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Mazda 5 vs Kia Rondo

859 messages,  Last post on Aug 22, 2010 at 8:13 PM

You are in the Mazda Mazda5 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mazda MAZDA5, Kia Rondo, Car Comparisons, Car Buying, Wagon

Messages Page 32 of 87

#307 of 859 Re: Snap Judgements [coolmazda5] by coolmazda5

Feb 09, 2008 (12:42 pm)

Replying to: coolmazda5 (Feb 09, 2008 7:20 am)
And to close on the theory of that these 2 cars do not target the exact same audience (in general), I found this pic in the Mazda Sweden web site. I think is the closest to my garage (garage is a little bit tighter). 2nd row doors could open as wide as anything else, but the problem is not just how wide they open, but also the space used by them as that makes it not possible to open it full when in a compact garage or a tight parking spot. The difference between getting your toddler ready inside the garage during Winter and outside (What about Canada?), is big and has no price. I would not doubt that for loading/unloading adults is different.
 
Link:
http://www.carspace.com/coolmazda5/Albums/mazda5%20cargo/mazda5_parking_slide_do- - - ors_versatility.jpg/photo/v./photo.jpg
 
Image (right click on it, it is faster than writing 10 paragraphs ):

#308 of 859 Re: Snap Judgements [coolmazda5] by conwelpic

Feb 09, 2008 (5:17 pm)

Replying to: coolmazda5 (Feb 09, 2008 12:42 pm)
your absolutely right, nothing beats pictures for quick explanations and getting to the point.
 
It's odd but on your last entry, you said right click on the box with the "x" ('cause thats all I was seeing), the picture inserted. Prior to that I had gone back to your other recent entries #291 the pictures were showing, but #296 and #299 were not - just the "x" in the box, but when I right clicked on your last entry #307 the picture inserted as I mentioned, but that those pictures on #296 and #299 also were opened. I had no problem with any of your links. As you mentioned this site is not very user friendly and don't make things very clear, but now we know.
 
the picture #307 looks okay for the kids getting in the back with the sliding door but how does the driver get in? Must have to get in the back and climb into the front as it doesn't look like the drivers door would open far enough to get in.
 
Like you, I also picked up the package to save shipping charges to get it home, but I was able to close the rear door. I think the M5 has a slight advantage on the tailgate opening over the Rondo, because it seems to be more square, where the Rondo tapers more as you go to the top. However, the Rondo has more length to the back of the front seats. When I was checking both vehicles out I took my tape measure and came up with these figures:
height at rear door opening: Rondo - 33", M5 - 35.5"
floor depth to front seats: Rondo - 68", M5 - 65"
between wheel wells: Rondo - 40", M5 - 40"
rear floor to ground: Rondo - 27", M5 - 26.5"
 
They are both great vehicles, but I'm sure a lot of this information will be of value to anyone out there reading this trying to decide which way to go, we can only provide our own observations for our own personal use that can only be provided by an owner.

#309 of 859 Re: Snap Judgements [coolmazda5] by medicineman

Feb 09, 2008 (7:03 pm)

Replying to: coolmazda5 (Feb 09, 2008 7:20 am)
CM5 (that sounds cooler, eh?), the baby seat itself is slightly wider than the widest part of the base, but not by that much. I'll try to take a pic of the baby seat in its base later (the seat happens to be the baby's happy place, so I don't have much opportunity to yoink the seat away for a photo opportunity).
 
About the "my box is bigger than your box" thingy, umm, I wasn't being totally serious with my comments, ya know. In any case, I was just curious about why you would use that photo to demonstrate the cargo capacity of your vehicle when the cargo didn't actually fit. But I now get it that it was more about showing off what the vehicle can do (a "wow" Kodak moment) rather than what the vehicle can actually hold.

#310 of 859 Re: Snap Judgements [conwelpic] by coolmazda5

Feb 09, 2008 (8:16 pm)

Replying to: conwelpic (Feb 09, 2008 5:17 pm)
Oh well, as I said, there should be something wrong with the site. I have put the pic links just in case. I have 2 browsers and both display it in mine, but hey, it seems that you both are able to see them (although with some tricks). The pics are in the same site (CarSpace) as this forum, so who knows what the issue is.
 
I did not perform any detailed measurements, but my wife did some homework (she is the original driver of my first MZ5, the car that started it all ). I won't go into details but she said in summary: it is IKEA compliant, it fits many of the average boxes they use when you buy anything there with no trouble. That, to me, is more than enough.

#311 of 859 Re: Snap Judgements [coolmazda5] by medicineman

Feb 10, 2008 (12:33 am)

Replying to: coolmazda5 (Feb 09, 2008 12:42 pm)
CM5 and mrbwa1, it's your contention that the Mazda5 is more kid-friendly than the Rondo. Sorry, but you guys are dead wrong. Let me make my case.
 
Exhibit A:
 

 
Exhibit B:
 

 
Exhibit C:
 

 
You see what I'm getting at? They all look like the Rondo.
 
Everyone knows that the Rondo looks like a jelly bean on wheels. It's as plain as day, obvious as sin, hotter than Georgia asphalt.
 
What's the connection with Daffy? Rondo = duck's head. Case closed.
 

 
Sleepwalker was right and I was wrong, the Rondo is a toon. Hey, I'm man enough to admit when I'm wrong. The Rondo and Benny the Cab from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?": Separated At Birth.
 
So read my lips, guys. Kids love Benny the Cab. Kids adore Daffy Duck. Kids jones for jelly beans.
 
And you're trying to tell me that the Rondo ain't kid-friendly? Oh puleeze.
 
...Then again, the Rondo is freakin' ugly and scares the crap out of kids. Never mind.

#312 of 859 Re: Snap Judgements [medicineman] by coolmazda5

Feb 10, 2008 (6:05 am)

Replying to: medicineman (Feb 10, 2008 12:33 am)
One thing is correct out of those pics, the Rondo is Daffy Duck ugly. If I got scared, my kids would be too
 
Back to topic, here is a pic of one load that was able to close the gate, albeit I needed to move the front seats forward to drive (not comfortable). For sure the reply will be that the storm door in the carton box is too thin so it does not represent a full cargo capacity
 
Link:
http://www.carspace.com/coolmazda5/Albums/mazda5%20cargo/mazda5_loaded_002.jpg/p- - - hoto/v./photo.jpg
 
Image:

#313 of 859 Re: Snap Judgements [coolmazda5] by medicineman

Feb 10, 2008 (4:14 pm)

Replying to: coolmazda5 (Feb 10, 2008 6:05 am)
CM5, the storm door in the carton box is too thin so it does not represent a full cargo capacity. Plus, we need to see it overhanging the backend of the vehicle so we can fully appreciate what your vehicle can really do.
 
My real opinion about the way the Rondo looks has changed with time. When I first got it, I loved the way it looked. Then, I thought it was bland. Now, I've read a number of comments and reviews about how the Rondo looks quite smart from certain angles, but ungainly from other angles. I tend to agree with that.
 
Mrbwa1 was very perceptive (and I'm only saying that because I see it the same way) when he said that the Rondo "looks VERY different depending on the trim level and paint color." I love the way my Rondo EX looks in "urban grey." The Rondo (to my eyes) seems to suffer in other colours.
 
As for the M5's looks, I don't really get why some people think that it's hot. To me, it looks like a door-stop wedge. Its "cool" appears more tacked on than inherent (a poseur). But I do agree that the M5's looks do not polarize opinions as much as the Rondo's looks do. With the Rondo, it dares to be different (depending on one's opinion, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's purty).
 
Conwelpic also made a good point about your pic of the M5 in a tight parking space. In actual practice, would you (or more importantly, your wife) park in that narrow of a parking spot, especially if you have difficulty opening the passenger and driver doors? I know you have the option of climbing through to the rear and exiting through the sliding doors, which is more of a hassle than just opening your own door, so my first instinct and preference would be to park where I wouldn't have to do that.
 
As for me, I really haven't had any issues with parking and unloading/loading the Rondo in the urban nightmare that I live in. Hypothetically, it would seem that I would have all kinds of trouble opening doors in those tight mall parking lots, but in practice, it hasn't been that big of a deal. If it were, I would be certainly bitchin' about it. I guess it's because I, and most people out there, have never owned a vehicle with sliding doors before, so we're used to making due with what we've got. If I had sliding doors, I probably would decide that I couldn't live without it.
 
Finally, I have been silent about your thesis on who is the typical M5 audience and who is the typical Rondo audience (i.e., post #288). That's not a tacit agreement with your thesis--I just found it too speculative and overreaching to make any concrete comments on it. Nevertheless, when you focused your attention on one aspect of your thesis (the kid-friendly stuff) and made a detailed case, it did sound very compelling.
 
Anyway, I'm spending way too much time with reading and posting here (I've always been quite self-deprecating about my over-long, self-indulgent posts). Me thinks I'm taking a break.

#314 of 859 Re: Snap Judgements [medicineman] by coolmazda5

Feb 10, 2008 (5:57 pm)

Replying to: medicineman (Feb 10, 2008 4:14 pm)
Oh forget it. I'm not reading this anymore. A book on sci-fi is way more interesting. When you get some pics just post them

#315 of 859 Re: Snap Judgements [medicineman] by viper69

Feb 10, 2008 (9:13 pm)

Replying to: medicineman (Feb 10, 2008 4:14 pm)
I just want to add my opinion to this matter. I have the mazda5 myself and did look at the rondo as well when shopping. I also like the rondo, but besides the salesman who turned me off looking further in their dealership, I think the sliding door is just a blessing to those who have kids. Specially those who still use a car seat. I don't have to bend and hurt my back putting them in, specially in tight spaces. Take note that my first choice was really a Sedona, short wheel base one, but the MPG really turned me off. I just really like the sliding door on mini vans but did not want to pay more for what I did for my 5. So the 5 really is perfect for me. I have 2 kids, a 3 and a 8 yr old. Wanted extra sits when needed, another reason why I got the 5, but you'll get that from the rondo too.

#316 of 859 Re: Snap Judgements [medicineman] by mrbwa1

Feb 11, 2008 (7:34 pm)

Replying to: medicineman (Feb 10, 2008 12:33 am)
LOL! I must conceed to you wisdom there. Also, I guess my Mazda5 isn't really kid-friendly, as much as it's garage-friendly, and stuck-between-two-land-yacht-sized SUVs-in-compact-parking-spaces-friendly. and as for driving a cartoon, have you ever seen a Toyota ECHO? I drive an '01 and I swear that it was designed by Disney!

Messages Page 32 of 87

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