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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
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| I've owned both an 08 Rondo and an 07 Mazda 5. We drove the 5 for a year before it was totaled (everybody's okay, thanks.) Then we went shopping and the Rondo caught our attention. After a year with the Kia, here are my impressions of the two cars. The sliding doors on the Mazda are a definite plus. The Rondo's back doors are quite wide. Great for getting in and out. Lousy in a tight parking ramp. The Rondo rides smoother and significantly quieter than the Mazda. Mazda's obsession with putting 17 inch wheels and low profile tires on everything is silly. Nobody buys the 5 for zoom-zoom and you pay for it in bumps and grinds. You'll also pay for it (dearly) when you buy new tires. Stereo is better in the Kia. Individual seats in the second row make the Mazda a bit more versatile in cargo/passenger configuration but the Kid can actually carry three in the second row and seven overall. We have six grandkids. Advantage: Kia. The roof rack on the Rondo is kind of weird. The bars are an accessory but the rails are standard. The rails, however, are completely useless without the bars. You can't even strap anything to them so why not add 50-100 bucks onto the sticker price and include them? The factory rack for the 5, on the other hand, looks like steel girders on concrete blocks and the wind noise is horrendous. The problem with the Kia rack is that, in its stock configuration, you can't get the bars more than 21 inches apart! The front bar won't even come as far forward as the middle of the back door! Carrying a 16.5 foot canoe or a few 4x8 sheets of plywood is real nail-biter. The value/resale argument (expect to hear it from your Mazda dealer) is, of course, based on the depreciation of past vehicles. Kia has definitely improved quality and that, plus the big warranty, has improved perception and, therefore, value. Time will tell. At 6'2" I find the Kia's seating position for the driver to be more comfortable, even on short runs. That of course, is very individual. I do believe, however, that the Kia seats are superior. Overall, I don't think there's a wrong choice here. Both are well thought out, sell designed vehicles. Think about what and who you'll be hauling and what's most important to you. Take each one for a good, long test drive...at least half an hour. None of this five minutes around the block with the salesman yakking in the back seat stuff. By the way, there is a way to extend the spread of the Kia rack by removing a rubber strip and sliding the front bar forward. | |
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Replying to: haviland (May 01, 2009 8:57 am) No offense but that is incorrect, definitely a Rondo is for you then. Glad everybody is OK and you found the right car, good report and enjoy the grand kids! |
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Rondo 1,538. Diff from Apr 08: -40.4% Mazda5 1,758. Diff from Apr 08: -12.6% Sources: http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/- 05-01-2009/0005017640&EDATE= http://sev.prnewswire.com/auto/20090501/LA0952601052009-1.html |
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Replying to: haviland (May 01, 2009 8:57 am) Ha ha. Ha ha. The things I've done with my 5. The car loves to corner and I've tamed three of the local mountain roads so far. It's no Porsche for sure but it's still fun to drive, the 5-speed manual transmission is just absolutely made for this car, and sure the suspension is not as comfy as a Kia Rondo or Toyota Corolla's but then again the first thing I did with my Corolla was put stiff as heck springs on them to improve handling. The Mazda 5 is not as stiff yet still has great handling. Sorry if you don't enjoy driving anymore, the Rondo is a great car but don't claim that people don't buy the 5 for the zoom-zoom, if the 5 drove like any other minivan I would never have considered it in the first place! But alas it has a soul of a sports car and I love it!
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Replying to: dona83 (May 04, 2009 9:44 am) What he said x2. It is very clear why you drive the Rondo. You prefer comfort, functionality and bland looks. We Mazda5 owners prefer sporty handling, funtionality and sporty looks. "Nobody buys the 5 for zoom zoom" HA HA HA HA! |
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Replying to: dona83 (May 04, 2009 9:44 am) And in my comment, I love my 5 speed manual Mazda 5 but nothing against the 5 speed auto Mazda 5s out there, we're still Zoom-Zooming! |
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Replying to: haviland (May 01, 2009 8:57 am) I would have never considered the 5 if it weren't for its good and sporty looks, sporty intentions and driving demeaner and youthfulness, in addition to its practicality. I feel my 5's steering feel is perfect. It handles like a dream - a sporty one at that - AND it fits my family's needs perfectly (married father with two 9 year old boys). We all couldn't be happier with our car and it's sportiness and looks. So, yes, it's "zoom zoom" was/is a DEFINITE factor (my wife hates minivans, but she loves the 5, and very much disliked the Rondo because of its "uncool minivan-ness"). I'm really glad you're happy with your choice to drive the Rondo. More power to you!  But, honestly, all this talk about the Rondo's "comfortable ride" has perplexed me. I, extensivlely, drove a 2007 Rondo for over a week and didn't find the ride to be superior to the 5's in the least. No offense, as we all are able to express our opinions in this forum, but I found the Rondo's ride to be very cheap feeling and misleading. At first, the ride seemed to be comfortable until you come in contact with bumps, potholes, speed bumps or dips in the road. Then, all that supposed "comfort" went flying out the window as the suspension felt harsh and cheap, and let all the unfiltered vibrations into the cabin - especially with a full load of passengers who all complained that their butts, literally, hurt after a long trip because of the harsh ride (characteristics my 5 does not exhibit at all). Mazda 5's ride may seem firmer at first, but you soon find it's, in actuality, more cosetting than the Rondo's - PLUS, it delivers better handling. Side note - I also noticed a slight but noticeable difference in ride quality between my 2006 5 and my 2008 - 08 rides better and feels more refined. Another side note: To the person who alluded to the fact that a 60 year old should drive/consider a Rondo. No fair! Let's not generalize with the mature folks that way. My mom's 60 years old and still very much enjoys driving and appreciates my 5's "zoom zoom". 
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When I first owned my Mazda 5 I was given the opportunity to test drive a Rondo for a number of months - free. Not the greatest styling but a much more robust and drivable vehicle than the Mazda. My family hated the Mazda. When it wen,t I got a Kia. I am much happier than I was with the 5. Mine was definitely a lemon. I would never indulge myself with a Mazda again. Sorry the Mazda 5 just has no guts and it is not utilitarian enough to be really used as a van. It has not found a niche yet and before it does I imagine it will go out of production. You can read about mine and my experience with Mazda Credit Corporation, http://vaselinerequired.blogspot.com/
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Replying to: nissmazlover (May 05, 2009 12:24 pm) |
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Replying to: davidfehr (May 05, 2009 9:20 pm) As for me, I have had two 5's, and with the exception of the suspension crunching I experienced in sub-freezing weather in my first 5, they have both been blissfully trouble-free and reliable. As for not being able to use the M5 as a van, um...it's kinda not designed to be used as an outright van. If someone does want van utility they'd be much better served with a regular-sized minivan such as a Caravan, Quest or Odyssey, not the 5 or a Rondo. However, as far as carrying the ocassional large loads, I have yet to encounter a problem with my 5. It can handle all four of us, plus A LOT of stuff - a lot more than any conventional family sedan could - with the utmost ease. And I think that is the point of the 5 - more utility than a regular family sedan, but less so than a huge "mini" van. My family and friends have all been amazed at the capacity the 5 has and we often find ourselves saying: "Never underestimate Max!" (That's the pet-name my kids gave our 5 since we all love it and it's ironic how such a small mini-minivan can do so much!) Hope your Rondo brings you years of enjoyment! |
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