Mazda5 vs KIA Rondo comparisons and articles (merged)

[mrbwa1]

But of course WE ALL KNOW that the Mazda5 is much more FUN to drive than the Rondo!! (drive)

Dr. Spok, I detect a higher than normal reading on the Sarcasm Meter...


x10, in all fairness, I do tend to agree with your opinion in general. What I have found about the 5 is that is down show it's weight by rolling into a corner quite a bit, but then stick quite well. That said, in the $18-22k, I could poick out many better handling cars as well.

Unfortunately, most people don't push a car hard enough to detect the little differences, hence many not seeing much difference between the Rondo and Mazda5. My knowledge is mainly built around a few cars (the bulk being my 77 Volvo), but I have sent enough time to understand the mechanics of weight transfer and such.

The basic problem with the 5 this is see is more the length rather than the height/weight. Perhaps the van--like shape introduces some body flex as well. I just don't see the 3 and the 5 is the same handling class, as the 3 can transfer weight around a bit more predictably.

BUT, for an $18k ride as in my base Sport, it is really hard to beat the responsiveness of the 5, while retaining seating for 6 and the cargo ability.

Perhaps some reviewers are using "handling" in a less technical sense where the word "performance" might better fit. Camaros and Mustangs were performance cars. They had good power and could hold on around a corner at some pretty scary speeds. those used to torque and power may well appreciate a V6 Rondo. the 5 to me fells like a little tighter fit and suits my driving style of finesse over power. Also, I have had a few people that have drive our 5 that just couldn't stand how quick the steering is!

 

[coolmazda5]

(what is the world does it mean that xxx is more fun to drive than yyyy?) and people tend to get so emotional over their own car.

You just have to drive one, LOL. J/k, I rent a lot of cars for work (including KIAs and Hyundais) and I enjoy driving, so yes, I can attest that the Mazda5 is more engaging to drive than many of these rentals. I've also rented a Maxima once, and yes, even as an automatic, it was much more fun to drive than the Mazda5, I won't deny it.

And forget about my own cars, every article I've read for the last couple of years since the Rondo launched (especially the V6), the Rondo EX model edges the Mazda5 on features for the money (i.e. ESC, better radio, 7 seats for dwarfs, leather, V6, space, etc.) but 2 things have prevailed in general a) that the Mazda5 looks better and b) that the Rondo's driving feels very bland. That is why I was surprised about this article's final statement (boom02)

 

[sunglassguyjack]

had a rondo as a rental for a week....took two tanks of gas to our 5's one for a week. I stll want to see 6 people in one and i feel the 5 drives way better...Not to mention "Its a kia" Lets revisit at 30k when the kia is falling apart and has no resale. The only thing i see people choosing the kia for is the v6 and its not worth it.

 

[skyhawk]

I will consider a Kia if they make a clone of the MZ5 and sell it for a really low price.

 

[x10dude]

"had a rondo as a rental for a week....took two tanks of gas to our 5's one for a week. I stll want to see 6 people in one and i feel the 5 drives way better...Not to mention "Its a kia" Lets revisit at 30k when the kia is falling apart and has no resale. The only thing i see people choosing the kia for is the v6 and its not worth it. "

So you are saying the Rondo gets 11-13 MPG? (half of MZ5) That's really hard to believe.

Wow I know this is a Mazda5 lovefest but let's be a bit more realistic.

As for long term reliability... I'd check out Motor Trend's long term test of the Rondo. Not quite 30K yet but so far they like it.

 

[x10dude]

I will consider a Kia if they make a clone of the MZ5 and sell it for a really low price.

It's not necessarily a clone but it's already a bit cheaper. They different enough that they appeal to slightly different tastes.

Again, I prefer the Mazda5 but it can't be as horrible as people imply it to be.

Both vehicles are selling quite well so both seem to be hitting the right note.

 

[2003proes]

I had a Rondo for a couple days when my mazda5 was getting the due bill completed after I purchased it. I was interested to see what the differences were. Unfortunately I was given a v6 Rondo, so the acceleration comparison wasn't too fair, but the one thing I did notice was that the gas consumption was horrible. I got it at half a tank. I put $20 in the tank and then before I returned it four days later, I had to put another $10 in the tank just to get it back to half a tank, and that was with normal drive to work and church. Yes, the Rondo did have more pockets and areas to put things. That was cool...but not functional in a rental for me. The leg room on the Rondo felt tighter. The rear hinged doors were a let down when putting the little one in the car seat. And I didn't look too hard, but unless there is a third row, I don't know how you would fit more than 4 people in the Rondo. That being said, how do you access the third row? At least the mazda5 has the two bucket seats in the middle with a pass through. The radio on the Rondo was horrible. I attempted to get a decent tone, but it sounded muddy when the bass was much past halfway. I ended up putting the sound to the front speakers at low volume and resorted to talking with the 5 yr old in the back seat who said he missed my car. The radio wasn't as functional as the radio in my mazda5 either. Fit, finish and style was not up to my expectation in the Rondo. A far as the driveability, yes, the Rondo could out accelerate the mazda5...but again I had a v6 Rondo. I didn't feel as comfortable with the handling of the Rondo though, not that I attempted autoX with it, but just when on the gas I didn't feel comfortable trying to weave through traffic. Over all, I guess I really like the fact that my 5 has sliding doors. I like that when I spend $30 in gas on my 5, that I get more miles. I like the overall styling of the 5 better than the Rondo. I like the better radio and roominess of the 5 as compared to the Rondo. I like the comfort and confidence in driveability of my 5 more than the Rondo. For me...I purchased the vehicle I preferred.

 

[x10dude]

I the one thing I did notice was that the gas consumption was horrible. I got it at half a tank.

That does seem to be one of the common complaints of the Rondo. MPG is lower than advertised. (but I don't think it is half as one post implied).

And I didn't look too hard, but unless there is a third row, I don't know how you would fit more than 4 people in the Rondo. That being said, how do you access the third row? At least the mazda5 has the two bucket seats in the middle with a pass through.

Some Rondo's don't have a third row. Instead of a third row you get more clever hidden storage in the back (underneath the cargo floor).
As for access to the third row you pull back on one of the levers of the rear seat and it pops forward just like it does in the Mazda5. But yes, you can climb into the 3rd row via the middle in the Mazda.
In the the Rondo can squeeze in 7 in a pinch. The Mazda can squeeze in 6 in a pinch. Neither 3rd row is great... but are available if you have kids or small adults.

I didn't feel as comfortable with the handling of the Rondo though, not that I attempted autoX with it, but just when on the gas I didn't feel comfortable trying to weave through traffic. Over all, I guess I really like the fact that my 5 has sliding doors.

IMO the sliding doors is the best feature.

For me...I purchased the vehicle I preferred.

I think we all did!

I do find it a bit puzzling why the Mazda5 has so few options with it. The Sport drives exactly like the Grand Touring but costs $4 grand less. Yes you get some interior features and fog lights, etc... but the engine, and suspension is the same. At least the Rondo has a V6 as an option.

 

[Ogre]

Isn't Kia & Mazda linked some how?

I had a Sportage back when it first came out and it had many Mazda 626 components as I recall.

It was a pretty good little truck too, I put 60K on it over 3 years and it was as tight as the day I bought it and the only vehicle I have owned that the stock tires still had plenty of life at that mark.

 

[Redlinez]

I drove a Rondo at our dealership, it was a used auction car, we're a Chrysler dealer. I was impressed. What made our decision easy was two things: unproven reliability with Kia, and no dealership within a reasonable driving distance from either one of our workplaces or home. I refuse to buy something that is way out of my way to go for service. Our Mazda dealer is close to both of us and we've recieved good service regularly. With many of our local Suzuki and Kia dealers closing or relocating further away from Raleigh/Cary NC, kind of makes you wonder how much longer they'll be around. Sucks because the Kia was a worthy competitor.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

Bottom line:

I haven't driven the Rondo but the 5 is a better looking car IMO. And next to the excellent handling the sliding doors are a key feature. That's not to say the Rondo is bad, just for a different type of person.

Those who say the 5 doesn't handle like a sports car haven't driven enough small sports cars. One thing I love the most about our 5 is when I throw it into a corner and rev that sweet engine. I would never know I was driving a family car with sliding doors. And I own a speed 3 and had owned a Mz3 prior. Of course I own a 5 speed, whihc no doubt has a more sporting character.

The 5 has the personality that just drives you to throttle it. The Rondo looks more vanilla and less willing to be thrown aroudn the twisties.

Just my opinion

 

[sunglassguyjack]

I hear alot of complaints about power with the 5. around town its not exactly fast but it does move pretty good...on the highway its a whole different story. We have trouble keeping ours below 90. As far as the kia goes i can sum it up with one line. "Its a kia" I didn't hate the rondo but i think the 5 is a much better car.

 

[x10dude]

Those who say the 5 doesn't handle like a sports car haven't driven enough small sports cars...

The 5 has the personality that just drives you to throttle it. The Rondo looks more vanilla and less willing to be thrown aroudn the twisties.

Just my opinion

That's a pretty strong opinion for someone who says they never driven a Rondo. Honestly when I drove the Rondo I was thinking that it was going to be bad (from all the reviews about how it doesn't handle well) and my thought afterwards... "not bad". The Mazda felt better but the Rondo felt decent.

As for your comment that those who say the 5 doesn't handle well haven't driven enough small sports cars... You are kidding, right??

In my bachelor days, my old roomate worked for Honda R&D. About every 4 weeks he was able to bring home a different "car" for the weekend to drive around and get a feel for. Many of them were fairly exotic sports cars (some of them were not even available in the US - shipped from Europe or Asia). Honestly I'd have to say these were the only times in my life I was literally scared riding in a car around corners. My roommate was insane driving some these cars!

Most of them were small sports cars. Does the Mazda5 handle like ANY of them. Not a chance! Now of course that's unfair to compare it to these cars. BUT THAT is what I think of when I hear "a great handling car".
As a wagon/small minivan/crossover it does indeed handle quite nicely but I think it's too much of a Mazda5 lovefest to say it handles like a small sports car...

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

There's a difference

That's a pretty strong opinion for someone who says they never driven a Rondo. Honestly when I drove the Rondo I was thinking that it was going to be bad (from all the reviews about how it doesn't handle well) and my thought afterwards... "not bad". The Mazda felt better but the Rondo felt decent.

As for your comment that those who say the 5 doesn't handle well haven't driven enough small sports cars... You are kidding, right??

In my bachelor days, my old roomate worked for Honda R&D. About every 4 weeks he was able to bring home a different "car" for the weekend to drive around and get a feel for. Many of them were fairly exotic sports cars (some of them were not even available in the US - shipped from Europe or Asia). Honestly I'd have to say these were the only times in my life I was literally scared riding in a car around corners. My roommate was insane driving some these cars!

Most of them were small sports cars. Does the Mazda5 handle like ANY of them. Not a chance! Now of course that's unfair to compare it to these cars. BUT THAT is what I think of when I hear "a great handling car".
As a wagon/small minivan/crossover it does indeed handle quite nicely but I think it's too much of a Mazda5 lovefest to say it handles like a small sports car...

First off my "strong opinion" is more about the looks and sliding doors. Not the handling or engine of the Rondo.

Secondly there is a difference between a "sporty car" and an exotic. Personally I've driven many Sporty cars. I had a Toyota MR2 for many years and that was a great handling car. I've also driven BMW's and also consider them a great handling car.

Comparing exotics to sports cars that are built to a price point is an unfair comparison. Sure the 5 isn't a rally car and I wouldn't expect it to out run a Ferrari BUT for it's price (under $20,000)and it's function (it's a family minivan) I feel it handles amazingly well. I actually have a ton of fun driving it becasue of it's chassis dynamics. Now I don't know about the Rondo, but like I said on looks and function alone the 5 get's my vote. Even if the Rondo did handle well. I would choose the 5 based on looks (the Rondo is FUGLY) and function (Sliding doors) alone.

 

[x10dude]

Secondly there is a difference between a "sporty car" and an exotic. Personally I've driven many Sporty cars. I had a Toyota MR2 for many years and that was a great handling car. I've also driven BMW's and also consider them a great handling car.

Yes there is a difference between an exotic sports car and a small sports car (in your first post you said "small sports car... not sporty car"). Anyways, even so, there STILL is a difference between the Mazda5 and a small sports (or sporty car).

I don't disagree that that it behaves nicely for it's size but it's all about physics. I know this is a Mazda5 thread (and I even own one) but OBJECTIVELY it really does not compare to a small sports car. It's all about physics. In the next day or so... take your Mazda5 full speed around a corner. You'll probably feel some body-roll.

Again, I don't disagree that it handles better than the Rondo but when you say "Those who say the 5 doesn't handle like a sports car haven't driven enough small sports cars." ... that is a bit too much.

 

[coolmazda5]

And forget about my own cars, every article I've read for the last couple of years since the Rondo launched (especially the V6), the Rondo EX model edges the Mazda5 on features for the money (i.e. ESC, better radio, 7 seats for dwarfs, leather, V6, space, etc.) but 2 things have prevailed in general a) that the Mazda5 looks better and b) that the Rondo's driving feels very bland. That is why I was surprised about this article's final statement (boom02)

Just to emphasize this point, see this recent article. The dude who wrote it loves the Rondo because of all the features you get for the money and considers it the prototype of the minivan of the future, whatever the hell that means, but regardless, it says this:


The Mazda5 is considerably sportier looking and has a driver's edge when it comes to handling and performance.

So, regardless of the eye of the beholder and predilection for own cars, the tribe has talked, and several times (naughty)

Article:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08262/912986-97.stm

 

[x10dude]

Just to emphasize this point, see this recent article. The dude who wrote it loves the Rondo because of all the features you get for the money and considers it the prototype of the minivan of the future, whatever the hell that means, but regardless, it says this:


The Mazda5 is considerably sportier looking and has a driver's edge when it comes to handling and performance.

So, regardless of the eye of the beholder and predilection for own cars, the tribe has talked, and several times (naughty)

Article:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08262/912986-97.stm

That's actually a fairly decent article... fairly objective.

Let's just face reality. You are NOT going to get a fair comparison between the Rondo and the Mazda5 in this forum. (Just like you won't get one in a Rondo forum either.)

Car buying is extremely subjective. There are alot of good articles on both in different websites and car review places, but even those can be somewhat subjective.

 

[coolmazda5]

Mazda5 owners in this forum are not biased nor subjective, especially towards Rondos, LOL

 

[x10dude]

Mazda5 owners in this forum are not biased nor subjective, especially towards Rondos, LOL

No of course we are not biased. This is THE Mazda5/Rondo authority on the web! LOL
(cartoon was hilarious!)

Here are the facts that we have established in this forum

1. The Rondo gets half the mileage of the 5
2. Ronda reliability is terrible because it's a Kia
3. Mazda5 drives like a small sports car, the Rondo's handling is terrible
4. Mazda is beautiful, the Rondo is fugly.
5. Mazda5 interior is nice, Rondo's fit and finish is bad
6. Mazda5 has more legroom.
7. Mazda5's 3rd row is easy to get to, Rondo is impossible to get to.
8. Mazda5 sliding doors are superior to the rear hinged doors (this one is actually totally true.)

Did I miss anything?

 

[sunglassguyjack]

Ok...so basically on this forum if you say something bad about the rondo that automatically means you are biased? Seems like anyone that says something bad about the rondo basically gets attacked? If i had looked at the rondo and then the 5 when i was looking i still would have taken the 5. I had a rondo as a rental for a week and did a good bit of driving so i have some good first hand experience. I thought the interior was decent...i actually thought it felt roomier...except for the thought of putting more than 4 people in it. At that point the 5 was better...I also found the dash a bit dated and odd. Gas mileage was pretty low. Not sure exactly what but seemed quite a bit less than our 5. Our five also handled better and had a better ride. To be honest i know that i would have a really hard time Owning a kia. I work on cars and know they are honestly crap. Even if they have gotten better, Resale is still pretty bad. Ok there...i said it. LOL. Want me to say something bad about the 5? the carpet sucks, lack of armrest in the front is lame, dash is hard to clean.