With gas prices rising and the economy falling, the 2009 Kia Rondo is the rescue and recovery vehicle you have been searching for. It’s not an SUV, nor is it a minivan. The 2009 Kia Rondo is a wagon, a tall, four-door, hauls-all that sips fuel and loves families!
The midsize front-wheel drive Rondo is a wagon that wins on comfort, versatility, capacity and economy, the four “must-haves” when shopping for the ideal family vehicle. The 2009 Rondo is offered in two trim levels, LX and EX. The LX and EX are powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder (162 hp) or a 2.7-liter V6 (182 hp) engine, respectively. Four-cylinder LX models are controlled by a four-speed automatic transmission while V6s have a five-speed automatic with overdrive. However, raw specifications fail to capture the appeal of this friendly wagon.
The Kia Rondo makes no pretences about its mission. From every angle, the Rondo is about space efficiency—getting the most out of the available space. From the side, Rondo is a “tall” wagon that clearly has a roomy interior. From the rear, the Rondo’s hatch stretches to the corners of the available opening so it can swallow surprisingly bulky cargo. The doors are wide and open wide for ease of entry and exit. In other words, Rondo is “form-follows-function” at its very best.
Reviewers are unanimous in praising the new Rondo, especially its interior. Consumer Guide, for instance, found that "interior materials and assembly quality [are] impressive for the price with leather seating appearing especially upscale...good head- and legroom." Jalopnik.com reported the Rondo interior has "more mystery compartments and fuzzy cubbyholes than the Winchester Mystery House" (whatever that is!). New York Newsday loved the comfort, noting the reviewers "emerged remarkably ache-free after a couple of two-hour stints behind the wheel.”
TheCarConnection.com found the Rondo's forte is people moving, though it has enviable cargo capacity, too. With Rondo's third row, there’s seating for seven. Second and third row seats can be folded and manipulated for additional space. There is 31.7 cubic feet of stowage behind the second row seats.
The cabin design is very appealing with a two-tone dash that organizes instruments and controls with graphic appeal and user-friendliness. The gear selector is located at the base of the center stack rather than between the seats, a clever move since it makes the console much more usable. The CD audio system is located at the top of the center stack with the climate controls just below. It’s all very tidy, and the materials, fit and finish are excellent. Stylish details surround you inside the Rondo. Available soft-leather trim, heated seats, power sunroof and premium Infinity 315-watt digital audio system treat your senses, and fold-flat seats say you can take it with you. The steering wheel-mounted audio controls mean you can keep your eyes on the road—always good advice!
Reviewers also like the performance of the 2009 Rondo. First, they like the choice of engines, finding the 162 hp 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine a good every day performer and praising the optional 182 hp V6 for its power and fuel frugality. Rondo’s four-cylinder engine has more standard horsepower than rivals such as the Mazda5, Chevy HHR or Toyota Matrix. The V6 offers 18 mpg fuel economy in city driving and 26 mpg on the highway. The 2.7-liter four betters that by one mpg in city driving.
Test drivers found the Rondo surprisingly agile and easy-riding. They call the Rondo “very maneuverable” and “surprisingly easy to park,” qualities that are sure to be appreciated in family car mode. The New York Times reports that, "Kia has loaded an impressive number of standard safety features into this inexpensive family hauler including electronic stability and traction control, tire-pressure monitors, four-wheel antilock disc brakes and six airbags." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has given the Kia Rondo nearly perfect safety scores across the board. It scores five stars for front crash protection, five stars for driver side-impact protection and four stars for passenger side-impacts and rollover resistance.
The Rondo has won its share of awards and recognition. For example, it was named in Parents Magazine and Edmunds.com Best Family Cars 2008 List. Autobytel and MyRide.com recognized the Kia Rondo with an Editor's Choice Award for Best Kept Secret for 2008 and as Best New Wagon respectively while The Car Book put the Rondo on its “Best Bet” list.
Base MSRP for the 2009 Kia Rondo is $17,045 with the top-of-the-line Rondo EX V6 listing for $20,845, prices that should raise the pulse of economy-minded buyers. Then there is the Kia limited warranty that has Rondo’s powertrain covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles, a “peace-of-mind” benefit of Kia ownership.
If you are shopping for a versatile, comfortable, economical and affordable family wagon, look no further than the 2009 Kia Rondo!
