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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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#743 of 806 Should I get a Rondo? by ofionnachta Sep 23, 2009 (11:17 am)
Oh, I didn't mention Mazda 5, because when we visited one on the lot we found that you can drop the back seats to only about 35 degrees down, and you also can't take them out. Not good for when carrying bulky things. Replies to this message: coolmazda5 (Sep 23, 2009 5:12 pm) dona83 (Oct 07, 2009 12:23 pm) ofionnachta (Oct 10, 2009 7:09 am) coolmazda5 (Oct 10, 2009 9:25 am)
#744 of 806 Re: Should I get a Rondo? [ofionnachta] by radar1 Sep 23, 2009 (4:59 pm)
Replying to: ofionnachta (Sep 23, 2009 11:15 am) I can really only answer for the Outback, since that's the only one I've owned, although I do have a smaller Hyundai Accent. A year and a half ago I was test driving the Mazda 5, Rondo, and Subaru Forester, and had pretty much narrowed it down to the Rondo because it had all I needed at a good price plus it was rated to tow my pop-up camper. While at the Subaru dealer, we tried the 2008 Outback and since they gave us such a good deal on the base model we bought it. We love it, it has good cargo room and a 2700 lb tow rating plus all wheel drive. The highway mileage was only supposed to be 26, but we get that in rural city, and usually at least 28 and sometimes low 30s on the highway. It has a smooth quiet ride, the only complaint we have is the scanty leg room for rear seat passengers. The 2010 model has more interior room even though it's an inch shorter. Our Outback has plenty of room for camping gear and we can easily load the kayaks on top since it's not very tall. If I didn't buy the Outback, I would be driving a Rondo right now, but I would now have to compare it side by side with the Hyundai Elantra touring which recently was highly rated by Consumers Reports. My Hyundai Accent is my work car and has worked perfectly for the 30,000 miles I've owned it and gets 35-37 MPG on my daily commute.   Have fun looking!
#745 of 806 Re: Should I get a Rondo? [ofionnachta] by coolmazda5 Sep 23, 2009 (5:12 pm)
Replying to: ofionnachta (Sep 23, 2009 11:17 am) I'm not sure if I follow the comment about teeth rattling on a Civic, is it very old? I've owned several car brands and the Civic is not a luxury car but very quiet and smooth.   Anyway, you are unloading a 7 seater minivan, so if you still need seven seats get a Rondo, the Mazda5 only has seats for six (US, Canada and Mexico). With regards to space with all seats folded flat we are talking about the same capacity (yeah, of course some owners will argue which has more sq in around between the 2, but it is a generic assessment, see pics below for both)       If you only need 5 seats and you need the back for cargo only, Rondo has a 5 seat configuration as well, yet I'm not sure that with no 3rd row it really adds much more space.   With all 3 rows in use, the cargo space is drastically reduced, you can carry a couple of things for the day, but i.e. to travel, a cargo box on the roof will do for any...   Oh, and you cannot recline the 2nd row fully in either, but you don't need that, see how the seats fold forward on both cars, very clever for a small car IMO
#746 of 806 Re: Should I get a Rondo? [ofionnachta] by conwelpic Sep 24, 2009 (8:31 am)
Replying to: ofionnachta (Sep 23, 2009 11:15 am) I have the 2008 5-seater EX Rondo (Canadian version) and it has storage under the rear floor which is very handy (one of the features we liked when shopping). The 5-seater provides a complete flat floor with no gaps (ideal for our dog). The photos above from coolmazda are a good indication of available storage for carrying items. They are not going to match a minivan as its a much smaller vehicle, but within its context they are very efficient vehicles for space useage. I find it much easier to get in and out compared to a minivan but like that chair-like seating instead of the typical low car seating. I've just returned from a 43 day, 14,377 km trip and found it very comfortable (I'm 5'-11"), I had no sore backs, but usually tried not to go more than 3 hours continuous driving without a stop. It was very economical and so far with over 46,000 km I don't regret my purchase. You have to drive and judge for yourself if it fits your requirements and check owners comments from this and other forums.
#747 of 806 Re: Should I get a Rondo? [ofionnachta] by 9394 Sep 24, 2009 (9:18 am)
Replying to: ofionnachta (Sep 23, 2009 11:15 am) a big YES!   i bought my Rondo 8 weeks ago and it is not a fancy car, but down to earth practical.   7 seats for the visiting in-laws grocery bag hook by the passenger side (no need to find those oranges under the seat anymore) headlights auto off automatic rearm if you press the unlock button unintentionally excellent headroom, even in the 3rd row   i'm happy with everything except the FE, i'm only getting 19mpg in the city and i don't have a heavy foot. but the cheaper insurance cost kind of compensates that. believe it or not, the insurance on the brand new Rondo is cheaper than my 10 year old minivan.
#748 of 806 Should I get a Rondo? by ofionnachta Sep 24, 2009 (10:44 am)
Thank you all, very much, for the input!   The Civic is abt a 2001 or 02, and the teeth rattling is what my teen daughter complains about in the back seat. She says that she feels every wrinkle in the road--she had not realized that not all cars were like this until she began to sit in various vehicles on our test drives.   We don't need the 7 seats; that is why we are unloading the van. We do need cargo room on a pretty regular basis---supplies for house projects, camping things for Scouts, etc etc. I sometimes need to carry furniture which is why I'd like the seats to fold all the way flat.   Those rear seats in the Mazda do go pretty flat--the salesman who showed us one did not make them do that! He seems not to have known they could--when I asked about it, he told me that is as far as they go. They were just slanting forward a bit.   We did like the Mazda 5 other than that, but felt the mpg was not so great, also no need for 6 seats.   We drove an Elantra Touring a few days ago. For the price there is nice space to carry things, but not as much as the Rondo. The 2nd row seats are kind of hard. They do not fold as flat as those in the Kia. It does feel like it rides a little higher than the Civic we had been driving to get there. The gas mileage is the best of all the vehicles we have been thinking of.   The (Touring) dealership had added $500 for pinstriping and another $500 for waxing and "cloth care package" (I know what that is!) and also more than 3k for "AMV" or "AVM" whatever the heck that is. I asked the saleswoman, who was a young, very inexperienced, single mother, and I do wish her the best. She had no idea and thought it had to do with getting the electronics set up, like the computer. I doubt that, but I am not paying over 3k for anything that isn't itemized and well explained, and even then I'll have to want it. A lot, to add 3K to a 17K car!   Kia has a promotion going, $1500 off; I was just quoted a Net price of a bit over 16k for a new 09. Also, there are used 09 OBs, mileage abt 6500-9k, in the area for around 22k. They were fleet cars, owned either by the dealership & used as loaners I suppose, or by rental companies that I notice were near airports.   Any thoughts? Replies to this message: conwelpic (Sep 24, 2009 2:52 pm)
#749 of 806 Re: Should I get a Rondo? [ofionnachta] by conwelpic Sep 24, 2009 (2:52 pm)
Replying to: ofionnachta (Sep 24, 2009 10:44 am) $500 for pinstriping is ludicrous (unless they did the whole car with decals ). I got pinstriping done on my Rondo for $75 just a simple double black line down each side of the car. Forget those waxing and cloth care paks all of them just heavy padding on your price for very little. Go after market for any of that stuff. Check out the list price at the KIA site for prices and special promotions as there will be good buys on any '09's left in stock, but your selection maybe limited. Not sure if you are in the US or Canada, but I'm thinking US. When I bought mine I used the facilities of Car Cost Canada to find out what the dealer cost was and any promotion deals, so I'm sure there is something similar in the US for that purpose. It cost me $40 but felt it was money well spent at least you know exactly what you are looking at when you go to purchase.   Your right there is $1500 cash back in the US (expires Sept 30th), Canada is offering $2000 off and 0% financing for 48 months (it also expires Sept 30th), but then a new deal will start in October, but less and less '09 stock available each day, so you can't be as selective in your package or colour for '09's.
#750 of 806 Should I get a Rondo? by ofionnachta Sep 25, 2009 (7:08 am)
Yeah, I have no intention of paying $500 for striping which I don't want anyway.   While in their dealership---this is a Cadillac/Hyundai place----I watched a little old guy actually painting stripes on a red Touring in their showroom. Not that tape stuff. He used a stencil.   I think I finally figured out what AMV or AVM is -- an all around camera system so you can back up & park without turning your head. They are nuts, installing that on an entry level family use car, which is what a Touring is, imo, at 18 - 19 k MSRP. I did not see a screen, either, in the Touring we drove -- making me think the item is on the window sticker but not in the car. There were not any stripes on the car at the moment, either.   Another dealership is now emailing me trying to get me in before the end of the month (quota time) and mentioning the $1500. Anybody here think 16-17 k is good for a base Rondo? Anybody weighing in on whether a slightly used Outback, or a new Rondo, would be a better choice? Reliability and all that? Thanks again! Replies to this message: coolmazda5 (Sep 25, 2009 12:55 pm) vicenac (Sep 25, 2009 1:24 pm)
#751 of 806 Re: Should I get a Rondo? [ofionnachta] by coolmazda5 Sep 25, 2009 (12:55 pm)
Replying to: ofionnachta (Sep 25, 2009 7:08 am) Get a Subaru Outback! No to the Rondo!   Just kidding, just keep on mind that this is a Mazda5/Rondo comparison thread, of course the answers can get a little bit biased . Did you post your question in the wagons section as well? Replies to this message: vicenac (Sep 25, 2009 1:24 pm)
#752 of 806 Re: Should I get a Rondo? [coolmazda5] by vicenac Sep 25, 2009 (1:24 pm)
Replying to: coolmazda5 (Sep 25, 2009 12:55 pm) I "live" in the Mazda 5 forums. This thread apears there, too. Outback and pretty much all the Subaru cars get a thumb down from me. There are many many reasons why I like Subaru's, but their 4 gear transmissions kills it for me. I went to a dealer (rude) and I sat in an Outback. The driver's seat and space, controls etc. seamed designed especially for me. I was amazed how well I felt in there. But then the price and low tech.... I would get a Rondo. It seems to have less technical problems then the MZ 5, but then, like I said, where is Waldo? I called Galpin Mazda (huge dealer) and they say MZ5 will come mid October or the latest close to the end of October. I can streach it that far, so I'm back to Mazda 5. Why a Mazda 5? We simply love the way it looks! And it is also a minimalistic aproach to our needs, which are 3 raws of seats. for mom, dad, kid 1 (car seat), kid 2 (car seat/carier), grand ma'. I am fully prepared to put a cargo box on top, a trailer hich for bikes on the back and to get out and push it uphil Thanks for all the help, guys and girls!

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