2007 Kia Rondo

The new Kia Rondo stands out in the sea of crossovers as an exceptional value. Close in size to the more rugged Sportage, the Rondo offers buyers seating for up to seven passengers, segment-leading safety features, and a highly versatile cargo area, with prices starting at $16,395.

The crossover gives Kia buyers a new option between the five-door Spectra5 and mid-sized Sorento, offering more interior space than the former, with better fuel economy than the latter. Both four and six-cylinder models average about 25 miles per gallon city/highway, and both run on 87 octane gas.

The Rondo is based on the Optima sedan platform: a front-wheel drive, unibody chassis. While the Sportage appeals to buyers looking to veer off the beaten path, the Rondo is strictly an on-road vehicle, but with a cargo area versatile enough to stash a ton of gear, and roof rails standard on all but the base model.

Good giddyupidness

Giddyupidness is one of the Rondoisms penned by Kia’s ad agency for its marketing campaign. I must admit that it’s an apt description: the four-cylinder Rondo (tested), has unusually good power. I drove the Rondo LX a recent press event in Scottsdale, Arizona, on roads east of town that included a fair share of hills and dips.

The Rondo cruised uphill with plenty of power to spare, and the four-speed automatic shifted smoothly throughout. In fact, the performance of the 162-horsepower four-cylinder engine was so good that I’d be hard pressed to recommend spending an extra thousand dollars on the six-cylinder for buyers choosing the five-seat version of the car.

Both the LX and upscale EX feature a fully independent suspension, with MacPherson struts, a multi-link set up in the rear, and anti-roll bars fore and aft. The Rondo has a nice flat ride without seeming harsh, and a good on-center feel at all speeds. Its precise steering feel makes it easy to maneuver through dense traffic, or two swerve out of the way in an emergency.

While the standard 16-inch wheels on the LX have a wide, stable footprint, EX buyers get standard 17-inch rims for even better handling. Both models are available with either the four or five cylinder engine, but the optional third-row seat is not available on the four-cylinder EX.

Not-so-stylish exterior

While product specialists make much of the Rondo’s aggressive front end and swoopy profile, Kia’s new crossover isn’t exactly a head-turner. In front, the trapezoidal Kia grille is framed by two large triangular headlamps with an air dam below. The proportions are pleasant to look out, but the overall effect is nothing unusual. From the side, the Rondo’s profile is closer to a station wagon than a sport-utility vehicle. Ditto for the rear end of the vehicle: the square gate and tail lamps are appealing, but conservative.

Buyers who want to add some sporty features can add a body kit with more aggressive wheel openings, side sill extensions, and a lower front fascia extension, upper and lower rear spoilers and/or mudguards: all are dealer-installed options.

Versatile, spacious interior

Considering its compact proportions, the Rondo’s interior is surprisingly spacious. Designers purposely made the glass area around the car wide for maximum visibility. Except for the blind spots caused by some rather large D-pillars in the back, it’s easy to see all the way around the car. An optional sunroof adds ambient light to the interior.

The cloth upholstery on the base model is attractive and comfortable. The seats are a little firmer than the leather counterparts, which some buyers may prefer. The six-way adjustable driver’s seat and standard tilt steering wheel should make it easy for most people to find a comfortable seating position, with adequate distance from the front airbags. Another advantage is that the second-row seats fold flat without flipping the seat cushions out of the way.

A four-way adjustable front passenger seat is standard on all models. Buyers who opt for the leather trim (EX only) get standard heated front seats. EX models also come with standard heated side mirrors and a windshield de-icer.

Both five and seven-passenger models have plenty of cupholders for each row, and there are bottle holders molded into all four door pockets. All models come with two twelve-volt power points up front, and one in the rear cargo area. The spare tire is located under the cargo floor.

On three-row models, the second-row seats slide fore and aft to ease access and egress to the back. The rear seats are functional, but adults planning to take an extended ride back there will feel squeezed. Five-seat models have an extra storage area with bin dividers, under the cargo floor.

Both rows of seats fold flat with the flip of a lever: the Rondo easily meets our bicycle-friendly standards. The 60/40 split second-row seats and 50/50 split third row seats allow for a variety of configurations, depending on the cargo that needs to go inside.

Passengers in the second row should find adequate hip, head and legroom. There is an air vent on the back of the center console to circulate heat or air conditioning though the rear of the car.

Controls on the instrument panel are easy to reach from both seating positions. There are several cubbies

to hold cell phones and PDAs. Women will appreciate a purse hook on the passenger side, as well as a utility shelf on top of the glove box.

Safety All-Overness standard on all models

All Rondo models come with front, side and side curtain airbags, antilock braking and electronic stability control. Standard active front headrests reduce the chance of whiplash in a rear-end collision, and the tire pressure monitoring system alerts drivers of low pressure at the wheels before the tire goes flat. The Rondo has not yet been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Standard ten-year warranty

Kia continues to offer a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty on all of its vehicles, including the new Rondo. Five years of roadside assistance (up to 60,000 miles) also comes standard.

While the Rondo’s base $16,395 base sticker price is a great value, buyers will probably want to opt for the middle LX grade. Air conditioning and roof rails are not available on the base LX. Prices do not include a $600 destination charge.

The Kia Rondo is currently available at dealerships nationwide.

Likes: A peppy powertrain with great fuel economy and a high level of standard safety features. The Rondo’s interior is spacious and versatile, with seating for up to seven, and seats that fold flat to create a long, functional cargo floor.

Dislikes: The base model does not come standard with air conditioning, and roof rails are not available on that model. Exterior styling is unexceptional.