First Drive Review
It's a segment we never asked for, and a segment, quite frankly, few of us can get terribly excited about even now that it's here. It's the mini-minivan, the only thing that could be even less glamorous than a minivan. Ugh. How long before this one blows over?
To be fair, however, these small minivans make some sense. With "true" minivans gaining size and weight to the extent that no one can rightly call them "mini" anymore, vehicles like the Mazda 5, and now the new Kia Rondo, are stepping in to fill the void. And after last year's gas spike in our not-so-distant past, and who knows how many that lay ahead, the concept of a fuel-efficient multipurpose vehicle starts to look attractive, especially for families on a budget.
And bless the hearts of Kia and Mazda for trying to add some spunk to the concept. Mazda has dialed some sporty driving dynamics into the Mazda 3-based Mazda 5. Now enter Kia, which has gone beyond product attributes and created a whole new lexicon around the Rondo—called Rondoism—that involves concepts like "huge cabinocity," "seat flexology," and "giddyupedness." We could think of a few more, but this is a family publication.
What Is It?
The Rondo wagon/van seats five or seven passengers—all of which get to enter through four front-hinged doors like a car but then sit within a tall, privacy-tinted cabin like a van. Kia is calling it a crossover, but missing as it is a butch front end, gratuitous body cladding, and available all-wheel drive, we're left with essentially a mini-minivan.
Outside, well, the Rondo ain't no Corvette in terms of sex appeal. Hell, it ain't even a Sedona minivan in that regard. An accessory body kit will be available with fender flares and full skirts, and a roof rack and a rear spoiler are available as stand-alone options. Even with all the tack-ons, no Rondo seems capable of setting our loins ablaze.
