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Vans & Minivans Mazda Mazda5 Mazda 5 vs Kia Rondo
806 messages, Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 2:38 PM
You are in the Mazda Mazda5 Forum. Your Host is Karens
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Whad' I tell ya. |
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (Jun 17, 2008 6:48 am)
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Replying to: bgw (Jun 16, 2008 1:33 pm) Your post sounds pretty much the same as what I discovered while test driving these vehicles. I was looking for a replacement for our Focus hatchback and tested the M5, Rondo, and Subaru Outback wagon and Forester. I liked every one of them for different reasons. I had pretty much decided the Rondo was the one for us, but the Subaru dealer gave us such a great trade in on the Outback, that's what we got. Although I liked the M5, two items that made me wary of purchasing one was the "not recommended" towing rating in the USA, and the fact that they still haven't provided any USA crash test ratings after all these years. Only the Rondo and Subaru provide the manufacturers tow rating for my pop up camper. If I bought the M5 it would mean I'd have to get rid of the camper, (and even the small utility trailer I have) or be forced to keep my truck for towing. (My daily beater is a 2005 Hyundai Accent hatchback 5-sp 37 MPG)
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Replying to: radar1 (Jun 17, 2008 9:12 am) EuroNCAP crash results for M5 are much better than for the Rondo. As a matter of fact most of the korean cars who have 5 star ratings in the USA are rated 4 star only in Europe.
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Replying to: garnermike (Jun 17, 2008 8:58 am)  ) but I rent a lot from work. Mazda has surprised me for its handling and finish for a car its price (even on the most basic trim, including people movers) And yes, I have not rented a Rondo but I have rented from the KIA+Hyundai family and their handling and interior quality have turned me off. Same as when I rent cars like Chevy Malibus, Dodge Avengers, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Sienna, Chrysler T&C, Saturn VUEs and even a Chevy Impala SS KIA+Hyundai family cars rented, decent engine and features but not impressed on handling nor finish: - Hyundai Sonata (twice) - KIA Rio From Mazda. Rented, not fancy Ferraris but really liked: - Mazda6 - Mazda3 - Mazda MPV - Mazda5 AT. Believe it or not, I got one the other day and was OK, even AT And as I posted earlier, I saw a leather Rondo on the rental area the other day, I honestly thought it was vinyl |
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Replying to: kubas (Jun 17, 2008 10:57 am) Front: 9 Side: 15 Comments Front impact Although the drivers footwell did not rupture, there was extensive deformation and the clutch pedal moved rearward by 175mm, leading to a weak rating for protection of the driver's lower leg, feet and ankles. Structures in the dashboard presented a risk of injury to the knees and femurs of the driver and passenger. Side impact The Carens scored maximum points based on the dummy responses in the side impact and pole tests. However, the driver's door became unlatched in the side impact and the car was penalised for this. Mazda 5 (2005) - 5 stars Front: 13 Side: 16 Front impact There was heavy distortion and rupture of the driver's footwell in the frontal test. The pedals presented a risk of injury to the driver's lower legs. Structures in the dashboard represented a potential hazard to the knees and femurs. Side impact The car scored maximum points for its performance in the side impact and pole tests. NHTSA frontal test is conducted at 56 km/h (35 mi/h). EuroNCAP represents a more severe crash than the NHTSA test as it is performed at 64 km/h (40 mph) into an offset deformable barrier. |
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The new Forester 09 finally has all the safety features I was looking for and a better design than the clunky square look. I was justgetting down to figuring out good pricing and realizing I was going to have to drive up to Chicago to get a decent price. Then I saw a Mazda 5 in the church parking lot and talked very briefly to the owners. Originally I had thought it was the Mazda CX-9, but realized it was smaller. While lots of auto writers are falling over backward with praise on the CX-9, the fact that it uses premium gas turned me off. Still the reviews intrigued me. So I have now been researching the Mazda 5 and have been pleasantly surprised. The lack of DSC sort of bothers me. The Forester has AWD and a higher ground clearance. These both are appealing when driving in Midwestern snowstorms. So, how does the Mazda 5 drive in snow? How much smaller does it feel in interior sitting room than a Honda CR-V or similarly a Forester 09? (I think there's more cargo space in the 5, but smaller sitting space.) Does it bother anyone that these cars are so limited in sales it could be hard to get them repaired beyond the dealer? Or, is it possible to go to a Ford dealer as well? How much pep does the engine actually have? It smaller than the CR-V and I thought that lacked much stamina. That's why I was attracted, for awhile, to the Mitsubishi Outlander, but could not get a decent deal on that and some in the family thought it was cheaply made and had too many gadgets. Also, we're not a highly technical family and one of the appeals is that Subarus are reliable. We've had one for 15 years and are almost at 200,000 miles. The 5 is too new for long term reliability numbers, but what's been your experience? I'm partially asking these questions because I am going to have to drive at least 50 miles just to test drive this thing (or hope that that family is back in church on Sunday...). Thanks for any help. I've found reading this forum interesting |
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Replying to: conwelpic (Jun 17, 2008 6:30 am)  Now, as a response to your responses: Aux port - Nevertheless, the Rondo I rented didn't have one and the rental papers did say 2008. Maybe it was an anomaly? Seats - seems there is a discrepancy between LX and EX models where the LX's have cheap, easily-stained materials and not so comfortable seats. Sucks to be an LX owner, then! In the M5 you get the same seat quality in ALL trims, with the exception of the leather offered on the GT. Steering - there's no other way for me to explain this other than to say that it felt like a rubber band. It didn't have a leather covering (LX), and as soon as you steered it, the wheel would almost snap back like a rubber band. It didn't have much road feel and just felt very cheap. Others in my group drove it, and also concurred. Turning Circle - According to an EDMUNDS comparison: Mazda 5 Turning Circle 34.8ft / Kia Rondo Turning Circle 36.1ft. End. Suspension - Have you actually extensively driven a 2008 5 as I did the Rondo? If you did, then you wouldn't have argued this. The ride on the 5 is superior to that of the Rondos. I regularly carry 4 to 6 passengers in my 5 and never have I experienced the bottoming out and the harshness that I experienced in the Rondo. I still feel the Rondo's ride is like a mirage: it gave the first impression of being comfortable, but fell apart as the bumps came - esp. w/ a full-load. Hey, just talk to the girls who were sitting in the third row of the Rondo and ask them how their hineys felt after their ride! Poor things. Handling - Again, have you extensively driven the 5? The 5 handles much better than the Rondo, a fact that even other Rondo owners have attested to. Once you get spoiled with the handling of the 5, it's hard to drive anything else that doesn't meet or surpass it. And, yes, I felt the Rondo's handling to be sloppy and roll-heavy. Fuel Economy - EPA for 5: 21/27. EPA for Rondo: 19/26. Regardless of your individual experience, the fact remains that the 5 is more economical with fuel. Though I did, at one point, have 7 passengers in the Rondo, it was exactly that...at one point. The rest of the trip was mostly just my wife and I, and still the Rondo got worse fuel economy than the 5. Point, blank, period. Cruise Control - Again, Edmunds comparison: Mazda 5 SPORT (the cheapest trim) - "Cruise Control: Cruise Control". Kia Rondo LX - "Cruise Control: Not Available". End. (Besides, I'm in the US, not Canada.) Looks - You're right. This is entirely subjective. But, hey, there are Studebaker, Gremlin, Yugo, Aztek, Prius (and, now add Rondo) owners out there who think their cars look hot, too! There is such a thing as bad taste regardless of subjectivity. Not saying YOU have bad taste, I don't know you and won't pre-judge like that, but most people I have talked to about the Rondo agree in saying that the Rondo ranges from outright "ugly" to "dorky" to, at most, just "cute". But, you're allowed to like whatever you want to like, my fellow intelligent forum poster friend you!  All in all, I'm glad you enjoy your Rondo and are happy with your decision. All I am saying in this Mazda5 VS. Kia Rondo forum, where most people are missing out on the whole VS part of the equation, is that the 5 is still a better car regardless of it being ever so slightly smaller on the inside. (BTW, just so you know, leather steering wheel and shift knob, electroluminescent gauges, sunroof, 6 cd/mp3 capacity, rear spoiler, fog lights, side skirts, 17" rims, cruise control, steering wheel audio controls, truly useful and spacious middle row underseat "secret" storage compartments (to compensate for flimsy door pockets that Rondo's have), 5-speed auto trans w/manual mode, Automatic climate control, external temperature gauge, DVD-player and more are all either standard or available on the lowest to middle trim ranges of the 5 here in the USA - Sport and Touring. The Grand Touring has even more stuff. But, I know that bells and whistles don't make a car better, its engineering, performance and quality does)
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Replying to: bgw (Jun 16, 2008 12:29 pm)  Who's offended? Relax, dude. It's just a forum on competing cars. As the opposing side, I am, therefore, competing with yours. That's all. Nothin' more, nothin' less. I'm not "hating" on you...I'm "hating" on the Rondo. Learn how to separate the two. For your sake, I think we should all hold hands and sing: "Shiny, happy people holding hands..." Anyone know REM's phone number? |
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