2007 Kia Rondo

Kia is certainly no stranger to small cars. Their subcompact Rio is one of the best values on the road today. So with all the current buzz about high gas prices, and the downsizing of traditional SUVs, it’s only natural they have a small solution - the Kia Rondo.

As it squares off in the crowded compact crossover segment, the 2007 Kia Rondo hopes to grab the attention of young professionals and families who believe less is more. 

With a smart design, and packaging that includes up to seven seats, this little utility strives to capture a very practical-minded audience.

Based on the Kia Optima, the unibody Rondo has a 106.5-inch wheelbase with a concise overall length of 179 inches.  That’s a tad shorter than a Mazda5.

Its appearance starts with a tall, svelte five-door exterior which approximates the look of a short-wheelbase minivan.  Wearing a low beltline and lots of glass, the overall shape is tight and well-defined.

The Rondo comes in two trims, LX and our EX. EX enhances the front end with fog lights and chrome front grille crossbars. Further punctuation comes from pronounced front fender lines, along with the EX’s chrome door handles and body side moldings, and the standard, integrated roof rails speak to the versatility of the Rondo’s tidy disposition.

Energy for this front-drive only crossover comes from two Optima engines: a 2.4-liter twin-cam inline-4 with 162 horsepower and 164 pound-feet of torque, or our tester’s 2.7-liter twin-cam V-6 with 182 horsepower and 182 pound-feet of torque. The four cylinder mates to a four-speed automatic, while the V6 is managed by a five-speed, both with manual shift mode. 

Government Fuel Economy Ratings for the V6 are 20 city/27 highway. We managed a fine combined loop of 25 miles-per-gallon on regular gas.  Its Energy Impact Score is also an efficient 14.9 barrels of oil per year.

But, on our test track, the Rondo was at best, mediocre.  It jogged from 0 to 60 in 9 seconds and huffed through the quarter-mile in 17 seconds at 84 miles-per-hour. Power builds in no particular hurry, and shifts are debilitating as we watched the RPMs fall off drastically.

The suspension is defined by McPherson struts up front and multi-links in the rear. While steering is quick and light, ultimately the Rondo delivers an overall feel of softness, with an abundance of body roll. You’re inclined to back off the throttle long before front push becomes too annoying. So, handling may not be athletic, but it is certainly safe, especially with standard Electronic Stability Control.

Braking is executed by 4-wheel disc brakes with standard ABS. Our Rondo delivered solid stops averaging a fine 125 feet from 60 to 0, the most impressive portion of our track experience.

Inside, the Rondo strives for lots of usable room, but again with style, what Kia refers to as “cabinocity.”  Front seats are supportive if thin, but do have standard height adjustment for the driver. Oddly, power assist is not available. The EX adds upgraded seat fabric, as well as optional heat.

The dash is downright sporty with deep hooded gauges, and plenty of big round vents and controls.

Air-conditioning is standard on all but the base 4-cylinder. Standard across the board are power windows, locks and mirrors, and both side and curtain airbags.

EX trim adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel with controls, metal-finish interior door handles, and an upgraded stereo, but a CD-changer requires the Premium Package.

The second row offers more head, leg, and shoulder room than the Mazda5, as well as the flexibility of a 60/40 split folding feature. The optional $500 50/50 split third-row seat is expectedly tight, but most children will love it. 

But this is a utility, so put the third row down for 31.7 cubic feet. That more than doubles with all seats down to 74.4 cubic feet, and that’s more than a Jeep Commander.

Rondo pricing is enticing, too, with the LX starting at $16,995. The EX begins at $19,795. That undercuts the Mazda5, and even more so the Honda CR-V. Plus, Kia has one of the most generous warranty packages to boot.

So the 2007 Kia Rondo takes on its compact crossover rivals with a clear sense of priorities.  Casting performance and even all-wheel drive aside, it zeros in on basic driving economics, interior flexibility, and intelligent styling.

With plenty of drivers on the same wavelength, the Rondo should become a sought-after commodity.