Kia Rondo reinvented as an SUV
Former people-mover to get butch in a bid to lure buyers who love space but hate minivansKia has released fresh design sketches of its all-new fourth-generation Kia Rondo that suggest the former people-mover will be reborn as an SUV.
Axed over poor sales in Australia back in 2019, along with the Soul hatch and the Optima sedan, the 2022 Kia Rondo (known as the Carens in some other markets) will be officially unveiled on December 16.
The latest images present a clear SUV direction for the MPV, with higher ground clearance, black protective wheel-arch cladding and an altogether bolder look compared with the previous-gen people-mover.
Coming under Kia's latest ' Opposites United' design language, the unusual ultra-slim Y-shaped headlights, trapezoidal front grille and aluminium elements on the front and rear bumper pick up where the radical new Kia Niro left off.
Inside, the Rondo gets a steering wheel that looks lifted from the current Kia Seltos, although the cabin features a strikingly new 10.25-inch infotainment system that lives with a full-width panel stretching from door to door.
Likely to be offered with both a five- and seven-seat layout, the Rondo is set to feature clever storage features within the cabin to tempt buyers away from traditional SUVs.
Commenting on the switch to an SUV, head of Kia design Karim Habib said: "The Kia Carens is a true reflection on what today’s customers want from their three-row vehicles."
More details will be released on the Rondo with its debut next week, however a return Down Under has already been ruled out by Kia Australia.
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