AIMS: Rondo tempts families but not until next year

Kia is describing its new Rondo as an 'Urban Recreation Vehicle', which sounds like something almost as much fun as serving with the military, but without the opportunity to blow things up.

In fact, Rondo is the name for Kia's new-age Carens. Re-styled in line with Kia's new corporate look -- much like a mini Carnival or big C_eed -- the Rondo will seat up to seven in a small, efficient package. All passenger seats other than the front pair can be folded for the carrying capacity of a small van.

The target market niche for the Rondo is what Kia calls "transitionals", people who might be empty-nesters, but with grandchildren to cart around or perhaps retirees with friends from the bowling club in need of a lift.

Kia has been first to market with a vehicle filling this sort of need. At the present, buyers in the market for a multi-purpose vehicle are limited to small SUVs such as the Mitsubishi Outlander.  Indeed, without cars such as the Mazda Premacy, the Rondo could end up with this market sector to itself.

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