Topic: 2011 Kia Rondo

[conwelpic]

if you are familiar with the previous models here's the changes to 2011

2011 Rondo changes (Canada)

- exterior colour Vanilla Shake (A1) available for all trims
- radiator grill - Tiger Nose Grill
- centre fascia and TGS knob cover will have new metallic colour (EX)
- door window swtiches and key set illumination will be applied
- muffle chrome tip applied to all trims
- roof rails colour change from black to silver
- chrome interior accents added to all trims
- folding key for EX trims
- electric remote fuel door release added to all trims
- ECM with rear view camera applied to EX-V6 Luxury trims

[conwelpic]

here's the new Vanilla Shake (same as the use on the Soul)



and the new corporate grille

[conwelpic]

LX (5-seater) - $19,995
- 2.4L, I-4 engine, 175hp
- 4 spd auto with steptronic
- 16" alloy wheels with 205/6HR16 tires
- 4-wheel disc brakes
- 6 airbags
- am/fm/cd/mp3 and 4 speakers
- ABS brakes
- ECO-minder
- anti-theft ignition immobilizer
- anti-whiplash active front headrests
- body coloured door handles
- ESC with TCS
- floor mats and mudguards
- power locks
- power mirrors
- power windows with driver's one touch down

LX (5-seater) with a/c - $20,995

EX 5-seater - $22,795
adds the following
- chrome accented front grille
- chrome accented outside door handles
- chrome accented waste line moldings
- cruise control with steering wheel mounted controls
- deluxe cloth seating material (double raschel)
- fog lamps
- front windshield wiper de-icer
- heated front seats
- heated mirrors
- illuminated vanity mirror
- keyless entry with panic alarm and tailgate unlock with folding key
- leather accented gear shifter
- leather wrapped steering wheel
- metallic painted inside door handles and centre fascia
- romote audio controls on steering wheel
- roof rails
- upgrade to 6 speakers (adds dual fron tweeter speakers)

EX (7-seater) - $23,795
- 3rd row split folding bench seats (folds and sinks flat into the cargo
area)

EX Premimum (7-seater) - $25,095
- 17" alloy wheels with 225/50R17 tires
- power sliding and tilting sunroof
- leather seats

EX-V6 (5-seater) - $23,895
- 2.7L V6, 192 hp
- 5 speed auto transmission with steptronic

EX-V6 (7-seater) - $24,895

EX-V6 Luxury (7-seater) - $27,195
- 17" alloy wheels with 225/50R17 tires
- 8-way power adjustable driver seat
- leather seats
- power sliding and tilting sunroof
- trip computer
- ECM mirror with rear view camera display
- auto climate control
- sirus satellite radio with CD/mp3 and AUX + USB

EX-V6 Luxury + Nav (7-seater) - $28,195
- in dash navigation sytem

destination and delivery - $1650
a/c excise tax - $100

[EV Dan]

Thanks for posting. LX trim should be ignored IMO for its archaic 4spd auto. The EX-V6 is a great value though, just missing Sat Radio. Do you know what made this 2.7L make 20 more horses over the one in the old Tucson?

[Weels]

I see the Nav version is $1K extra instead of the usual $2K or so.
Hopefully other mfr's will follow this lead...

[quadzilla]

Has this become a Canada only car now? I thought I read somewhere that Kia was stopping the sale of these in the USA.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Has this become a Canada only car now? I thought I read somewhere that Kia was stopping the sale of these in the USA.

I heard that too.

[conwelpic]

Has this become a Canada only car now? I thought I read somewhere that Kia was stopping the sale of these in the USA.

it has been discontinued in the US, in fact hardly any 2010 models reached their shores 

[Shnak]

Thanks for posting. LX trim should be ignored IMO for its archaic 4spd auto. The EX-V6 is a great value though, just missing Sat Radio. Do you know what made this 2.7L make 20 more horses over the one in the old Tucson?

Variable valve timing, for one thing. The same version of the 2.7L has been sold in the Magentis for 3-4 years now.

I can't believe Kia isn't upgrading the transmission to a 5 speed for their 2.4L. It's not like they don't have one available; I have that exact combo in my Sonata, and it works great!

[conwelpic]

I can't believe Kia isn't upgrading the transmission to a 5 speed for their 2.4L. It's not like they don't have one available; I have that exact combo in my Sonata, and it works great!

Nothing wrong with a 4 spd as I have one in my Rondo and it works great!  (the car I had before that was a 3 spd auto).  The higher speeds will gradually work its way through all models, as the Forte is now 6 spd for 2011 same as the Sportage and Sorento but the Soul is still 4 spd and same for the Rio.

[Shnak]

I can't believe Kia isn't upgrading the transmission to a 5 speed for their 2.4L. It's not like they don't have one available; I have that exact combo in my Sonata, and it works great!

Nothing wrong with a 4 spd as I have one in my Rondo and it works great!  (the car I had before that was a 3 spd auto).  The higher speeds will gradually work its way through all models, as the Forte is now 6 spd for 2011 same as the Sportage and Sorento but the Soul is still 4 spd and same for the Rio.

My point is that Kia does not have a valid excuse to explain why they're not putting the Sonata & Magentis's 5 speed auto transmission in the Rondo. The only excuse is cost-cutting... and that's never a good excuse.

[dkaz]

it has been discontinued in the US, in fact hardly any 2010 models reached their shores 

Hardly any yet there are still quite a few brand new ones for sale.

I really wonder what makes the Rondo and Mazda 5 a hit in Canada but a flop in the US. Probably the same reason why in 2004, 40,000+ Toyota Echos were sold in Canada and only 4,000 in the US. Other than the fact that we pay $1 to $1.15 per litre here...

[CatsEye68]

Thanks for posting. LX trim should be ignored IMO for its archaic 4spd auto.

Now, now, you are not permitted to criticize anyone but GM here for using a 4-sp autobox. And to criticize Saint Kia, son of Lord Hyundai, here? You are really pushing your luck, my friend.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Thanks for posting. LX trim should be ignored IMO for its archaic 4spd auto.

Now, now, you are not permitted to criticize anyone but GM here for using a 4-sp autobox. And to criticize Saint Kia, son of Lord Hyundai, here? You are really pushing your luck, my friend.

 

[Thinking Out Loud]

I can't believe Kia isn't upgrading the transmission to a 5 speed for their 2.4L. It's not like they don't have one available; I have that exact combo in my Sonata, and it works great!

Nothing wrong with a 4 spd as I have one in my Rondo and it works great!  (the car I had before that was a 3 spd auto).  The higher speeds will gradually work its way through all models, as the Forte is now 6 spd for 2011 same as the Sportage and Sorento but the Soul is still 4 spd and same for the Rio.

My point is that Kia does not have a valid excuse to explain why they're not putting the Sonata & Magentis's 5 speed auto transmission in the Rondo. The only excuse is cost-cutting... and that's never a good excuse.

The five speed auto might come in the next generation...this 2011 is the first first refresh on the Rondo since 2006; it's getting loooooooong in the tooth, especially with the Ford Cmax and the Chevy Orlando coming down the pipe, plus a heavily updated Mazda 5 all next year.

I don't know what the sales numbers were Rondo vs 5, but it's gonna be tough offering a 5 year old platform up against the competition next year outside of heavy pricing incentives.  

[Shnak]

Yep, totally agree about that. Kia really needs to refresh the Rondo. It needs to be lighter, a lot more fuel efficient, and bring up the technology up to par. Dump that old 2.7L, maybe use the new 2.4L DI from the Sonata. It doesn't need to grow in size though, I think it's perfectly sized as it is.

[libraman]

And offer a real manual tranny like everywhere else in the world gets...a  6 speed. 

[Shnak]

And offer a real manual tranny like everywhere else in the world gets...a  6 speed. 

...and sell 5 or 6 of them. 

[dkaz]

15% of the Mazda 5s sold are manual. I have one in my driveway. Kia offers a manual in the Rio, Soul, Forte, Magentis, Sportage, and even the midsize CUV Sorento, but the Rondo which is basically just a compact wagon with a high roof and option for two extra seats gets no manual?

From what I know, the next gen Mazda 5 will still come in manual and the new Ford C-Max should also get a manual as well. I'm not sure about the Chevy Orlando though.

[Thinking Out Loud]

Likely Kia will cancel it altogether?  The Rondo is to miniminivans what the Mitsubishi Gallant is to midsize.

That is to say, if you can't dominate the market with your select product and the ROI on building a new one that will/could be a game changer doesn't equate, hey - that's OK cause the tooling is paid off anyway and you can at least claim to be in that space.

The Sportage should have come in as a 7 passenger when redesigned and the Rondo coulda been killed off.