Mazda5 vs KIA Rondo comparisons and articles (merged)

sunglassguyjack said:
One comment i often get from my friends is that they really like the way mazda packages the cars...with just the right amount of options. I have found toyotay to be pretty bad. You either get a base car or a fully loaded car...not much in the middle. I was really turned off by it when i had considered the corolla .
Click to expand...

TMS USA and American Honda are marketing American style Japanese products. Mazda cars have more Japanese mentality.
 
I've been thinking what makes the MAZDA different than the Honda and the Toyota.. Then I realized Honda owners in order to really feel good about their cars, they have to buy the ACURA line.. Sort of A higher Class.

Same with Toyota. Nice to have a Lexus.

Mazda on the otherhand... there is only the MAZDA brand. So there is no feeling of being 'in the lower quality department'.
 
skyhawk said:
I've been thinking what makes the MAZDA different than the Honda and the Toyota.. Then I realized Honda owners in order to really feel good about their cars, they have to buy the ACURA line.. Sort of A higher Class.

Same with Toyota. Nice to have a Lexus.

Mazda on the otherhand... there is only the MAZDA brand. So there is no feeling of being 'in the lower quality department'.
Click to expand...

I guess so... but that's purely psychological. And if you really need that to help you feel good about your car... hmmm
I've owned both Hondas and Toyotas. Never had major problems with any of them. And Yes I did feel good about them. :) Actually it was reverse. I felt BETTER about it knowing that I got more "bang for my buck" in buying a Honda/Toyota instead of their more expensive cousins (Acura/Lexus).

Comparing Mazda with Kia is ONE thing but comparing with Honda and Toyota is another story. Yes, they are huge companies that Mazda owners love to hate but we aren't going to get very far with it. They are both good companies that make good cars.

That's not to say Mazda vehicles can't hold their own against them, but Honda and Toyota are definitely NOT Kia.

What really makes Mazda different from Honda and Toyota is simply that they are NOT Honda or Toyota (if that makes any sense). In other words, they are a small company that focuses on a limited number of models that are very good.
 
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Kia just issued a recall for the 2008-2009 Rondo... Looks like it is a SERIOUS one...

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=132087

In uncharacteristically strong language, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's summary of the problem warns that "unusually severe impairment while driving could expose the driver to the risk of a crash."

"Poor engine starting, engine hesitation and other impairment may result, and the 'check engine' light may illuminate," said NHTSA.​
 
A Rondo Rental

Yeah, I did it. Enough of assumptions, while on business travel arrived to the rental area and found a Rondo...

Rented
2009 Rondo LX I4, 5-seater

Pros
  • Really nice exterior color. It was the Java Brown. The sunlight effect is great
  • The Kumho tires (16in) are very decent. The highway drive is very quiet and the acceleration and barking feels very tight
  • Although is a 4AT, the ride at 70-75MPH RPM is very low (2500-2800RPM)
  • MP3, Sirius capable player and aux input. My rental had the satellite radio service enabled!
  • OEM roof rails, good space to install crossbars and stuff
  • Good seating space in the 2nd row. Also access is good thanks to the huge door. Problem is garages and parking lots
  • 1-2 inches of extra leg room for the driver than the Mazda5
  • Decent fuel economy, a-la Mazda5 5MT
  • Sunglasses bin where the map lamps/lights are

Cons
  • The tan interior does not look good at all, too brownish, cheap looks. The dashboard and gauges reminded me of mainstream taxis in Asia and South America. The overall design looks outdated with the bulky round vents
  • The suspension is extremely soft, it “bounces” continuously over road bumps, like a boat at sea…
  • Steering feels very lose, it is not crisp/responsive at all. The driver-car engagement is very poor, it feels like driving a large V8 car. Mazda has done a very good job in this area. I’ve rented a Mazda3 and a Mazda6, and is very crisp, shorter ratio and very responsive
  • No telescopic steering wheel
  • No adjustable lumbar support driver’s seat
  • Plastic interior feels rough. The Mazda5 (Sport) also is also platicky, but this Mazda plastic there looks and feels with more quality (including steering wheel and shift knob)
  • There are issues when you have sunlight in the dashboard. I certify now that the clock nor the radio screen are visible under direct sunlight, that is notgood. Also the dashboard and screens’ orange color make it look very outdated
  • The 16in wheels with plastic caps, ughhh
  • Engine feels very peppy, but the 4AT gear to RPM ratio is not well synchronized. Example: from high RPMs on 2nd gear it jumps to a 3rdgear on very low RPMs, very inefficient, a lot of overdrive was needed to keep speed uphill…
  • 2nd row A/C is extremely poor, no low/high control plus it feels very week even with the MAX A/C on. I rented it in Dallas and after a 6-7 hours of being parked on direct sunlight took long time for the cabin to cool down. I did not perceive any difference with the 06-07 Mazda5, which does not have a 2nd row A/C
  • What a useless door ding protector stripe (headshake, way at the bottom of the door
  • no light for the cargo area :(
  • No steering wheel radio controls

Subjective
  • Annoying wind noise on passenger front door at cruise speeds. Wind seems to be entering from the door handle. This may be related to be a rental, not related to the car design
  • Key and Alarm Fob separated, not stylish at all…
 
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07MZ5SA said:
Is that the length or width?

One thing I don't like about MZ5 vs other compact cars is width of front leg room due to location of evaporator/heater core.
Click to expand...

Length. Width I did not feel any difference.

I also made a correction, it is a 2009, not a 2008 now that I checked more in detail. Not too many differences I guess, except that the engine has some more HP (feels slow anyway, the gear to RPM ratio is poor)
 
Corrected the color for the rental I had, now that I see the specs, it is Java Brown, not Black Cherry
 
SEMA 2008. Rondo Sighting

173.jpg


174.jpg


So, what da ya think?

Source:
www.MotiveMagazine.com
 
Probably the coolest looking Rondo I've seen....

but then again, most people don't buy the Mazda5 or Rondo for the "coolness factor"... but every little bit helps.
 
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Ugly or not I'm beginning to see alot more Mazda5s and Rondos on the road.

I think it is probably going to be the one of the FEW vehicle segments (ie. crossover wagon/microvan types) that will grow in number the next few years.
 
Needed to go up north to Montreal this week and, holly smokes, do they sell Mazdas there? Tons of Protege5s, Mazda3s (hatchback and sedan), Mazda6s and, of course, tons of Mazda5s as well. I would see one at least every 4-5 miles driven

Interestingly enough I only saw one Rondo. The Rondo stats seem to be beating the Mazda5 in Canada but I'm sure Montreal is the exception :D
 
coolmazda5 said:
Needed to go up north to Montreal this week and, holly smokes, do they sell Mazdas there? Tons of Protege5s, Mazda3s (hatchback and sedan), Mazda6s and, of course, tons of Mazda5s as well. I would see one at least every 4-5 miles driven

Interestingly enough I only saw one Rondo. The Rondo stats seem to be beating the Mazda5 in Canada but I'm sure Montreal is the exception :D
Click to expand...

What is French for "Zoom Zoom"?
 
coolmazda5 said:
Yeah, I did it. Enough of assumptions, while on business travel arrived to the rental area and found a Rondo...

Rented
2009 Rondo LX I4, 5-seater

Pros
  • Really nice exterior color. It was the Java Brown. The sunlight effect is great
  • The Kumho tires (16in) are very decent. The highway drive is very quiet and the acceleration and barking feels very tight
  • Although is a 4AT, the ride at 70-75MPH RPM is very low (2500-2800RPM)
  • MP3, Sirius capable player and aux input. My rental had the satellite radio service enabled!
  • OEM roof rails, good space to install crossbars and stuff
  • Good seating space in the 2nd row. Also access is good thanks to the huge door. Problem is garages and parking lots
  • 1-2 inches of extra leg room for the driver than the Mazda5
  • Decent fuel economy, a-la Mazda5 5MT
  • Sunglasses bin where the map lamps/lights are
Cons
  • The tan interior does not look good at all, too brownish, cheap looks. The dashboard and gauges reminded me of mainstream taxis in Asia and South America. The overall design looks outdated with the bulky round vents
  • The suspension is extremely soft, it bounces continuously over road bumps, like a boat at sea
  • Steering feels very lose, it is not crisp/responsive at all. The driver-car engagement is very poor, it feels like driving a large V8 car. Mazda has done a very good job in this area. Ive rented a Mazda3 and a Mazda6, and is very crisp, shorter ratio and very responsive
  • No telescopic steering wheel
  • No adjustable lumbar support drivers seat
  • Plastic interior feels rough. The Mazda5 (Sport) also is also platicky, but this Mazda plastic there looks and feels with more quality (including steering wheel and shift knob)
  • There are issues when you have sunlight in the dashboard. I certify now that the clock nor the radio screen are visible under direct sunlight, that is notgood. Also the dashboard and screens orange color make it look very outdated
  • The 16in wheels with plastic caps, ughhh
  • Engine feels very peppy, but the 4AT gear to RPM ratio is not well synchronized. Example: from high RPMs on 2nd gear it jumps to a 3rdgear on very low RPMs, very inefficient, a lot of overdrive was needed to keep speed uphill
  • 2nd row A/C is extremely poor, no low/high control plus it feels very week even with the MAX A/C on. I rented it in Dallas and after a 6-7 hours of being parked on direct sunlight took long time for the cabin to cool down. I did not perceive any difference with the 06-07 Mazda5, which does not have a 2nd row A/C
  • What a useless door ding protector stripe (headshake, way at the bottom of the door
  • no light for the cargo area :(
  • No steering wheel radio controls
Subjective
  • Annoying wind noise on passenger front door at cruise speeds. Wind seems to be entering from the door handle. This may be related to be a rental, not related to the car design
  • Key and Alarm Fob separated, not stylish at all
Click to expand...

I agree with you on all the points, especially the interior. M5 just drives better ind is better quality to me.(iagree)
 
offset_98 said:
Well...I just got a Rondo for my company car. The 5 wasn't on the list. Just got it today w/ 11 miles on it. I'll have it until I hit 20,000 miles (6-7 months) before I have to turn it in. It is the LXV6 with the only options being Cruise and keyless entry
Click to expand...

Bump, Question to offset_98, Did you end up buying the car, how is holding up?
 
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