mazda5 vs Kia Rondo – Which is which?
In the automotive industry, Europeans have long patronized the diesel engine, favoring smaller, more economical cars. Meanwhile, Americans who usually have five people in their cars prefer a minivan and a seven-seat SUV. The problem is that the contaminated brush from the minivan infects the driver and the big SUVs are big gas guzzlers. Now there are city-friendly substitutes. The Kia Rondo EX V6 Luxury goes up against the Mazda5 GT, both offering a minimum of more than five seats and providing a spacious cargo area when no one or nothing occupies the third row.
The two vehicles are amazingly similar. However, they are different down to the sharp edge of the glove box door. The seats make up the most visible similarity, where the Mazda5 has six in a 2+2+2 configuration, while the Kia’s middle row has a seventh.
Both cars also provide great flexibility and cargo capacity. However, Kia’s second-row headrests must be removed first when the middle and third rows need to be folded down. When it comes to cargo-carrying capacity of cars, Mazda Motor and Kia Motor used different ways to calculate the relative space available.
When the third row moves down, the space produced is almost four times the original. When the center row is flat, the Rondo is available up to 73.4 cubic feet. Visually, the Mazda 5 has almost the same space as the Rondo, but its overall height may be slightly affected by the roofline.
When it comes to accommodations, both cars have a close fight. Kia has much more leg room, knee room and head room in the third row. The Mazda 5 also has a hard plastic trim in the headroom. However, this car has seats that are higher than the floor (270 millimeters compared to the Kia’s 230 mm), which makes it quite a bit more comfortable than the other car.
In the second row of both cars, the seats are comfortable and can be moved back and forth. When the third row is vacant, the rear seat can be moved and the center row seats can be moved forward, which means more room to stretch out.
While the Mazda has some nice touches, like a storage compartment under the left center seat and a handy tray/net under the right, Kia counters those with functional roof rails.
Up front, there are minimal differences between the two. The cars’ driving positions are good, visibility is good too (both feature triangular A-pillar windows that reduce what would be a bad blind spot), and all the designs are logically conceptualized. Both have air conditioning (a $1,100 option on the Mazda5), excellent audio and insurance packages, power windows, mirrors, and sunroofs. The only noticeable difference is Mazda’s manual cloth seat adjusters and Kia’s electric heated leather seat adjusters.
The doors also show differences. The Rondo comes with four conventional hinged doors, while the Mazda 5 is available with sliding rear doors. Therefore, the Mazda is easier to load when parked in a tight area. The sliding doors prevent access to the third row on the lower side due to the leading edge eating into the driveway.
On the road, both cars aren’t like larger minivans or SUVs. As usual, there is minimal body roll (both use front and rear sway bars), as well as any understeer. Both are also available with large tires installed and anti-lock brakes. The Mazda 5 GT uses P205/50R17s, while the Kia uses 225/50R17s.
The biggest differences are in the powertrain. The Mazda has a 2.3-liter four-cylinder and a four-speed manual (a mix of manual and automatic). The Rondo EX V6 is powered by a 2.7L V6 engine that drives a five-speed manual transmission. The base Rondo EX is available with a 162-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder, four-speed engine. To reach 100 kilometers, the Mazda needs 9.3 seconds and 7.6 seconds to make the overtaking movement from 80 to 120 km/h. Meanwhile, the Rondo’s V6 achieves the same performance more quickly in 8.2 and 6.1 seconds, respectively.
The power of the two also has a big difference. The Mazda produces 153 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm, while the Kia has 182 hp and 182 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. The Kia has additional equipment and is also quieter at highway speeds.
The fuel economy of the two is in a close fight. The Mazda5 consumes 11.2 liters per 100 km in the city and 8.3 L/100 km on the highway, while the Kia is rated at 11.8 L/100 km in the city and 7.9 L/100 km on the highway. on the highway.
As for safety features, the Rondo has standard electronic stability and traction control systems, some of the car’s advantages over the Mazda 5. However, both cars come with seat-mounted front and side airbags, as well as drop-down side curtains and active head restraints. .
In short, both the Mazda 5 and the Kia Rondo unseat any SUV; both have usable rear seats; both have an impressive design and a reasonable price.
Now, it’s your turn to decide which one is better. Which is which?
About Mazda 5
Featuring Mazda’s top-end steering rod, the Mazda 5 was previously called the Mazda Premacy in Japan and in Europe. It is a compact minivan built by the Japanese automaker Mazda since 1999.
About Kia Rondo
Kia Rondo is the name of Kia Carens in North America. The Carens is a compact MPV that was introduced in 1999 by the Korean automaker, Kia.
The Rondo was introduced in North America at the 2007 Los Angeles International Auto Show and went on sale earlier this year in the US and in late 2006 in Canada.
