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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 60 of 86

#591 of 859 Canadian September 2008 sales - Rondo vs Mazda 5 by conwelpic

Oct 18, 2008 (3:54 pm)

looks like it happened again for the second month in a row, the Rondo outsold the Mazda 5 in Canada, maybe Mazda Canada is having a supply problem as this doesn't normally happened here - or maybe not . The Rondo is KIA Canada's best selling model.
 
Rondo - 932 (this brings it to over 16,000 units since its introduction into Canada)
Mazda 5 - 711 (sorry, do not have figures since its introduction which was October 2005)

#592 of 859 Re: I kind of ask the wife [ramblinmo] by coolmazda5

Oct 18, 2008 (5:29 pm)

Replying to: ramblinmo (Oct 18, 2008 1:33 pm)
After I have made up my mind. I have a Rondo and a Yaris so my masculinity is taking a hit here.
 
Geee, the Rondo is OK, but the Yaris hit the nail in the head, LOL.
 
Just kidding , wife drives a Mazda5 and I drive a Mazda5, so let's rephrase as:
 
- These cars do not discriminate any owners' "personal" tendencies
- Or, Family priorities take precedence when buying these type of cars
 
 

#593 of 859 Re: Canadian September 2008 sales - Rondo vs Mazda 5 [conwelpic] by coolmazda5

Oct 18, 2008 (5:40 pm)

Replying to: conwelpic (Oct 18, 2008 3:54 pm)
Don't tell anyone, but the secret is out there, people now know that the Rondo is more fun to drive than the Mazda5, that's why

#594 of 859 Re: Canadian September 2008 sales - Rondo vs Mazda 5 [coolmazda5] by nissmazlover

Oct 21, 2008 (1:11 pm)

Replying to: coolmazda5 (Oct 18, 2008 5:40 pm)
Ha! I like you.

#595 of 859 A 2009 Rondo Rental by coolmazda5

Oct 22, 2008 (9:14 am)

Yeah, I did it. Enough of assumptions, while on business travel I arrived to the rental area and found a Rondo, so here we are:
 
Rented
2009 Rondo LX I4, 5-seater, ~2100mi on the clock
 
Pros
 
Really nice exterior color. It was the Black Cherry I believe. The sunlight effects are great
 
The Kumho tires (16in) are very decent, good grip. The highway drive is very quiet and the acceleration and barking feels very tight
 
Although is a 4AT, the ride at 70-75MPH RPMs are decently low (2500-2800RPM)
 
MP3, Sirius capable player and aux input. My rental had the satellite radio service enabled!
 
OEM roof rails, good height/clearance space to install crossbars and stuff
 
Good seating space in the 2nd row, not much of a difference for an adult from the Mazda5 perspective though. Also access is good thanks to the huge door. Problem is garages and parking lots
 
1-2 inches of extra leg room for the driver than the Mazda5
 
Decent fuel economy, a-la Mazda5 5MT
 
Sunglasses bin where the map lamps/lights are
 
Cons
 
The tan interior does not look good at all, too brownish, cheap looks. The dashboard and gauges reminded me of mainstream taxis in Asia and South America. The overall design looks outdated with the bulky round vents
 
The suspension is extremely soft, it “bounces” continuously over road bumps, like a boat at sea…
 
Steering feels very lose, it is not crisp/responsive at all. The driver-car engagement is very poor, it feels like driving a large V8 car. Mazda has done a very good job in this area. I’ve rented a Mazda3 and a Mazda6, and is very crisp, shorter ratio and very responsive
 
No telescopic steering wheel
 
No adjustable lumbar support on the driver’s seat
 
Plastic interior feels rough. The Mazda5 (Sport) also is also platicky, but this Mazda plastic there looks and feels with more quality (including steering wheel and shift knob)
 
There are issues when you have sunlight in the dashboard. I certify now that the clock nor the radio screen are visible under direct sunlight, that is not good. Also the dashboard and screens’ orange color make it look very outdated
 
The 16in wheels with plastic caps, ughhh
 
Engine feels very peppy, but the 4AT gear to RPM ratio is not well synchronized. Example: from high RPMs on 2nd gear it jumps to a 3rd gear on very low RPMs, very inefficient, a lot of overdrive was needed to keep speed, especially uphill…
 
2nd row A/C is extremely poor, no low/high control plus it feels very week even with the MAX A/C on. I rented it in Dallas and after a 6-7 hours of being parked on direct sunlight took long time for the cabin to cool down. I did not perceive any difference with the 06-07 Mazda5, which does not have a 2nd row A/C
 
Useless door ding protector stripes, way at the bottom of the door
 
No light for the cargo area
 
No steering wheel radio controls
 
Subjective if you want
 
Annoying wind noise on passenger front door at cruise speeds. Wind seems to be entering from the door handle. This may be related to be a rental, not related to the car design
 
Key and Alarm Fob separated, not stylish at all…

#596 of 859 Re: A 2009 Rondo Rental [coolmazda5] by nissmazlover

Oct 22, 2008 (1:42 pm)

Replying to: coolmazda5 (Oct 22, 2008 9:14 am)
Thanks for your write up. It's good to know we're not alone! lol I've written about it before, but I, too, have rented a Kia Rondo in the past - it was a 2008 LX 7-seater version on my trip to Puerto Rico back in May. Like you seemingly did, I purposefully asked for the Rondo - and they gave me the free upgrade since I had, originally, ordered a small car. I should have taken it as a sign (omen?), though, kind of like in the movie "Meet the Fochers" when everything was going WAY tooooo perfectly for the couple on their trip to the in-law's house.
 
Anyway, I agree with most of your pros on the list. Only thing, though, I didn't have the satellite option, nor the Aux input. Kia JUST put that into their 2009 Rondo. As far as cons go, I also agree with everything you said and can add many more to the list. But, I won't go there. Some people here are way too sensitive for that. Suffice to say, at the request of my wife and friends, I went back all the way to San Juan (far from where I was) in order to switch the car back to the original smaller one I was supposed to get: A Scion XD, which we all enjoyed MUCH more.
 
I just wish I would have been able to bring my own car down with us, or at least rent another 5. Then, we all would have been happy and I would have never had to waste my time in switching cars.

#597 of 859 Re: A 2009 Rondo Rental [coolmazda5] by palko

Oct 22, 2008 (2:27 pm)

Replying to: coolmazda5 (Oct 22, 2008 9:14 am)
Was the acceleration decent? What kind of gas mileage did you get?..thanks

#598 of 859 Re: A 2009 Rondo Rental [coolmazda5] by ramblinmo

Oct 22, 2008 (4:35 pm)

Replying to: coolmazda5 (Oct 22, 2008 9:14 am)
The suspension is extremely soft, it “bounces” continuously over road bumps
I wish mine was softer. Bumps are felt petty harshly IMO, I've never noticed the bouncing.
 
No light for the cargo area
 
Mine has a cargo light.
  
No steering wheel radio controls
 
EX version only?
 
I still like the Mazda quite a bit.

#599 of 859 Re: A 2009 Rondo Rental [palko] by coolmazda5

Oct 23, 2008 (11:48 am)

Replying to: palko (Oct 22, 2008 2:27 pm)
1) Yes, acceleration was very decent. Again, I didn't like the 4AT upshifting gear to RPM ratio changes, but still, very decent. Now, I really like the 4cyl Mazda MZR engine sound at high RPMs but the KIA one sounded awky. Now, if you don't mind about those things, it was very decent...
 
2) I only filled-up once. It was around 22MPG. Please note that it was a rental so it was a very spirited driving, so I think the MPG can go up like with the Mazda5 when you drive lightly

#600 of 859 Re: A 2009 Rondo Rental [coolmazda5] by coolmazda5

Oct 24, 2008 (1:34 pm)

Replying to: coolmazda5 (Oct 22, 2008 9:14 am)
Correction: The color I got for the rental Java Brown, not Black Cherry. Really dark but nice after all
 
The US KIA site does not have yet the 2009 specs, but the Canadian KIA site does:
http://www.kia.ca

Messages Page 60 of 86

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