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Vans & Minivans Mazda Mazda5 Mazda 5 vs Kia Rondo
801 messages, Last post on Nov 10, 2009 at 8:34 PM
You are in the Mazda Mazda5 Forum. Your Host is Karens
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Replying to: renu_p (Aug 16, 2007 6:17 pm)
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (Aug 17, 2007 6:49 pm) yes, i think better to put in $12 for consumer reports. there was also one other site which had car review at $1 per car and a minimum of $5. thanks
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Replying to: renu_p (Aug 16, 2007 6:17 pm) If you are interested in a 5 seater, then they will even lower the price more (but then again, there are many other options). Use the net to find other dealers within your state (and perhaps out of your state) - for 2K$ you can take a nice vacation driving to pick one up... (isn't this line better suited for the dealer experience forum?) P.S. I picked the Rondo over the Mazda because: (i) more space for the kids (ii) more space for the driver (iii) 5 speed transmission (V6 only). The fact that it was somewhat cheaper was nice, but did not matter. Having the 7th seat is nice, but of limited use, as only a skinny 8-12 years old could fit there... |
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Replying to: renu_p (Aug 18, 2007 12:54 pm) I have carried 5 adults, a baby on a car seat and a large stroller in the back of the 3rd row and have not felt a lack of power (I have a manual transmission however). I have done this only once in 2 years. Now, other Auto Tranny Mazda5 owners have said that the engine is not power out of this world but sufficient, even fully loaded (peppy enough as long as you are not intending to race it of course  ) To me any V6 seems very economical when driving on pure highway, but the Rondo's V6 city MPG seems very low for the type of car. I read once (link below) that it was only around 15MPG? On my 2 years as a Mazda5 owner, we have gone from 22MPG (bad, hot day w/ full A/C city driving) to almost 34MPG (highway). Our avg is around 24-25MPG, 3 passengers. Now, as per choice, although it is just a family ride and both cars have very similar versatility, I prefer the Mazda5 as I love the Zoom-Zoom spice and the appealing look added to it. Some MPG stuff and reviews I found for both: http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2007/04/suburban_dad_20_1.html KarenS, "Mazda5 Owners MPG-Real World Numbers" #, 22 Jul 2005 8:51 am Good luck! |
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Replying to: renu_p (Aug 18, 2007 12:54 pm) If you're looking at these kind of vehicles, you're obviously concerned primarily about functionality. IMHO, the Rondo is more versatile when it comes to functionality and configurability compared to the Mazda5. The obvious reason for this is that the Rondo is capable of seating one more person than the Mazda5. Its 2-3-2 seating configuration gives you a few more options than the Mazda5's 2-2-2 configuration. For instance, if on average you will be carrying at most 5 people in your vehicle, the fifth person has to sit in the third row in the Mazda5. In the Rondo, the fifth person can choose his poison --be stuck in the middle of the second row or be stuck in one of the third-row seats. If you need additional cargo space, the fifth person can sit in the second row allowing the third-row seats to be stored away for more space. In the Mazda5, you would be able to store only one of the third-row seats for additional space. If, in your mind, the versatility is pretty much equal between the Rondo and Mazda5, then other considerations come into play. IMHO, the Rondo comes out ahead when considering the warranty (the 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty is a killer) and safety (electronic stability control and traction control system are standard, which are not available for the Mazda5). The Mazda5, again IMHO, comes out ahead when considering resale value and performance/handling (available with a manual tranny, which is not available for the Rondo). If looks and image matter, the Mazda5 gets the nod over the Rondo, although that's not saying very much. There's no disguising the fact that these vehicles are what they are--utilitarian people movers. The Mazda5 also has sliding doors, which I consider a plus (and it should be considered a plus, because I'll say it again, these vehicles are primarily about functionality). Some people, however, seem to hate sliding doors due to its "soccer mom" look. If the Rondo does have an advantage over the Mazda5 in the looks department, I suppose this would be it. As for MPG, you should check out (if you haven't already) some of the real-world drivers' experiences with the Rondo at these threads: Kia Rondo, Real World MPG So what kind of mileage are people getting? (Kia Forums) Rondo fuel economy compared to goverment ratings (Kia Forums) BTW, coolmazda5 seemed to have found one of the few mostly negative reviews of the Rondo (i.e., his link to the KickingTires blog at Cars.com). For a comprehensive list of Rondo reviews, see here. |
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Replying to: medicineman (Aug 18, 2007 9:46 pm)  . BTW, I won't post other non-Edmunds forums I frequently visit, as it is generally a Forums member's rule (do not promote external forums in your post)... renu_p, you seem to have a lot of info now, so happy shopping around! |
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (Aug 19, 2007 3:30 am) I can't comment specifically on the Rondo, but in general, when a particular vehicle is offered with a choice of either 4 cyl or V6 engines, because the weight is basically the same either way, you can get about the same gas mileage out of the V6 as long as you drive with a light foot. In other words, drive with a heavy foot in the V6 version, and you'll use more gas, simply because the V6 is CAPABLE of using more gas when pushed. But you'll also have the added benefit of better acceleration when needed and more pulling power when needed for larger loads because of the increased torque. Personally, I'd rather have the V6 because I'd like the larger reserve of power available, and the smoother, quieter running characteristics of V6 engines. I think in most driving you'll get the same gas mileage as the 4 cyl. You just have to train yourself not to take full advantage of the V6 power reserve unless you really need it.
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Replying to: toronado455 (Aug 19, 2007 1:07 pm) 
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (Aug 19, 2007 3:30 am) By the way, I thought my posted links were fair (good and bad) on both sides, not negative. I still believe that the V6 engine economy is misleading, but that is pretty much it . Just to clear up any misunderstanding, I was only referring to the review at the KickingTires blog. Plus, by "negative," I wasn't implying that the review was unfair, but that it ultimately didn't recommend the Rondo. That is what I mean by "negative review" when I've used those terms in any of my past posts (i.e., the review doesn't recommend the vehicle or the review is leaning in that direction, by my estimation). I've also noticed that you posted the KickingTires link several times before, as though it were some sort of "smoking gun" (and as I said before, it just happens to be one of the few "negative reviews" of the Rondo out there). If you're basing your belief about the V6 on just that one review, I suggest that you check some other reviews and other drivers' accounts (it just might contradict or even confirm your belief). BTW, I wasn't aware of the forum member's rules, but ignorance of the law is no excuse.  I'll keep my nose clean in the future.
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Replying to: toronado455 (Aug 19, 2007 1:07 pm) Seems to me that you'll get better mpg with the 4cyl, just like the 4cyl Accord and Camry get a lot better mpg by EPA estimates as well as real-world users (see posts on MPG.com or Edmunds). No reason to think that the Rondo would perform any differently. The 6cyl is better if you know that you're carrying a heavy load all of the time (ie..you have a big family!), but other wise, I'd just get the 4cyl. |
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