2008 Kia Rondo Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2010 2009 2008 2007
Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
18 -19 City / 26 HWY
Source FuelEconomy.gov
Horsepower
162 -182
Seats
5 -7
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Catherine L
Dependable and comfortable. Easy to maneuver. Pleasure to drive.
It has good gas mileage. It's comfortable to drive and ride in. It can carry a lot of stuff. It has good foot room in the back.
accountCircle Nathan F
My review of the 2008 Kia rondo.
My Kia rondo is spacious and comfortable. It runs quiet and efficiently. Its performance has suited my needs of a dependable vehicle to get to and from work and around town. The only real criticism I have is that it seems to be a hassle to get aftermarket parts for it in shops, they almost always have to be ordered. Otherwise I have really liked owning this vehicle.
accountCircle Bea A
Safety mileage. Comfort. Upkeep. Good on highways
My style fits my needs. Easy to handle. Runs great. No complaints
accountCircle Isabella J
Roomy inside, great maneuverability in tight spaces.
I have had very few issues with this vehicle. There were a couple of safety recalls on a front air bag and a brake switch which were fixed for free. I had to replace the fuel injection system, but that was after many years of driving it without any issues. It gets really good gas mileage. I like its maneuverability in tight spaces. The back seats fold down allowing for a lot of storage space. I have been able to haul items measuring 7 foot in length. It is roomy if you have several people in the back and is very comfortable. I like how it rides a little higher than some cars. The settings are really easy to adjust. I wish that the cabin air filter was not so expensive to replace (around $50). All in all, it has been a very well performing vehicle and I am now hooked on SUVs as they fit my lifestyle well.
accountCircle Maria D
Looks like a van, rides like a car.
This Kia rondo has been so reliable. I have 126, 000 miles on it and have had no major repairs. It gets 30 miles to the gallon. It looks like a van but handles like a car. I love it. The ride is extremely smooth. I would highly recommend this car. Very nice.
accountCircle Ruth V
It is not too small and it is not too big.
To be honest my car is a really great car. It is a car for 5 people. It has a really good amount of space in the back. And it has these things where you can left the handle and put stuff under. It is really good on gas. I fill it up with $25-30. It all depends on the gas price. Sometimes $20.
accountCircle Tammy M
Great gas mileage and very reliable .
I love my Rondo , it is very reliable and dependable . I've had it for 4 years , I've not had any problems with it so far . The only thing I don't like about it is that the seats aren't very comfortable on long rides . It gets excellent gas mileage .
accountCircle Diane F
I have a bad back and the seat is perfect.
No problems at all after I got past the electrical wiring problem, which was under warranty. It was tough going at first. When it was finally fixed it never gave me any trouble. All was covered by warranty. I've kept up with all maintenance and oil changes.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Michael F
All in all if you do not already own a Kia rondo please do not buy 1.
It is a horrible vehicle. Too many internal motor problems. Not enough room in interior of the vehicle. Crammed and not comfy. Also vehicle sits to low to the ground. You can feel every bump in the road. Horrible suspension, undercarriage is rotted out. Due to the low sitting to the ground car. Should never own a Kia rondo if you plan on living in a cold, snowy environment. On the plus side of things, it does get really good gas mileage. Also the trunk space is very roomy. The Kia rondo looks like a small minivan. It is a very peculiar looking vehicle.
accountCircle Scott T
It is a very good purchase if you have a large family but don't want to invest in a minivan.
It is very reliable. It is very roomy. I don't have many issues with the vehicle mechanically, it is very reliable. What I don't like: The very back seats get warm during the summer, as if the air doesn't reach back there.
accountCircle Kristin S
They do not make them anymore. It is considered a crossover vehicle.
I like the crossover type vehicle but the rondo has had a lot of issues. Also they stopped making them.
accountCircle Meredith C
The car is great for traveling due to the amount of space the back has to offer.
I like that the car has a lot of space in the back. I also like the seats in the back have a leg space. I don't like that the car doesn't get very good gas mileage.
accountCircle Jenny G
Go fast, haul stuff (including family!).
My car has plenty of room in order haul things. For instance, when we moved i moved most of the furniture by myself. It also has a lot of "pick up and go", which i have to watch for with my lead foot!
accountCircle Joseph S
The smooth driving control along some cozy seats
It is a good car to drive it allows me to go from point a to point b without many problems and has some decent gas mileage
accountCircle Abigail T
The Kia rondo is a wagon with great utility and lots of space.
There seems to be a grinding sound in the front of the car under the hood. There is also only a key hole on the driver side door which can get very annoying. Other than that, it drives well. I personally like the exterior and the interior. Overall, it is a good car.
accountCircle Meg W
Lots of little nooks and hooks for storage
Electrical issues- radio plays but the screen is blank, keyless entry and push button for gas don't work either. Pretty roomy in front and nice hatch back but back seat can get cramped. Gas mileage is nice but the gas cap doesn't screw on nice so the o2 sensor always goes off

Kia Rondo Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
LX Base
162 HP 23-23 MPG 5-7 Seats
car
LX
182 HP 22-22 MPG 5-7 Seats
car
EX
182 HP 22-22 MPG 5-7 Seats
Photos may not match model

2008 Kia Rondo Owner Reviews

4.05
57 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 32%
4 stars 46%
3 stars 21%
2 stars 0%
1 star 2%
accountCircle Cindy C on April 4, 2021
It's a very reliable vehicle with almost no problems.
I love it's roominess inside, and it's reliability. It's comfortable to drive, and gets fairly good gas mileage. My only complaint is that my A/C quit working, and the shop wants way too much money to replace the compressor and clutch, so I go without. Luckily, where I live doesn't get very hot regularly - only occasionally, and after having lived in the Nevada desert, I can tolerate some heat ... For a little while.
accountCircle jamie h on March 6, 2021
It's cute, a nice size but not too big
It's a reliable vehicle. The air conditioning broke one summer and was expensive to fix. Other than that I love it
View All Reviews (57) chevronRightAlternative

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Ginny F.

The Kia Rondo gets good mileage and is long lasting. The vehicle was purchased in 2008, still in good condition in 2020. It has not required a lot of maintenance over the years, aside from some small repairs. The biggest con would be issues with air staying in the tire. This has been the biggest pain point when it comes to the Kia Rondo.

likeFilled Ashley R.

It is a very reliable car and gets good gas mileage. Also there is plenty of room for having a family. The rear is also very spacey. Overall repair don't cost very much but are more difficult to complete yourself.

likeFilled Lisa C.

Smooth acceleration, comfortable seats, good cargo space, relatively inexpensive and the visibility is good. It is a pretty good care that handles well and rides comfortably. Great for people with kids and dogs that need the space.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Ginny F.

Cons as mentioned previously are the issues with the tires. The one particular tire needed to be replaced because air just would not stay in it during cold temperatures. I am not sure if this is a one-off situation or not.

dislikeFilled Ashley R.

Repairs are more difficult to complete yourself. The air conditioning does not seem very reliable even after fixing it. The initial cost of the car is a little high but otherwise I think the pros outweigh the cons.

dislikeFilled Lisa C.

The gas mileage on the car could be better, and the exterior styling is pretty bland. Also there's a bit of road noise. Plus it could use more speakers in the radio/CD player. It might have a problem if you live in an area that snows a lot.

Ranks #17 Small Cars by Owners

The 2008 Kia Rondo has an average owner rating of 4.13 out of 5 which ranks it #17 of 29 other Small Cars.

1
car
2008 Volkswagen R32
5
2
car
2008 Honda Fit
4.56
17
car
2008 Kia Rondo
4.05

Ranks #10 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2008 Kia Rondo has a combined MPG of 33 which ranks it #10 of 30 other Small Cars.

1
car
2008 Honda Civic
36 MPG
2
Tie
car
2008 Kia Rio
35 MPG
10
car
2008 Kia Rondo
26 MPG

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2008 kia rondo oil type?

Answer: Routine maintenance and inspection of the fluids on the 2008 Kia Rondo is important. If You are doing a lube change, the type of oil it takes is SAE 5W-30. This vehicle is over a decade old which means it...
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Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Not Rated

Side

Not Rated

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety