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Wagons Kia Rondo Rondo vs Outlander/Rav4/Santa Fe/Mazda5
271 messages, Last post on Jul 30, 2008 at 12:09 PM
You are in the Kia Rondo Forum. Your Host is kcram
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (Aug 10, 2007 2:27 am)  Yeah, you don't necessarily have to choose between function and looks, but one is more important than the other. Function comes first--if it looks good, too, then that's a bonus. I think I admitted already that IMHO the Mazda5 is cooler looking than the Rondo--for a people hauler. At the end of the day, it still looks like a minivan to me. To tell you the honest truth, I wish the Mazda5 could hold up to seven (I think it does in the version outside of North America, but I could be wrong about that). If it had that capacity, I would have most likely chosen it over the Rondo. But as it is, if I had purchased the Mazda5 and given up on the 7-seater Rondo, I would be kicking myself right now. I definitely have needed all seven seats in the past week or so, with all of my visiting relatives in town. (In fact, my nephew just ran into the room as I typed this. I should be spending quality time with them right now, but chose to waste time by replying in this thread for my last few posts. Shows you where my priorities are, eh?)
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Replying to: medicineman (Aug 10, 2007 9:27 pm) Flattered I think I admitted already that IMHO the Mazda5 is cooler looking than the Rondo--for a people hauler. At the end of the day, it still looks like a minivan to me. That sliding door doesn't help the case of not making it look like a minivan I guess if I had purchased the Mazda5 and given up on the 7-seater Rondo, I would be kicking myself right now. I definitely have needed all seven seats in the past week or so, with all of my visiting relatives in town. Yes, Europe and Asia have the 7th seat (Karakuri) and even the cool table/tray in the back of the front seats (i hope that sounded right) but I read somewhere that the seat did not make it in NA (US or Canada, Mexico did though) due to safety reasons as the seat is not really attached to the floor. I tried the 7th seat once,and yes, it is for kids only...  ">
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (Aug 11, 2007 2:27 am)  My cousin and her husband dropped by for a visit last evening and they've owned a Mazda5 since Jan. 2006. I asked what they thought of it so far--my cousin replied that she loves it and her husband said that it has ample power on the highway. I added that I heard that it has good handling. When the hubby asked if I were thinking of buying a Mazda5, I said that I purchased a Kia Rondo a few months ago and I would have purchased the Mazda5 if it had seating for seven. My cousin said, "Oh, Kia." Her hubby said, "Oh." And that was it. Their silence spoke volumes, but maybe I'm reading too much into it. Also yesterday, I was enjoying some overpriced java at a Starbucks with my sister while four of my nieces played a board game (who knew Starbucks had games?). I noticed that my sister was gazing through the window and was focusing on my Rondo in the parking lot. She said, "It's kind of nice looking, eh?" (BTW, we're Canadian, eh?) Coming unsolicited from a fashionista like my sister, that's truly some high praise. FYI, she drives a Honda Pilot. I have no idea what that says about her fashion sense when it comes to vehicles. After she made her comment, I said, "It's pretty nondescript actually, but it does have a nice colour." (Can't take a compliment, can I?) She agreed that the colour was nice, which is "urban grey." I read a review that said that this colour made the Rondo look like a delivery vehicle, so what do we know? Just goes to prove the old adage about beauty being in the eye of the beholder. |
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Replying to: medicineman (May 18, 2007 5:27 pm) Of course, it turns out that these are conflicting goals: the third-row seat is generally accommodated in part by reducing the space available in the second row. Within the price range, the Rondo was absolutely the winner. When we checked out the Mazda, I had to perform some very complex contortions just to get into the third-row seat, and at 5'7" it was definitely not a tolerable fit. I found the Rondo's third row the easiest to get into and out of, and the fit is "adequate" so that I'd be willing to sit there (which may be necessary to keep peace if we haul 4 or 5 of our child's friends). We bought a Kia Rondo yesterday (with nearly every available option), and of course we're quite happy after the first 40 miles, but naturally there's a lot for us to learn and experience before I can offer a real review. As I noted in the 'accessories' thread, I do wish I could find a suitable cargo-area cover.
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Replying to: markwelchca (Aug 24, 2007 3:26 pm)
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Replying to: rcpax (Aug 24, 2007 11:08 pm) We did NOT consider the Outlander; we did not know it existed; we did not even know (until I just searched) that there is a Mitsubishi dealership 3.3 miles from our home (I assume that it's hidden inside one of the other dealerships). If we had known that the Outlander existed, we probably wouldn't have checked it out because in the past when I've researched cars, the Mitsubishi models were MUCH more expensive than most comparable vehicles. That doesn't seem to be true, if the pricing on Edmunds is correct. From a quick look on Edmunds, it appears that the Outlander has comparable MPG and a list price that's about $4,000 to $5,000 more than a comparable Rondo (I also assume that Mitsubishis aren't discounted as much as Kias). In a quick search now, I can't figure out what features might be included in which versions of the Outlander. From the context here, I assume that it has a third-row seat; I also see that it's marketed as an SUV, while our search was for a "station wagon." Pricing seems to be a few thousand higher than the Rondo.
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Replying to: markwelchca (Aug 25, 2007 11:59 am) |
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Hi new here This fits into the category of "if they made it, I would buy it". We've been looking at small SUVs. We really don't need a 4WD, but there are few other cars in our country [Australia] which meet our needs: we need load space, my wife likes an elevated driving position and a feeling of security. So we have looked at cars like the CRV and the Outlander. Kia has not yet released the Rondo [prob'y to be called the Carena here] yet, but will soon we think. However, I reckon they could really shake up the SUV 'city" car market by using the same strategy as various other companies have: Eg Renault, Fiat, Skoda, VW. That is, increase the ground clearance by about 50mm, and use lots of black plastic, then work on the suspension and handling to cope with the increased height. Here's an indication of what you might get (I've used the lines to cover up my poor photo editing) SUV_Rondo
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Replying to: aussie_9 (Aug 26, 2007 7:34 pm) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Audi-Allroad.jpg/800px-- - Audi-Allroad.jpg Now, IMO, it is closer to an AWD station wagon than the SUVs or CUVs you normally see in this side of the pond. Holden or similar too boring for you I assume? I do believe they have some AWD (all-terrain) station wagons if I'm not mistaken. (...and yeah, I kind of like those Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons, not to buy, but they seem fun...). |
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