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By
EWAN KENNEDY
28 April 2008
Kia has just introduced the lowest-cost seven-seater vehicle in
Australia. Priced from just $24,990, the Rondo 7 is a good-looking
compact people mover that manages to cram lots of seats into a
vehicle that’s short enough to make it a snack to drive. And it’s
able to be reversed into a smaller than average parking spot
without the driver even breathing hard.
The new Rondo is aimed not only at those considering a larger
people mover, but also at the folks who are spending big money to
buy and run a large SUV. With petrol prices on a sharp upwards
spiral yet again the South Korean maker may have brought out this
vehicle at just the right time.
So different is this vehicle to others on the market that Kia
has coined a new title for it: URV, or Urban Recreational Vehicle.
The interior is remarkably versatile with the centre-row able to
slide backwards and forwards on runners to juggle the amount of
legroom available in all three rows. Seats can be folded in
various ways, having a 60/40 split in the second row, and a 50/50
one the rear.
With the rearmost seats in place luggage room is minimal, an
obvious drawback of the compact length of the vehicle that we
praised a moment ago. But it’s possible to have a six-seater
with space for a couple of large suitcases. Or a five-seater with
a huge boot, or … there are numerous other options and we
suggest a visit to your Kia dealer to explore them all.
Interior stowage is very good, with large drawers under the
front seats and numerous spots throughout the cabin for drinks,
wallets, phones, sunglasses and the various accoutrements of our
modern lifestyles.
ESP is included in the price, all the more remarkable when you
think of the low-cost of the Rondo 7 in the first place. ABS is
used on the four-disc braking system to assist crash avoidance.
Dual airbags are standard in all models, with curtain and side
airbags either standard or an option depending on model. Note that
the added airbags, which are part of a safety package that
includes active headrests on the front seats, won’t be on sale
until sometime in June.
Power comes from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine driving the
front wheels. It peaks at 106 kW and maximum torque is 189 Nm. On
our initial test drives of the Kia Rondo 7 we felt that power was
adequate when the four-speed automatic transmission was specified,
and quite spritely if you selected the five-speed manual. Note
that the manual isn’t offered on all models.
Kia's officially measured fuel consumption figures are 8.4
litres per hundred kilometres with the manual and 8.6 on the auto.
These days private buyers of Kias are spoiled by a warranty
that lasts for five years and has no limit on distance travelled.
The seats are comfortable and Rondo 7 can carry four adults and
three children with ease. The high driving position will appeal to
those who are trading across from an SUV and handling is competent
without being in any way exciting. After all, this is a people
mover not a sports model.
Noise, vibration and harshness are well subdued, even on some
of the rough and testing roads that Kia was brave enough to
arrange for our drive program.
This type of vehicle has been tried in Australia before –
with a distinct lack of success it has to be said. Kia imported a
model called Carens a few years back, Holden brought in the
European Zafira, Mazda had a stab with its Premacy. But the Rondo
is exceptionally well priced, good to look at and has plenty of
interior space. So there may finally be a market for this
exceptionally practical vehicle on the Australian market.
Let's hope so, because the number of mums carting kids about in
huge gas-guzzling SUVs can be a bit depressing at times and Kia's
Rondo 7 does it so much better.
The complete Kia Rondo range with prices, excluding on-road
costs, is:
Rondo 7 LX: $24,990 (manual), $26,990
(automatic)
Rondo 7 EX: $28,990 (automatic)
Rondo 7 EX Limited: $31,990 (automatic)
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Marque Publishing Company
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