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.
