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Product summary
The good: The 2007 Kia Rondo gets an optional Infinity audio system, with 315 watts and 10 speakers. The V-6 engine in the top trim EX model gives it plenty of usable power. It has a full roster of safety gear as standard.
The bad: There are no options for navigation, Bluetooth hands-free calling, or a rear-seat entertainment system, nor does the stereo play anything besides standard radio and CDs, both MP3 and Redbook. The Rondo's high center of gravity and narrow body make it feel as if it's teetering on corners.
The bottom line: As an inexpensive people mover, the 2007 Kia Rondo is pretty capable, although the passengers will have to content themselves with a good audio experience for entertainment, while the driver will have to rely on maps for directions.
Specifications: Body style: Wagon ; Trim levels: EX ; Available Engine: Gas See full specs
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 05/30/2007
Although it has its limitations, the 2007 Kia Rondo is a surprisingly functional people carrier. This odd-looking cross between a minivan and a sedan gets a very nice-sounding stereo as its only cabin tech offering. Its optional third-row seat gives it room for seven, as long as they're all good friends, and the engine has enough power to move that kind of weight around.
Stylewise, the Rondo is an odd duck, and we mean that more than figuratively. The hood sticks out from the body like the bill of a duck, emphasized all the more by the high roofline. And while the large windows all around afford great visibility, the high body makes this car really hard to pin down as to what exactly it is. But the EPA classifies it as a midsize wagon, and we're happy to leave it at that. Test the tech: Supreme Court of soundBecause our Rondo came with an Infinity audio system as part of its $1,200 Premium package, we pulled in some of our golden ears from MP3 player reviews and CNET Download.com Music. The optional Infinity audio system comprises a 315-watt amp and 10 speakers, including a centerfill and subwoofer. As the Rondo also came with an optional third-row seat, we placed our three judges in the front, middle, and back of the car. The music we tested the system with included Blonde Redhead's 23 and Ursula 1000's Ursadelica.
With the Leather package, the interior of the Rondo seems nice, although an abundance of hard plastics over the dashboard and doors makes it clear that the Rondo is an inexpensive car. The shifter is raised up on its own pod, minivan-style. The high roofline means tons of headroom, making both front and back seats suitable for occupants of all heights. The optional third-row seat folds down, restoring cargo space. Getting into the third row requires a little scrambling, although the middle row moves forward a bit.
The Kia Rondo's 2.7-liter V-6 gives the car a surprising amount of power, and its steering feels nice and tight. However, don't expect to whip this car hard around the corners--its height gives it a teetering feeling. The V-6 engine gives it 182 horsepower, and in practice we found that a stomp on the accelerator really jams the car forward. Car and Driver was able to get the Rondo to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds. The car can also be had with a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine.
Our 2007 Kia Rondo EX, the top trim level, had a base price of $20,195. Kia threw in the Leather package for $1,000, the Premium package for $1,200, and the third-row seat for $500. Along with its $600 destination charge, our Kia Rondo came out to $23,495. There's not a whole lot of tech available with the Kia Rondo, but it does have some bright spots. We were most taken with the Infinity stereo system and the engine power. If we're going to call it a wagon, we would suggest that its closest competitor we've reviewed recently is the Subaru Forester. Although the Forester feels more rugged, it doesn't have the same passenger capacity. If you need to carry a lot of people around, and have some extra money to spend, the GMC Acadia or the Mazda CX-9 offer a little more luxury.
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