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Rondo vs Outlander/Rav4/Santa Fe/Mazda5

271 messages,  Last post on Jul 30, 2008 at 1:09 PM

You are in the Toyota RAV4 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Kia Rondo, Mitsubishi Outlander, Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota RAV4, Mazda MAZDA5, Car Buying, Wagon

Messages Page 2 of 28

#9 of 271 Re: Rondo vs Outlander/Rav4/Santa Fe/Mazda5 [dodo2] by ppetroff

May 18, 2007 (7:09 am)

Replying to: dodo2 (May 17, 2007 7:29 pm)
In response to the 3rd row seating.... This is my family's criteria as well. I believe I saw on the Mitsu. website that they don't recommend anyone over 5' sitting in them. We are merely having them as a backup if our sons - ages 8 & 12 bring a friend along and we can put the 8 yr old and friend in the back. If you are want something more of a wagon and not a crossover you may want to look at the Saturn Outlook - nice and big, the Ford Freestyle (we didn't like just because it's a Ford) or the Mazda CX-9 (very big like the Outlook). Of course since I am responding on a Santa Fe board I am partial to the SF and will be purchasing monthend. We did narrow our choices down to the Outlander, SF and Rav. Really liked the pep of the RAV, but for the $ the SF is such a better buy. We aren't 20 yrs old anymore and don't have to have the pep! The Rav also seemed so cheap inside to us in many ways. Good luck with your search. I initially looked at the Rondo and came to the conclusion of one of the other posters and dismissed it pretty quickly - reviews weren't so hot.

#10 of 271 Re: Rondo vs Outlander/Rav4/Santa Fe/Mazda5 [ppetroff] by chelentano

May 18, 2007 (10:46 am)

Replying to: ppetroff (May 18, 2007 7:09 am)
Well, it appears the original poster is constrained by smaller and less expensive vehicles, but Outlook and CX-9 would not fit into it. So there is no way you could have full size 3rd row seat. Outlander's 3rd row is intended to be for smaller people.

#11 of 271 Re: Rondo vs Outlander/Rav4/Santa Fe/Mazda5 [ppetroff] by medicineman

May 18, 2007 (11:57 am)

Replying to: ppetroff (May 18, 2007 7:09 am)
The reviews for the Rondo have actually been quite good. I and others have posted many reviews in this thread--for example, post #112 and #132 to #135. Out of the forty reviews or so that I've read, almost all of them tended towards the positive side. In fact, I could find only two reviews that I would deem as definitely on the negative side. As for comments from individual users in blogs and forums, I have no overall impression, but one can easily check out some of the comments in the Rondo forum. Anyway, regardless of the reviews, it might not be what the original poster is looking for, anyway.

#12 of 271 Re: Rondo vs Outlander/Rav4/Santa Fe/Mazda5 [chelentano] by ergsum

May 18, 2007 (2:24 pm)

Replying to: chelentano (May 18, 2007 10:46 am)
Really, really small people. http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/5295/mitsub9ce.jpg

#13 of 271 Re: Rondo vs Outlander/Rav4/Santa Fe/Mazda5 [medicineman] by conwelpic

May 18, 2007 (3:32 pm)

Replying to: medicineman (May 18, 2007 11:57 am)
I agree on the Rondo reviews, but they should drive all the models and sit in the 3rd seat and that could possibly answer their questions. I find taking digital pictures really helps when I get back home and in a better position to absorb everything.

#14 of 271 Re: Rondo vs Outlander/Rav4/Santa Fe/Mazda5 [medicineman] by dnatoday

May 18, 2007 (5:22 pm)

Replying to: medicineman (May 18, 2007 11:57 am)
I thank all of you for your well-thought out comments. I happen to really like the Rondo, but my husband (who drives an Audi S6, just so you know where HE is coming from!) wants the more fun to drive options. He is a gearhead and used to race Formula V & go karts. I on the other hand, only learned to drive 9 years ago after our eldest was born & I never went through that sexy race car phase-- the Honda Accord wagon was my first car. So I am not nostalgic for any performance attributes.
 
We did drive the 2007 Limited Edition Santa Fe today and man, is it sweet! So nicely appointed. It was moderately raining today and we went both up hills and on the highway. It handled both well-- with the minimal amount of road noise. When my husband drove, I sat in the 3rd row and it was very comfortable for someone who is 5'1". I loved having control over the heat from back there. And in the 2nd row, you can mess with the radio, provide you get the DVD player package.
 
The dealer is willing to give us a deal since it is a decked out demo car with about 6,000 miles on it (the dealership owner's daughter drives them for about 6K miles and then gets something new). Even cutting us a deal, it would be about 30,000, which is 8K more than the Kia Rondo all decked out.
 
To me it is a no brainer, but the hubbie is trying to get me to the Mitzu dealer tomorrow to drive that Outlander. It is very cute with some excellent audio knobage, but man is that 3rd row seat a piece of crap. The clamshell hatch opening is interesting, but what does it give you beside the ability to park closer to the wall in a garage?
 
We are definitely split on the necessary features. I will check in if I get convinced to drive the Mitzu & certainly let you know what I wind up purchasing!

#15 of 271 Re: Rondo vs Outlander/Rav4/Santa Fe/Mazda5 [dnatoday] by medicineman

May 18, 2007 (6:27 pm)

Replying to: dnatoday (May 18, 2007 5:22 pm)
Yeah, if your hubby is looking for driving fun, then the Rondo is probably not for him.
 
As for the third-row seats in the Rondo, it's definitely not for tall people (I don't think the third row of any vehicle is designed for tall people). I'm 6'1" and I can't sit up straight without my head touching the top, plus there's not enough legroom for me. I can make enough legroom by moving up the second-row seats, but that sacrifices way too much second-row legroom.
 
The third row in the Rondo can, however, accommodate people of shorter stature. My Dad, who is around 5'5", sat back there quite comfortably, although he said that he wouldn't want to sit there on a long trip. To make enough legroom for him, I had to move the second-row seat up some, which also meant I moved the front seat up some (this was all done on the passenger side of the vehicle). With everything adjusted just so with my Dad seated in the back, I could sit in the second-row seat comfortably with my knees just touching the back of the front seat. I could also sit in the front seat with my knees almost touching the glovebox.
 
So the moral of the story is, have kids or short adults sit in the back and there should be enough room for tall guys in the first two rows. If you have a family that's taller than I am or if they have very long legs (my legs are not that long for someone of my height), you should probably go for a Shaq-mobile.

#16 of 271 Re: Rondo vs Outlander/Rav4/Santa Fe/Mazda5 [dnatoday] by bodble2

May 19, 2007 (1:08 am)

Replying to: dnatoday (May 18, 2007 5:22 pm)
Actually, unless you have a monetary limit, I would stay away from a demo. I mean, who really knows if it really was the owner's daughter who drove it. Even if it was, what kind of driver was she? My impression is that most demos have not been babied.

#17 of 271 Re: Rondo vs Outlander/Rav4/Santa Fe/Mazda5 [dnatoday] by davesuv

May 19, 2007 (5:15 am)

Replying to: dnatoday (May 17, 2007 8:00 am)
Sounds like you are doing your homework. All the vehicles you are looking at are nice. I have the Santa Fe AWD Limited and agree with your assessment. I absolutely love it and find the 3rd row seats to be very usable, even for adults on short trips. If you browse through the prices paid forum, you'll find that you can probably do significantly better than $30K for a used Limited with Premium and Touring packages. Between 27 and 29 seems very doable for a brand new one. I average 20 mpg in mine overall (about 18 city, 24 highway, just like the EPA estimates). Good luck with your decision. Whatever you end up with, it should be a great car.

#18 of 271 We have a Mazda 5 by tlong

May 19, 2007 (8:20 am)

Yes, it seats only 6.
Yes, it is cheaper inside (although has NAV as an option, which we have).
 
The big things we liked about the Mazda 5 were
- drives like a Mazda 3, very sporty and maneuverable (I'm sure much more so than any of the other listed vehicles)
- we wanted the sliding door, as we park two vehicles together in the garage and the kids aren't exactly careful
- we found the third row comfort (somewhat of an oxymoron) to be better than most other vehicles with a "tight" third row (as opposed to full sized minivans, etc.)
- it's a real bargain on price. We're probably going to hand it down to our daughter when she starts driving (she's 14 now)
 
On the Mitsubishi mentioned above, consider long term support if you keep your cars a long time. It might be a fine car, but having a fairly rare brand that isn't doing that well (at least in the states) exposes you to some risk and probably faster depreciation.

Messages Page 2 of 28

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