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Mazda 5 vs Kia Rondo

806 messages,  Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 2:38 PM

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


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#61 of 806
Re: Rondo's Towing capacity [204meca] by arumage
Dec 05, 2006 (4:45 am)
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Replying to: 204meca (Dec 04, 2006 8:47 pm)

Towing is much more dependent on the transmission and chassis rather than the engine. My '00 Intrepid ES is rated at 2000lbs, but I agree about getting a transmission cooler especially if you wanted to tow anything up a grade. I don't have any info on fine print, but for some reason, they have 5,000lbs as maximum towing on their website. I don't think I'd ever tow that much with this vehicle, even with a transmission cooler and trailer brakes. The V6, atleast in the Santa Fe, is stronger feeling than its number suggest though.
#62 of 806
It is official by fred222
Dec 05, 2006 (10:32 am)
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US specs for the RONDO:
 
http://www.kia.com/index.php
#63 of 806
Re: It is official [fred222] by arumage
Dec 05, 2006 (1:29 pm)
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Replying to: fred222 (Dec 05, 2006 10:32 am)

Direct Link
 
http://www.kia.com/rondo/index.php
 
Another fun link
 
http://www.kia.com/rondo/rondoism/
#64 of 806
Should lead to a lot of questions by
Dec 05, 2006 (5:36 pm)
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It will be interesting to ask the CEO about the Rondo at the chat on Wednesday!
 
Hope to see you all there!
#65 of 806
Re: It is official [arumage] by bobw3
Dec 06, 2006 (8:58 am)
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Replying to: arumage (Dec 05, 2006 1:29 pm)

Thanks for the link. In general, the Rondo is slightly shorter, slightly wider, and slightly higher than the Mazda5. The Rondo has 2" less headroom in the 3rd row, but slightly more in the 2nd row. Legroom for rows 2&3 in the Rondo is better by almost 4" if you add up the differences for both rows and since you can slide the 2nd rows, thats a good way to calculate. So you slide the 2nd row you get about 33" of legroom on average for both the 2nd and 3rd row on the Mazda5, and with the Rondo you'd get about 34.5" of legroom in both 2nd and 3rd rows by sliding the 2nd row forward. I think in the Ronda they raised up the 3rd row for more legroom at the expense of headroom, so I'd have to sit in both to see how it really works.
  
RONDO
Headroom (front/middle/rear) 41.6 in./40.2 in./35.1 in.
Legroom (front/middle/rear) 41.3 in./38.2 in./31.3 in.
Hip room (front/middle/rear) 54.6 in./53.9 in./40.3 in.
Cargo behind 3rd Row 6.5CuFt
 
MAZDA5
Headroom (front/middle/rear) 40.7 in./39.4 in./37.1 in.
Legroom (front/middle/rear) 40.7 in./35.2 in./30.7 in.
Hip room (front/middle/rear) 52.9 in./58.3 in./40.9 in.
Cargo behind 3rd Row 4CuFt
 
What I like on the Rondo as compared to the Mazda5:
- 2nd row bench
- Armrest storage for the 3rd row
- All the standard safety features including ESC
- 10 yr warranty
- Option choices
- 4cyl MPG
 
What I don't like:
- No 5spd option in the 4cyl engine
- I'm guessing that the Mazda5 will drive a lot sportier, but I won't know until I test drive or read some reviews.
- Pricing - The base price is listed as $16,995 and when you go up to the next version up (LX I4), all you're gettin is AC, roof rails and body colored side mirrors and it's $1500 more than the base. And then the V-6 adds $1000. And then for the extra $1300 to go to the EX version, you're not getting much more than cruise control. The final MSRP of most everything I'd want comes to about $21K, so it's not bad, but it's a confusing pricing setup to me.
 
For me at least, who would mostly use the car as a 5 seater with the 3rd row folded flat, I like the idea of the extra 3" of legroom in the 2nd row legroom and 2nd row bench. But for those with 2 carseats in the 2nd row all the time, it would be difficult to access the 3rd row. Of course if you know you're going to need to use the 3rd row, you could always just move one of the car seats back there, so for me that would work because I don't use the 3rd row too often and I'll know in advance, so I can move one of the carseats.
#66 of 806
Re: It is official [bobw3] by arumage
Dec 06, 2006 (10:19 am)
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Replying to: bobw3 (Dec 06, 2006 8:58 am)

I'm 6'3" (short legs, long upper body) and my head was just below the ceiling in the 3rd row of the Santa Fe which has 34.8" of headroom. The Rondo is a bit better at 35.1" so if you're not a giant, fitting in the 3rd row shouldn't be too much of a problem. If it has the LATCH system in the center, you could put a carseat in the middle so you could access the 3rd row from one side. I'm not sure if it has that option though.
#67 of 806
Re: It is official [arumage] by bobw3
Dec 06, 2006 (10:32 am)
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Replying to: arumage (Dec 06, 2006 10:19 am)

I'm 6'3" (short legs, long upper body) and my head was just below the ceiling in the 3rd row of the Santa Fe which has 34.8" of headroom
 
It's surprising to me that someone 6'3" could fit in a seat with only 34.8" of headroom. I have a Ford Freestyle with 38.6" of headroom in the 3rd row and I've had 6' passengers back there okay, but it's hard for me to imagine those same folks sitting back there with 4" less headroom. Seems like the ceiling would be about to their nose! Maybe they all just have great postures!
#68 of 806
Re: It is official [bobw3] by arumage
Dec 06, 2006 (12:01 pm)
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Replying to: bobw3 (Dec 06, 2006 10:32 am)

My head was right up to the ceiling, but I lounge a little bit (OK, I slouch. Lounge just sounds better). Anyway, the Santa Fe was fairly comfortable for short trips. The rear seat wasn't stick straight. It helped that it had a bit of recline. I don't think I'd want to be back there on an all day trip, but I would think that someone of average height could be comfortable on a long trip.
#69 of 806
Re: It is official [bobw3] by bobw3
Dec 06, 2006 (12:29 pm)
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Replying to: bobw3 (Dec 06, 2006 8:58 am)

Another problem with the price is that once you start getting close to the mid-20's price range (I know $21K isn't mid-20's, but it's creeping up there) you start to have a whole group of mid-size SUV/CUVs with a 3rd row. I have a Freestyle that cost me $24K a couple of years ago that's just as safe, a lot more roomy, and gets the same MPG as the Rondo. So I think they need to keep cars like the Mazda5 and Ronda under $20K to make them worth it. To me, if a vehicle is within $5,000 of another vehicle, then they're in competition. Over $5,000 then they're in a different class. Of course given similar features.
#70 of 806
Re: It is official [bobw3] by arumage
Dec 06, 2006 (1:04 pm)
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Replying to: bobw3 (Dec 06, 2006 12:29 pm)

On the website, the 3rd row is only available on the EX V6. I am hoping it will available with the 4-cyl too. A fully loaded EX V6 (without ground effects) is $23,500 MSRP ($21k Invoice). If you spec that out for the Freestyle, MSRP is around $30k or more. If they would make the 3rd row available for the LX 4-cyl, MSRP would be $17,500. MSRP's are nearly $7k apart for fully loaded models. On lower models, they are nearly $8k apart. For most people, they are not in the same category.
 
With a turning radius more than 4' shorter and a curb weight over 400lbs lower, it should be a better city vehicle. It has similar towing too.
 
I have a feeling that this car was made more with Europe in mind than the US. The Freestyle isn't really even an option in that market.

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