Kia Rondo7 Long Term update
December 7, 2008 by Anthony Crawford
What might gel best with this current 2.0-litre petrol powerplant, is a five-speed auto box rather than the four-speed unit currently in service. That way second would be a shorter gear ratio, which could make all the difference when climbing steep inclines.
That said it’s the overall versatility of this vehicle, which makes it so damn user friendly. During the past three weeks, the Rondo7 has been employed for various school pick-ups, airport drop-offs and a fully loaded trip to the local tip, which required all rear seats to be dropped and covered with an old quilt.
With my folks in the car a fair bit lately, I have been driving more economically with very few freeway kilometres and yet, fuel consumption rivals that of the last update at just on 8.0L/100kms.
That’s not bad, considering the previous Rondo7 instalment included 200 kilometres of non-stop freeway driving.
We still have issues with the level of direct sunlight through the windows, but put that down to the level of (if any) tint, which has been applied to the side glass. If Kia addresses that issue, then apart from the inclusion of air-conditioning vents for third row passengers, there’s very little to whinge about and a whole lot to like.
Before I sign out I’ve got to give this audio system another plug. In fact, I was forced do a physical count of the number of speakers in this model variant given the quality of the output from my superseded Nano.
I can confirm, its as the specs say, just four generic looking speakers with two tweeters up front to support the head unit and that is quite remarkable, given the aural pleasure this system provides with seemingly, any genre of music.
The next update will be just before we embark on our family journey to the Gold Coast.
Stay tuned.
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I think the best thing about cars like this is best described as cheap and cheerful. There’s something really lovely about paying so little and getting so much which is what you seem to be experiencing Anthony. I have one of the very few current BMWs that comes with almost everything you would want as standard, but it’s not very satisfying to get a sunroof and xenon headlamps as standard when you are paying the best part of seventy thousand pounds for it and that is why I actually enjoyed driving my base Citroen C4 home more than my BMW, simply because I didn’t know what to expect and I got so much for my money!
Another lovely thing about all interiors that aren’t German is that although they are not always the best of quality, you keep finding little hidy-holes every time you look around the car where as German interiors are very what-you-see-is-what-you-get and if you want to see more, then you’re going to have to pay for it.
I’m glad you are enjoying your car Anthony and it looks as if it deserves it. This is the best way to review a car like this because (and I’m not saying it is) it could be awful to drive but it’s only when you use it for what it was built for that you can really enjoy it. Practicality can be a major plus in any sort of car but when you buy something so cheap and get so much, I think that is the most enjoyable sort of car ownership. Unless it’s a Ferrari.
that is a very goo for that priced car also those rear doors look massive.
Well your selling me and I only cart myself around lol.
Huh ?
Apart from a poor engine and lousy transmission it’s brilliant ??
I read another review where the pram wouldn’t fit in the back either.
It is cheap’n'cheerful if you need seven seats, but carting 6 adults off for a night out would surely be outside this car’s design purpose, and a miserable experience to boot.
Not a poor engine or transmission – just saying it could be improved, like with any car on earth.
Not sure what size pram they were talking about – must be a three seat job.
6 adults, no problem, as long as you are not expecting to travel in Rolls Royce Phantom style comfort but then again, with that sort of money, I could buy 31 Kia Rondo7’s and start a family car rental business.
People across the road have had a Rondo for a couple of months now and very happy with it. Criticisms in relation to performance of this size car and engine can be made of dozens of other models on the market many costing far more.
Price u pay for 8/100klm economy in a car this spacious and practical.
Strangely enough some people don’t care if they can’t overtake everyone else on the upside of Mooney Mooney.
If u want performance buy a Grand Carnival and no one will pass u.LOL
Quality of the car is in the detail and while on the topic of Kia my Grand Carnival has perfectly engraved tiny jack symbols at each jack point which I found fascinating. Also the oil filter or paper element is located next to the rocker covers at the top of the engine and is easily changed by unsrewing a plastic cap from a filter housing and removing the paper only element. Brilliant!Is called an eco filter as no metal can is required.
Audio is excellent in the Grand Carnival as well.
i hired a grand carnival for a week.
i WAS impressed!
we got in it, drove off expecting no power…. holy bejeebus!! the thing was a tyre shredder, 190 odd kw i think? most backward hat p plate ricers and commodore drivers never knew what hit them!!
BRILLIANT car!
rondo is getting rave reviews everywhere!
Fantastic Anthony. These reviews really interest clients considering the Rondo as their next purchase. It adds value when it is an unbiest opinion of the product that is written by someone not employed by Kia.
Nice update.
Does anyone know when or if Kia plan to release a diesel or a V6 option here in Australia? They’ve got the diesel in NZ for about NZ$40k driveaway. I’ve looked at a few 2009 calendars for new model releases in Australia but none of them mention anything about a new engine/transmission for the Rondo7.
Perhaps a better question is this… is the current engine/transmission combination adequate for keeping up with traffic sitting at 110km/h on the freeway on a slight incline?
I WANT to buy one of these with their maximum luxury pack and all options, BUT I refuse to buy any car, including this one, that does not have a proper factory or dealer fitted “integrated” cruise control.
The up-market version of the Rondo in the USA and other markets is fitted with cruise control, the wiring loom is pre-wired for it as is the steering wheel, but STUPID Kia Australia has specified to the factory in Korea that Australians are not worthy of cruise control (which probably only costs them $35 extra to fit once the wiring, etc. are there); – and instead we are supposed to pay $770 for an outside accessory supplier to install an inferior after-market device (that does not even connect to the steering wheel).
Dumb, dumb, dumb. I was ready to buy, but now will not do so.