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The Kia Rondo is capable of carrying seven adults, yet it's small. It's shorter than the six-passenger Mazda5, but it offers more third-row legroom than a Toyota RAV4. We found the ride, handling and brakes of the Kia Rondo excellent. It's a good vehicle for running around town or for taking the whole family on a long trip.A four-cylinder engine comes standard with an EPA-rated City/Highway 19/26 miles per gallon. We found it to be strong, offering good acceleration performance for passing on two-lane roads, and it's smooth and quiet when cruising down the highway. This 2.4-liter four-cylinder comes mated to a four-speed automatic transmission with a manual mode. A smooth 2.7-liter V6 with a five-speed automatic is optional. It's rated 18/26 mpg and delivers more thrust more smoothly and adds just $1,000 to the retail price, making it a bargain. The seats are comfortable whether ordered in cloth or leather. The driver sits relatively high and the Rondo feels like neither a car nor a sport utility. In addition to people, it can haul lots of stuff; just flip down the back two rows of seats. Launched as a 2007 model, the Kia Rondo has no significant changes for 2008. The 2008 Rondo adds an auxiliary jack for audio devices and deletes the cassette deck.
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