I can't tell you much about the 4's fuel economy since I have the V6 but there is a thread on the Kia forums that might help you there (look for the thread on fuel economy and you might also find something else of interest - check out the thread with all the Rondo reviews too):
http://www.kia-forums.com/kia-carens-rondo-forum/As you know being from Vancouver I can't tell you that much about traction either, but I can say I've had no problems driving the car since Jan '07. Not that we've had a lot of snow or even ice in that time, if I recall correctly, but what we did have posed no problem at all. To be fair, the review on this site, I think done by James as a day-by-day drive, did note some problems with the ESC. What I don't know is whether these are specific to the Rondo or common to other cars with ESC.
But that is the case with the few things I'm not happy with in the Rondo - they are all things that are standard on the market these days. For example, I feel that visibility is less than ideal due to the rake of the front pillars and the high belt-line/substantial rear pillars. But that's compared to our old car... I went to the auto show last year and sat in every SUV and crossover on the site, and found that most other current vehicles are WORSE in that regard than the Rondo. In the case of the front pillars, it's the degree to which the aerodynamic slope of the windshield puts them in front of the driver.
What I LOVE about the Rondo - and I still do LOVE it - are things that other vehicles don't have. For example, low floor equals surprisingly good hatch capacity and amazing ease of entry and egress. I bought some furniture the other day and the guy who sold it to me was amazed at how roomy the car was relative to its size. And as I have the 7-seater, the seating flexibility is something I continue to enjoy - without having to drag a whole minivan around with me when I don't need it, which is most of the time.
Not to mention its debonair and charismatic appearance
![Grin ;D](https://www.autos.ca/forum/Smileys/CarTalk/grin.gif)