The Kia Rondo is an all-new 5-door crossover vehicle first seen at the 2007 auto show in LA. It’s based on the proven FWD Optima platform. Shaped like a mini-van the Rondo offers plenty of head and legroom with a decent amount of cargo space. The base model sports a 162 horsepower 2.4 liter mated to a 4-speed automatic or, you can opt for the optional 2.7 liter V6 mated to a 5-speed automatic that puts out 182 horsepower. I’ll be quick to point out that the V6 is the way to go especially if you plan to do long hauls climbing hills while loaded down.
The optional 3rd row seating will fold down for additional cargo space. The EX trim comes with body-colored door handles and side moldings and 16-inch wheels while the LX adds fog lights, 17-inch wheels and some chrome accents.
Driving the Rondo was a pleasant surprise because the car handled much better than I expected. I was anticipating a rather dowdy feel to the Rondo and I was very pleased with the solid feel from the car. It was relatively taut and there was pretty good feedback from the road. The interior is comfortable and the ergonomics are better than adequate which means the Rondo would serve one well on most trips.
While the Rondo is a whole lot more function than form, it’s not a bad looking vehicle at all and for the money, well worth looking at, and with a 5 year 60,000 mile base warranty with 24-hour roadside assistance and a 100,000 mile 10 year limited Powertrain warranty, clearly Kia is standing behind their products. So, if you’re in the market for a crossover/mini-van, check out the Kia Rondo, I think you’ll be as pleasantly surprised as I was.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive, small SUV though, put the Kia Sportage on the list of ones to try out. This little SUV has improved by leaps and bounds from whence it started, to the point where it actually has a little style now. While I’m not an SUV guy, I recognize their value and popularity and although I’m not sure how deep the demographic for this size SUV is, there certainly is a plethora to choose from, including the Hyundai sibling Sorento, which I’ll be talking about also. The upside with the Sportage is the pricing. You can get one pretty well adorned for around $22,000 while the sister Sorento will run five to seven thousand more.
After a two year hiatus the Sportage re-appeared in 2005 with an all-new design that was much sportier with a splash of sophistication that was fairly well received. A longer wheelbase and wider stance helped aesthetically as did sleeker aerodynamics. Inside there is more room and it is more comfortable than the previous generation. The 2007 iteration received a couple of subtle design changes and the Electronic Stability Program was re-named Electronic Stability Control. Why, I have no idea.
Drive trains are a base 2.0 liter 140hp 4-Cylinder and a 2.7 liter 173hp V6 which is clearly the better choice as the 4-cylinder is a bit anemic. The V6 on the other hand was plenty spunky and mated to a 4 or 5-speed automatic transmission moves the Sportage off the line with gusto. It’s pretty easy to get in and out of and it’s surprisingly roomy inside with room for four adults, maybe five in a pinch.
The ergonomics are good and easily read and understood and a height-adjustable center console is pretty handy. In the back, there is a pretty significant amount of cargo space when the rear seats are folded and moved forward and even more-so when the front passenger seat is folded down.
Driving the Sportage is a bit mundane but it certainly serves its purpose and while fuel economy is average at best, somewhere in the 25-28mpg range, it does serve a purpose and you can get into three of the four trim packages for under $20,000 and that makes the Kia Sportage worth checking out.
If you like the size of the Sportage but want just a bit more élan, check out the Kia Sorento that was added in 2003 replacing the Sportage in the lineup. Available in an LX and EX trim package, the Sorento offers a higher level of standard features that include A/C, front, rear and side airbags and a potent 3.5 liter engine that puts out 262 horsepower.
The 2007 Sorento also comes with a revised suspension and updates inside and out that give the little SUV a pretty nifty look. The headlights and taillights have been redesigned as have the front and rear fascias and quite frankly I’m amazed at how sharp the Sorento looks compared to its baby sister Sportage.
You can now choose the sunroof as a stand-alone option and 16-inch alloy wheels are available for the EX with 17-inchers being available on the LX. Inside rear legroom has been improved and up front the center console has been redesigned and has metal and wood trims that give an elegant look to the interior. There is an AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system that sports 10 speakers which is actually pretty nice.
Under the hood of the 2007 Sorento is an all-new 3.8 liter aluminum V6 engine pushing out 262 horsepower with a towing capability of 5,000 lbs. Standard safety equipment includes a driver knee airbag, dual front advanced 2-stage airbags ABS, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control System and tire-pressure-monitoring system. Other additions include unique and exclusive black interior cloth or leather on LX Sport Package, a trip computer on EX and dual-zoned auto air conditioning for luxury package on EX.
I really enjoyed driving the Sorento and sad as it is to say, I need form as well as function so along with more horsepower, the upgraded styling cues and creature comforts in the Sorento would make this the move likely choice for me. As I said, basing at $19,995 it will run five grand more than the Sportage so the choice is up to you.
All in all this is a very nice trio from Kia and it’s clear to see that they are ready to play with the big kids. The warranty clearly shows they’re willing to stand behind their cars so if you’re in the market for an inexpensive SUV that could be a crossover with its car-like ride, check out the Sorento and I’m betting you’ll be as pleasantly surprised as I was.
