I was so astounded that I pushed the vehicle to a "high" rate of speed and found that the Rondo would not flinch. Kia certainly did their homework on aerodynamics and suspension dynamics.

Insofar as the brakes are concerned, I find pedal response to be near-immediate and regardless of the amount of forward momentum that needs to be scrubbed off, the Rondo's 4-wheel discs never faltered.

The distinctive hatch design is especially attractive.

The sum of all Rondos
Kia's newcomer packs one heck of a wallop. I think Kia may have hit a nerve with this product; it is handsome, versatile, intelligently conceived and offers up an enormous amount of value. The sad story for Kia, in Quebec anyhow, is that it has to go up against the aforementioned foe: the formidable Mazda5. The Mazda has an extra touch of class and zippiness that the Kia lacks. But, let us not forget one excellent reason as to why any should be considered: their comprehensive and complete 5-year / 100,000-km warranty.

The Rondo's price range begins at $19,995 to $25,995 for an EX-V6 Luxury. My tester was an EX 5-seater that retailed for $21,995.


Value
Versatility
Styling
Handling


Noisy ride
Front seats and driving position

 

None



Competitors:
Mazda5
Subaru Impreza Wagon
Chevrolet Optra wagon
Dodge Caliber
Toyota Matrix / Pontiac Vibe
Volkswagen Jetta Variant (coming soon)


Photo Credit : Philippe Champoux, Alexandre Joyal