New Kia model that just sort of appeared...

[caddycruiser]

I usually am pretty good about staying up to date with new model intros and such, but this one isn't even on the manufacturer's website...yet, it has already appeared on a dealer's lot. What is it? The new Kia Rondo crossover.

Last I even heard anything about this, they were discussing some unmasked spy shots, and now here it is for sale (and still not on the Kia site):

http://www.dullesauto.com/Kia/273026_1.html

Looks pretty good, if a bit dorky, for whatever market it is covering. And still, weird that it sorta popped out of nowhere...

Edited November 19, 2006 by caddycruiser

[Flybrian]

Its being soft-marketed. As a vehicle, it looks nothing like the decent-appearing concept sketches and is a traditional Kia mismatch of other styling cues.

[Drew Dowdell]

what does "soft marketed" mean?

[Northstar]

Wow, that looks terrible. There's not a good-looking aspect of it, at least in that pic.

[ocnblu]

It's so scary ugly, it made that hairy-chested Grand Cherokee SRT-8 jump up on the sidewalk.

Looks very top-heavy.

[Paolino]

what does "soft marketed" mean?

217575[/snapback]

It's flacid.

[FAPTurbo]

Ew... Oh well, I have the bad feeling it'd sell.

These little SUV's are slowly losing their "rugged" looks. I know they never get taken off road, but it was a little more pleasing to the eye.

[Flybrian]

what does "soft marketed" mean?

217575[/snapback]

Its rolled out with little to no fanfare or announcement. I don't know if its intentional like the XRS - the Corolla that was so cool no one knew about or bought it - or if it just happened that way like the Suzuki Reno.

[4gm]

It looks like it belongs somewhere in Eastern Europe. I'm offended by it's looks and I'm not sure why.

Edited November 19, 2006 by 4gm

[DetroitNut90]

It's a blob...with a really low beltline. And big eyes.

Not my cup of tea.

Edit: I just saw the interior. Reminds me of a cartoon-ish Caliber.

Edited November 19, 2006 by DetroitNut90

[regfootball]

love the accent lighting for the hazzard button! now that's class!

KIA GO HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

[VenSeattle]

It looks like a modern Mitsubishi Expo. Not Pretty.

[Petra]

Looks to me like a Hyundai Accent hatchback wearing platform shoes... Eeeeeeew.

[Bimmer325]

SedonaLite.

[Z-06]

[Farkas]

To be honest, I don't mind it. I don't find its styling to be retina scarring. I'm more worried about it holding up (literally and in value) after you drive it off the lot.

Would be a Mazda 5 competitor, or a Vibe/Matrix/HHR competitor?

Edited November 20, 2006 by Farkas

[bobo]

It's not nearly as good-looking as the concept drawings had suggested, but there are more visually offending vehicles out there. Not bad for $17K.

[thegriffon]

To be honest, I don't mind it.  I don't find its styling to be retina scarring.  I'm more worried about it holding up (literally and in value) after you drive it off the lot.

Would be a Mazda 5 competitor, or a Vibe/Matrix/HHR competitor?

217708[/snapback]

Mazda5. SedonaLite, is exactly right.

They won't have much stock till next year, so they aren't actively promoting it. They sold 3 last month, and I wouldn't expect them to sell very many for some time.

[Polish_Kris]

The KIA Rondo LX, it will sell great here in Canada.

I like how KIA's just show up out of nowhere.

Edited November 20, 2006 by Polish_Kris

[DBeaSSt]

My first thought when I saw it was a fat Matrix. Not pretty.....

[!!!TED!!!]

LOL! It does look like a fat Matrix!

Kia has a way of just having models appear out of thin air. I was caught of guard by this too.

The Saturday issue of the Toronto Star Wheels section has a roadtest.

Heres a link to the online version: RONDO TEST

[BlkHhr104]

Hey I have the 07 Kia booklet and I saw the 07 Spectra its not pleasing, but the 07 Amanti has an awsome interior and the 07 Sorento looks good as well, and as for this little Rondo it has like 5 or 6 colors haha I get the feeling of it not lasting long.

[FAPTurbo]

LOL! It does look like a fat Matrix!

Kia has a way of just having models appear out of thin air. I was caught of guard by this too.

The Saturday issue of the Toronto Star Wheels section has a roadtest.

Heres a link to the online version: RONDO TEST

217849[/snapback]

Oh great... the test gets done in my city, woohoo...

That side profile in the review makes it look atrocious... no... style... whatsoever.

Not to Jeep and Kia. Just because it's an FWD, economical runabout does NOT mean you get a pass on styling... Not these days...

[regfootball]

think they even crash tested it?

[caddycruiser]

Still weird that it isn't even mentioned on Kia's site yet. For a lot of shoppers, I would presume they'd step on the lot and wonder what the heck the thing was...

Doesn't look bad, IMHO, just your typical somewhat gawky or weird proportioned mini crossover, which do both well and poorly. Just all depends.

[Polish_Kris]

think they even crash tested it?

217960[/snapback]

Nope, they did not have time

[MyerShift]

Hmm.

I didn't think this was actually coming yet.

Last I knew, it was still rumoured.

And, yuck.

No thanks.

I'll take a Caliber or something else.

[RJB]

1989 called, it wants you to come back.

[GMman]

Looks like every other japanese/korean economy car. Stupid.

Anybody here old enough to remember the soft drink back in the 80's called Rondo?

[thegriffon]

Hmm.

I didn't think this was actually coming yet.

Last I knew, it was still rumoured.

And, yuck.

No thanks.

I'll take a Caliber or something else.

218112[/snapback]

It was officially announced for the North American market at the end of March.

http://auto-report.net/WordPress/?p=61

[JT64]

The rear end, and tiny wheels makes this vehicle a dud.

Yes, it is styling from the 1990s.

[arumage]

The rear end, and tiny wheels makes this vehicle a dud.

Yes, it is styling from the 1990s.

219024[/snapback]

16" wheels on the base model

17" wheels on the upper model

You're right... the wheels are too small.

[The O.C.]

It's flacid.

217581[/snapback]

eeewwwww......we don't like FLACID

[ponchoman49]

Oh look it's a Nissan Versa with a Kia front end slapped on. Sad to see even Kia is following the terrible bland ugly styling theses from the Asians.

[bobo]

I took a look at this thing at the L.A. auto show, I didn't think it was half bad.

[aaaantoine]

As with any other Kia, not an enthusiast's car by any stretch of the imagination. Front end is bland. Rear end is odd. Interior is meh.