Kia's Popular People Mover

We never thought we'd say this about a Kia, let alone a Kia minivan, but the 2008 Rondo is a terrific vehicle and an excellent choice for young families on a budget. It's a small minivan that's the same length as a Toyota Corolla sedan, but is far roomier than a compact car and has an optional third row of seats that allows it to accommodate up to seven. It's also inexpensive (Kia is offering big rebates on the Rondo through Sept. 2), gets decent (if not great) mileage, and has five-star government crash test ratings. The Rondo's main rival is the newly redesigned Mazda5 compact minivan, and both models have struck a chord with consumers. The Rondo's sales were up 51.7%, and the Mazda5's 43.7%, in the first seven months of this year. Both models' sales remained strong in July, even as the auto market tanked badly.

Interior

Everything inside the Rondo seems solidly made. The cabin is quiet and well-insulated. The door on the sunroof has a heavy, well-built feel, as does the glove box door. Luggage space behind the second row seats is nearly 32 cu.ft. The big negative about the Rondo: luggage space shrinks to a mere 6.5 cu. ft. with the optional third-row seats in place.

Engine/Drivetrain

The Rondo is available either with a 2.4-liter, 162-horsepower inline four banger, or a 2.7-liter, 187-horsepower V6. The small engine is paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, the bigger one with a five-speed automatic.

Performance

The Rondo isn't especially quick or sporty. We clocked our test EX with a six-cylinder engine at 9.2 seconds in accelerating from 0 to 60. Loaded down with baggage and passengers, the four-cylinder version is probably very pokey.

Fuel Economy

With the small engine, the Rondo is rated to get 19 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway and does almost as well (18 city/26 highway) with the six-cylinder engine. The Mazda5 is more fuel efficient, especially with a stick shift.

Price

The entry-level Rondo LX powered by the small engine starts at just $16,995 (though without air-conditioning), and the upscale EX with the six-cylinder engine starts at $20,795. The Rondo's recent average selling price is only about $18,000 after a cash rebate of $1,500, according to the Power Information Network.

By Thane Peterson