2007 Kia Rondo EX (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com)

The Rondo EX adds air conditioning, exterior chrome trim, cruise control, a different seat cloth, fog lamps, a front windshield wiper de-icer, heated front seats and outside mirrors, keyless entry, 2 more speakers, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and roof rails. The EX will cost $21,995, which is a very good deal, and should be the volume seller in the Rondo range, affirmed Mr. Kesser, accounting for an expected 55% of sales.

The EX V6 carries the same equipment level as the EX, but gets the more powerful powertrain, and costs $22,995. The EX Premium adds 7-passenger seating, 17-inch alloy wheels with wider tires, leather seats, and a power sunroof. Price for this model is $23,995$. Finally, the

2007 Kia Rondo EX V6 (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com)

$25,995 EX V6 Luxury offers a power driver's seat, a trip computer and an automatic climate control system. Kia expects that 20% of buyers will choose the 7-passenger variants.

On the road, the Rondo is impressive. The four-cylinder model is quiet at highway speeds, although the engine gets buzzy at higher revs. It's sufficiently powerful for normal use, but we were two aboard for the entire trip. With five adults on board, the 2.4 might transpire more than it did today. The V6 has more low-rpm torque, so it feels more energetic around town. It feels like it runs out of breath past 5,000 rpm, however, but you rarely have to reach for the redline with your kids and the dog in back.

"Don't go in this gravel portion of the route", said a Kia employee, pointing on our provided maps, "there's snow and you might get stuck."

2007 Kia Rondo EX (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com)

Me and the fellow journalist I was riding with went anyway, climbing up a narrow mountain road near the Whistler ski resort, but we didn't get stuck at all, and the badly-bruised gravel road was no match for the Rondo's compliant suspension setup. We got back on the asphalt, impressed by the composure of the Kia. Good thing we're stubborn.

There is loads of space in the Rondo. Front-seat occupants are treated to seats that are more comfortable than in the Magentis I drove a few weeks ago. The rear seat of our 5-passenger Rondo offers a generous amount of legroom and headroom, and the large rear doors make entering and getting out easy.

In the 7-passenger models, the 2nd-row seat moves fore and aft to help climbing into the 3rd-row seat. The latter should be reserved for children or people you hate, since adults will feel the rear defroster warming up the back of their heads. When you don't need the 3rd-row, it folds flat

2007 Kia Rondo EX V6 (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com)

into the floor, although you have to take off the 2nd-row headrests for a completely flat load floor.

The most interesting Rondo for families on a budget is, obviously, the 4-cylinder EX. In comparison, the Mazda5 GS with air and automatic costs $22,095 and is similarly-equipped, but lacks cruise control, heated seats, side airbags and side-curtain airbags that are standard in the Rondo EX. The Mazda5 has dual sliding doors, though, which is better in shopping-mall parking lots and practical for loading up the kids.