2008 Kia Rondo: User Reviews

2008 Kia Rondo Base Picture
MSRP:
$16,395 - $20,195
Invoice:
$15,625 - $18,895
User Reviews:
20 reviews
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UnHappy NEW 2008 Kia Rondo Owner

by Lisa Dees from Crestview, FL (9/01/08)
Pros:small and looks good
Cons:Weak poor performance, POOR Gas MPG! Quality Poor

Bottom line is that is car was VERY MISREPRESENTED TO US! It gets a mere 19/20MPG on the Highway. 5 weeks after we bought it we had to take it in for the 2nd time for many issues including Transmission noise, seats falling apart, broken seat mechanisms, POOR GAS Mileage! They had to replace the Transmission and yet now it is slipping and the noise is worse than before. The Power steering is getting extremely stiff making it hard to turn and manuever. It is Still pulling to the right despiste having that checked both times as well.
We were ordered OFF the lot of Kia Autosport of Pensacola, FL. or they were calling the cops...Where does that leave us now? We made this purchase becasue they CONVINCED us that "THIS" Kia Rondo would get 26-30 MPG. and that with the "LIFETIME" TIRES and POWERTRAIN warranties we Could NOT get a Better deal than this!
But now that they have ordered us Off their lot and ALL these issues with THIS KIA RONDO...the warranty is ONLY VALID IF SERVICE PERFORMED AT kia AUTOSPORT of Pensacola, FL.
Like I want to continue to be manhandled, misrepresented and abused! NOW what Kia?

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
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Rondo is great car so far!!!

by Stephen from Northern New Jersey (8/15/08)
Pros:Good fuel economy. Loaded with standard features. Good visibility.
Cons:Radio information bar hard to read during day because of orange background

Have our Rondo almost one (1) year now (@20K miles) with virtually no problems. Wife using for commuting to work, and drive this car virtually everywhere. Only problems were cigarette lighter receptical under front column doesn't have juice. Had tire shake that was corrected by balancing tires again. I would say we average 26-27 mph between highway/city driving. Love car because the car is loaded with standard safety features, great visibility out of front windshield (like a mini-van), very easy to drive, and doesn't break the bank! Lots of storage space inside, and storage nooks all over vehicle. When camping recently, was able to fit tent, screenhouse, daughter, 2 large coolers, and other equipment inside car without having to use luggage rack! Has the same, if not more storage capacity than our Pacifica.

23 out of 50 people found this review helpful
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Great car, but mine is not

by Abraham from Memphis, TN (8/10/08)
Pros:Lots of ROOM, excellent highway MPG
Cons:ABS Brake issue.

My wife initially didn't even want to go see it. I had to beg and plead. We bought it that same afternoon when she saw all the features it came with and the relative low price. Shortly after 2 weeks the problems began with the ABS light comming on. To date it has been in the shop 5 times for the same problem (one time for over 2 months). When the ABS lights or the check engine light is not comming on. I feel like I made a great purchase. My inlaws bought one themself and it has not had any problems. We all agree for the price you can't match that amount of performance and space with any other vehicle. I feel like mine is the odd one of the bunch. You feel a little strange when your vehicle is already in the shop and you haven't received the tittle in the mail yet. That sort of timming makes you question reliability. To get rid of it would bring other problems. What could I possibly find in that price range with simmilar performance and space. Did I mention that this 4 cylinder vehicle is spacious beyond believe. What else is out there?

27 out of 47 people found this review helpful
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Nice Family Utility Vehicle.

by K from Vancouver from Vancouver Canada (8/03/08)
Pros:Firm build, Roomy, Comfy ride, Good for family with kids, many standards
Cons:No sliding door. Gas Mileage is not as good as advertised (do I need break-in?)

Nice car with reasonable price. I've got EX-premium 7 seater (4 cyl).
I was really interested in Mazda 5, which is fun to drive. Only problem I had was I felt it a bit small (width-wise). After trying some SUV cars, I found Rondo. I did not like the look that much, it looked OK but not attractive. But the day after the test drive, I bought the Rondo. It appeared to be small car. Boy, not really. It looks small outside but somehow huge inside, both passenger and cargo. View is excellent. Firm feeling and nice ride. Power is better than I expected from 4 cyl. Actually better than other 4 cyl SUVs I've test drove.
Above all, this car has proven to be very 'useful' all around especially if you have kids. (I have 2). I was surprised when my kid's toy wagon, which could not fit into Jeep Liberty, could be easily loaded into Rondo's cargo area. Also, I love the a/c vent in the back side, which cools down my kids.
Even though my wife think sliding door is dangerous for kids, but I think sliding back door (like Mazda 5) would have been better.

30 out of 48 people found this review helpful
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HATED IT

by Hippie Chick from Newport News, VA (8/02/08)
Cons:rough ride, lousy suspension

I rented a 2007 Rondo while my '04 Trailblazer LS EXT was in the shop. All I can say is what a piece of JUNK! The ride was ROUGH, it didn't hold the road, it was uncomfortable, underpowered (especially with the a/c on), noisy. I spent 5 days wailing about how I wanted my Trailblazer back...Oh, and the gas mileage isn't any better than my Trailblazer either...I HATED it!
It's a good thing my Trailblazer is paid off and I can easily afford the 90 bucks to fill it up every 2 weeks...there's NO way I'd EVER consider buying one of these things...it's cheap, uncomfortable, noisy, ugly and generally not worth the 18K I'd pay for one....

24 out of 52 people found this review helpful
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try it, you'll like it

by Keith from Sacramento, California (7/04/08)
Pros:Excellent fit and finish, smooth drivetrain, lots of inside room, quiet cabin
Cons:Seat travel limited, windows not tinted, no outside temperature guage

When I first saw this car I thought it was pretty ugly; but it is so practical and easy to drive I soon got over the ugly. When I'm driving down the highway and people stare at you, its almost like driving my first VW bug and enjoying being different. KIA has really come a long way and while I know I would get killed in resale value I'm just going to run it until it dies and hope that's a long time. The car rides very smoothly and visability is excellent. On a 1500 mile trip it was very comfortable and not tiring. I drive for a rental car company and believe me I have driven a lot of more expensive cars that really have uncomfortable seats when driven a long way. My wife complains the passanger seat travel isn't long enough and I have to agree on that; but it's not a big deal. Gas milage has been around 24 mpg around town which is good for a V6.

23 out of 49 people found this review helpful
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Love our "mini" minivan

by sasafrass97 (6/23/08)
Pros:smooth ride, roomy, comfy, great value
Cons:very back seats sit a little to straight

We just bought our Rondo on Friday and we LOVE it! It rides very smooth, it is roomy and comfy. I was wanting something smaller than a traditional minivan but larger than a car and this is perfect for us! I love that you can configure the seats how you need them, i.e. you can fold some up, fold some down, leave some up/down, etc. I just wish the very last row seating was a little more comfy and when all the seats are up there was just a little bit more "trunk" space. I am very happy with this vehicle. I've gotten quite a few compliments on it already.

30 out of 49 people found this review helpful
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Great crossover

by B. Paula from Wall NJ (6/04/08)
Pros:Great value, fantastic amount of room for its size, good fuel economy
Cons:No power seat offered

I replaced my gas guzzzling Mountaineer in early May with this Rondo EX V6. It has almost has much room and much better gas milage. This is my second Kia, My wife has a Spectra5 and we are just happy with it. We are even more please with the Rondo. If you a small car with great room and excellent quality get a Rondo.

20 out of 50 people found this review helpful
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Love the Rondo

by Phil from Hamilton,ON (5/10/08)
Pros:Good fuel economy, great performance for a 4 cyl., quite ride, leather seating and power moonroof
Cons:Idles a bit roughly, dark blue paint shows every spot

Bought a 2008 Rondo EX Premium edition, 4cyl, 7 passanger.
Love the ride, leather seats, power moon roof, and 17" rims with Michelin tires, and great stereo.
When you drive this car you feel like you are in a much larger and more expensive vehicle.
The 4 cyl. engine is powerful enough to travel up long hills at highway speeds without any noticeable strain. Also, for a 4 cyl., it runs very quietly , even at highway speeds
Overall the perfect mix of great value and luxuries. We love it.

26 out of 53 people found this review helpful
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Best vehicle compared to more expensive models

by Brett from Minneapolis, MN (5/08/08)
Pros:Roomy car in a compact design. V6 has plenty of power and acceleration. Fun to drive.
Cons:Ride is a little rough and the fabric is not as stain resistant as I hope.

Best vehicle for the money. In fact, it is the best vehicle compared to cars that cost $10K more. Would really have to move up to a "luxury" model to do better. The interior is surprisingly roomy for 7 people even though the car looks compact. I've had some trouble with stains in the microfiber and would probably get leather if I had to buy it over again. My wife was in an accident with our Rondo when she was rear-ended by an Audi. The Audi was totalled while the Rondo sustained some damage to the rear bumper and tailgate. No damage to the frame or unibody. The car was fixed and perfect again within 1 week. I am glad I got the V6 as it has plenty of pep, even when carrying 7 people. Sacrificed a couple of MPG's for that option, but I have not been sorry. This is my second Kia I've bought now and I couldn't be happier.

28 out of 50 people found this review helpful
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