2008 KIA Rondo7 - Long Term Evaluation
10 Nov, 2008
28 Comments 
Long Term Evaluation Vehicle - KIA Rondo7 Limited
Model Tested:
- 2008 KIA Rondo7 EX Limited 2.0-litre automatic wagon - $31,990 (RRP)
- by Anthony Crawford
KIA are a very confident manufacturer these days for not only do they offer a comprehensive five year unlimited kilometre warranty for private users, but they’ve now also thrown CarAdvice the keys to a Rondo7 Limited for a few months, just to see how the family wagon will cope at the hands of a road tester and his family in the longer term.
The long term test involves myself, my wife and two kids using the Rondo7 as our family chariot for the next three or four months, and reporting back every ten days or so, on just how the car is performing as a family vehicle as well as our likes and dislikes.
It won’t just be driven around suburbia either. The annual family trek up to the Gold Coast (we’re based in Sydney) is also part of the plan later this year, and we’ll be sure to provide you with a two-part report on that journey, too.
For those of you who haven’t thought much of KIA branded cars in the past, be assured that the new Rondo7 is at the very least, an interesting bit of kit.
As the name suggests, it’s a proper seven seater, which offers a wealth of versatility across all three trim levels. The EX Limited that we’re driving is the top spec model and comes fully loaded with leather trim, electric sunroof (tilt and slide), climate control air-conditioning, remote audio controls (steering wheel mounted), 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails (with cross bars) and a host of other conveniences.
Of course you don’t need to spend $31,990 to get into Rondo. In fact, just $24,990 plus on-road costs, will see you drive away in the LX model with five-speed manual or $26,990 plus on roads for the four-speed automatic. In the middle of the model range is the EX for $28,990 plus on-road costs with the four-speed auto as standard kit.
Safety is high on the agenda at KIA too, with all grades fitted with TCS (Traction Control System), ESP (Electronic Stability Program) and ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brake-Force Distribution). Dual front SRS airbags are also standard fitment on the base model LX and EX Rondo7 with the EX Limited adding side front SRS airbags and full-length curtain SRS airbags for complete protection.
An “Urban Recreational Vehicle” is how KIA describe the curious five door hatch, and they just might be on to something.
I know we’re only a family of four, but our six year old does a million different sports and the seventeen year old and her girlfriends think of us as their personal taxi service, so already, the seven seater has a clear advantage in our household.
Not only that, but a garage sale caught my eye last week, and I picked up a bargain in a huge solid wood bookcase, standing 2.1 by 1.2 metres wide, the Rondo7 took it on without a hitch.
It was too wide to squeeze through the rear tailgate of the Rondo but then, that’s what adjustable roof racks are for. Within minutes and a few well-secured tie-downs, my bookcase was back home and installed in the office.
Both the second and third row seats fold flat, transforming the Rondo7 into a veritable van with huge load space, or you can split fold both rows for carrying a combination of kids and surfboards if that’s your need.
Oh, and if you need to carry adults in the third row, then just slide the second row forward a little for extra leg room back there!
I counted twenty-three separate storage compartments throughout the cabin and I’m certain to have missed a few, such is abundance of these clever little nook and cranny spaces in the Rondo7.
The driving position is higher than a regular car, which is a plus according to my wife, and both second and third row seating is graduated higher (stadium style), so that all passengers have forward vision instead of looking at a head restraint, especially good for kids who suffer from car sickness.
Access to the third row is also a breeze, given the wide aperture of the rear doors, meaning that kids or adults alike, can simply slide the second row forward for unencumbered entry, too easy.
While there is a stack of room inside the Rondo7’s cabin, it doesn’t look that large from an exterior point of view, if anything, it looks small and manageable. Nonetheless, I plan on installing a set of optional rear sensors in the coming week, just to make reverse parking fail safe.
It’s a comfortable car both to drive and be a passenger in with driver and front passenger seats well bolstered all round. It’s the same in both the second and third rows – I did a quick stint in each and drew no complaints.
My other half says that both the HVAC and audio controls are simple and intuitive and whilst I concur, I found the auxiliary input inside the centre console box, a little fiddly when connecting my iPod.
No such nit picking when it comes to the quality of the standard audio system though. I dialed up some volume on a track with some heavy bass, and there was zero distortion and an excellent tone.
No one looking to buy a seven seat “Urban Recreational Vehicle” is going to be too interested in a track day at Oran Park, but by the same token you wouldn’t want a single kilowatt or newton metre less than what this engine produces - and that’s not a lot.
Off the line starts from lights and intersections aren’t a problem, the Rondo leaps forward from any stationary point and within no time you are doing the speed limit.
It’s a slightly different story when you’re climbing a steep incline, the 106kW @ 6000rpm and 189Nm @ 4250rpm means that you need to work the Rondo7 hard when negotiating hilly terrain. “It labours a little on hills” was the comment from other half whom I should add, thinks the speed limits imposed in NSW are both safe and proper!
In the end, it’s not much of a gripe in a versatile vehicle such as the Rondo7, as you can always use the “tiptronic-style” shift to move things along.
Whilst we haven’t done any freeway or long distance trips as yet, we have gone through two 55-litre tanks of 91RON unleaded since October 24. That’s quite good actually, we’ve averaged 369kms per tank with heavy loads on all journeys and lots of hills to climb.
After just two weeks living with the Rondo7, and the convenience this vehicle offers, I’m not sure this family can live without it. We’ll have another brief report on how the Rondo7 is traveling in another ten days or so.
For a full review of the Rondo7, click here.
Location: Home / Kia Rondo, Long Term Test, Kia, Behind the Wheel, Car News / ...
Rate Post: 
(6 votes, average: 3 out of 5)
Loading ...
-
Print it:
November 10th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Quote: “two 55-litre tanks of 91RON unleaded since October 24. That’s quite good actually, we’ve averaged 369kms per tank”
It strikes me as disingenuous to describe the fuel consumption in such indirect terms. I think the readers can be trusted to forgive 14.91 litres/100 km under heavily laden and hilly conditions so why not tell it the way it is?
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
What car had you been using before the Rondo Anthony? Just curious a you wrote that you don’t know how your family lived without it.
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Dunno about you Anthony, but I’d feel a lot more at peace with my family in something like a Tarago rather than a Rondo. Safety comes to mind first, I don’t reckon the Rondo would hold up to well in a hard stack, especially if its rear ended.
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Alex - the family chariot is an aging Subaru Liberty which our seventeen year old will try and claim in the not too distant future.
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
VW Freak, nothing wrong with the Tarago but its a lot more car to handle, in the often congested parking areas we frequent most weekends. Its also way out of our price range whereas the Rondo EX Limited is loaded with safety features for a lot less money.
One other thing which I was going to mention in our follow up report, is that the Rondo has a superb chassis. This thing goes around corners with minimal body roll and all the composure of a well sorted hatch.
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Don’t think a Tarago would hold up too well either at least not as well as my mighty fire breathing Grand Carnival.LOL.
Forget Tarago think Grand CARNIVAL.
All the rental companies are using fire breathing Grand Carnivals now!!!
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Neighbour has a Rondo for last six months and happy with it.
Has a nice set of wheels on it and looks fat!
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Buy nearly two of these for the price of similar spec Avensis.
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I think the one problem with this car is that Kia really should have lost just a little bit more and only brought it over with an automatic, but for the same price. $24,990 is a great starting price but who really wants a car like this with a manual gearbox? It’s hardly what can be called a fun car to drive so there’s no reason for any extra control.
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
A very good car in my opinion. Its not expensive, yet is also safe, looks quite handsome, clever interior and is a good overall package. And their engines are superb for durability (believe it or not).
Well done Kia, another Suzuki/Hyundai coming through…
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
The Tarago is hardly in the same league as a Rondo, the Rondo is about $25k cheaper. I think the Rondo is a very smart car, why should anyone pay over $40k for a 7-seat FWD People-Mover with a 4-cylinder?
However I don’t think that engine will cut it, with seven on board and luggage. Why don’t we get a diesel in Oz?
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
What do value more Myke, your children’s lives or your money? Actually, let’s forget the 50K Tarago for a moment. Let’s save 10K and go a Kluger KX-R seven seater. Now I’m no Dingo, but I’d rather either of these vehicles over the Kia.
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
VW Freak, the Kia has safety in spades. Unlike Kluger’s ESP system…
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
The Rondo isn’t a dead trap VWF, and anyway the Kluger is a SIX-cylinder 7-seat FWD with a SUV body.
Apart from the Tarago’s size, the $50k version doesn’t offer that much over a Rondo. Plus the Tarago is ugly as sin.
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
VW Freak,
Anthony Crawford said that the Rondo has a good chasis, ie it handles well.
The Kluger drives like a truck, drinks fuel like a truck and handles like a truck.
I’m not saying that the Rondo is anything special, as I haven’t driven one, but I recently crossed the kluger OFF my list, mainly, because of the poor driving dynamics.
The Kluger is grossely over estimated and over rated by many people.
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
The Kluger starts at about 40k no? Th whole point of the Rondo is that its cheap and a lot of families with six or seven people can’t afford a $40,000 Kluger. And it’s much safer to get a Rondo (i don’t know how anybody got the idea that it’s unsafe, by the way) than a second hand Tarago or Carnival.
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
This thing is crying out for a 2Lt diesel with 350NM of torque!!!
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
doent new zealand have a diesel rondo? i think it is becuase new zealand uses other countries laws or something for its cars.Also new zealand gets a diesal corrolla!
{i dont live in new zealand im just dissapointed we dont get the corrolla wagon which looks better than the hatch]
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
O, NZ laws basically say that if a car is compliant with relevant safety and emission standards in Australia, USA, EU or Japan then it is suitable for importation to NZ. So importers dont need to go through their own costly ADR compliance testing for each new model or engine that they wish to sell.
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
VW Freak - a porsche 911 is better then a mazda mx5 as well, oh yeah right the price difference… mate your comparisons are rediculous, your comparing 50 grand cars to 30 grand cars, what the hell kind of drugs are you on? That’s not even close to a valid comparison.
And “what price tag do you put on your kids life” geez come on man get a grip, not everyone can afford to spend 50k on a car you monkey! Some of us have to do the best we can with 30k, alot of people even less! And anyway are you suggesting all of those with families who don’t own really big cars (because bigger always means safer…) are un-caring about the lifes of their families? come on mate, your being a nob
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
We have a Citroen Picasso with just about everything you could possibly imagine included and a 2lt diesel for $40K. Its been brilliant.
When you spec up safety, economy and (some sort of) style with 7 seaters you get a very short list.
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
The lack of boot space would be my biggest beef…& the lack of torque. Apart from that, it looks like a bargain.
(Report)
November 10th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
You get what you pay for people! And on that basis this is a pretty good value car.
I am a bit of a snob when it comes to Kia, Proton and the like and rightly so. But this car is what it is, the most affordable 7 seater!
(Report)
November 11th, 2008 at 1:41 am
VW Freak - your concerns about rear end shunts and your off-spring are unfounded, there are rules concerning crash intrusion. Short of being rear ended my the prostitute murdering truckers (aaaw shucks thats really funny isn’t it Thomarse79) I think you’d be safe.
Not a bad wagon especially for the money, if you want to afford a better(??) one for greater cost, then why comment. Strange!!!
Having sat in one at the motorshow the only comment I would have is the interiors are not a tough or well presented at the far pricier options. Pay yer money takes yer choice.
(Report)
November 11th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Pablo,
The space between the last row of setas and the tailgate actually looks to be more than a Kluger, and it would want to be, because it IS a problem with the Kluger, as a medium suitcase will only just stand up in that area. come to think of it, it’s generally a problem with most of these 7 seeters.
(Report)
November 11th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Shouldn’t compare Kia/Hyundai to Proton as they are their own car whereas Proton are still previous gen Lancer copies.
(Report)
November 14th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Allot of success selling these to families who have a used people mover budget but don’t want a second hand car. Anthony i look forward to your reports, any evidence i find from motoring journalists make great reference points to prospective buyers.
(Report)