I think some guys are sitting in front of a keyboard and just saying ‘cheap interior’ but don’t have a clue what they actually mean. The media guy in the YouTube video drives the actual vehicle and says he really likes the interior. I suggest you go to the showroom and check:

a) Materials
b) Interior gap fit and finish
c) Exterior gap fit and finish (bumper to body, hood gaps, uniformity)
d) Doors (triple contact rubber seals)
e) Flat floor carpet (no hills and valleys, bumps)
f) Paint quality - no drip marks, glossy in all the right areas
g) Tricot headliner

Then only form your own opinion but be sure to compare with Nissan Livina, Toyota Avanza and then some higher priced units like the Toyota Innova, Wish and Honda Stream. Some of the comments on the interior and quality here seem like very emotional assumptions.

Here are the fuel consumption specs for a GASOLINE powered, AUTOMATIC Rondo, from the Kia UK website.

15″ Alloys
Urban (cold) - mpg(l/100km) 24.1 (11.7)
Extra urban - mpg (l/100km) 40.9 (6.9)
Combined - mpg (l/100km) 32.8 (8.6)

16″ Alloys
Urban (cold) - mpg(l/100km) 24.6 (11.5)
Extra urban - mpg (l/100km) 42.8 (6.6)
Combined - mpg (l/100km) 33.6 (8.4)

Some info on the Rondo engine, shared with the new Optima. Note that the Rondo is a WORLD-CLASS model sold in North America and Europe (as Carens), not some Asian-only model like Vios, City, Grand Livina, etc.!

Here's the CVVT vendor - http://www.morsetec.com/ and the GEMA site - http://www.gemaengine.com/.

The Hyundai-Kia Theta (G4KC) is a gasoline 4-cylinder automobile engine family. This is the third all-aluminum engine of Hyundai Motor Company debuted in the fourth-generation Hyundai Sonata sedan(codenamed NF) and Kia Optima (codenamed MG).

It features hollow stainless-steel DOHC with powder-metal cam lobes, pent-roof combustion chamber and shimless bucket tappets in the cylinder head. BorgWarner Morse TEC supplies the complete set of timing system that uses the company's proprietary silent timing chains. CVVT(Continuously-variable valve timing) works on the intake side.

The aluminum alloy engine block, which is formed using high-pressure die-cast method, has a unique Metaldyne-supplied cassette-type balance shaft module with a two-stage oil pump built-in. In the lower-end, the block is reinforced by a ladder frame (Similar to Honda B18C!). Other notable features include fracture-split sinter-forged connecting rods and stainless-steel exhaust manifold.

Theta's EMS(engine management system) software is EMS-II from Siemens VDO and the 32-bit PCM(Powertrain Control Module) calculates the amount of intake air by utilizing a contamination-proof hot-film type MAF(mass airflow) sensor.

Chrysler Corporation began production of a modified version of Theta, dubbed World Engine, in Dundee, Michigan in October 2005. Chrysler engineered their own air intake system and exhaust manifold which is made of gray cast iron. The World Engine also differs in the EMS as it measures the amount of intake air indirectly using a MAP sensor, another cost-saving feature of the Chrysler-modified engine.

Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) is currently building a Theta II engine shop on the grounds of their Montgomery, Alabama automobile factory. The shop will build only the Theta II engine for both the Hyundai plant and the new Kia Plant in West Point, GA. It is scheduled to be completed by August 2008.

The engine is used in:

HYUNDAI-KIA
Kia RONDO
Kia OPTIMA
Hyundai SONATA
Hyundai GENESIS COUPE 2.0

MITSUBISHI (4B1)
Mitsubishi LANCER

CHRYSLER
Dodge CALIBER
Jeep PATRIOT 4x2
Jeep COMPASS 4x2
Dodge Avenger (Export)
Chrysler Sebring (Export)

funnytone thanks for your unbiased review. Someone who actually walked the talk and went out and bought one. I've seen one but only had a short test drive so far. Hope I can borrow one for a longer test drive soon. Hezeri from CBT was very happy and enthusiastic about the Rondo. The exterior and interior panel gap fit and finish is amazing. Lift up the carpet mats and check the floor carpet - TOTALLY FLAT!! How does it compare to Stream, Wish and Livina I wonder? I remember seeing a horribly puffy hill and valley type floor carpet on the previous Stream. The Rondo quality follows that of the Optima and Sportage which I've seen since last year. Excellent build quality which can better any Japanese make (including CBUs) being sold in Malaysia.

funnyTONE actually for the first 150km or so you shouldn't corner hard, especially on wet surfaces. That's the minimum required to bed-in the tyres. Goodyears are good touring tyres but if you want to step up in grip/safety try the Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetric. These are VERY good!

Observe your tachometer to see if the rpms are 0 or idling at close to 1000rpm. Looking at your dashboard I notice you've bought the Rondo EX with manual A/C. The EXS has 6 speakers, steering wheel remote control, designer roof rack and 16" alloy wheels.

Equipped with this same engine, my friend has the new Optima EX premium with Infinity Audio (in dash 6CD changer, subwoofer, 420W amp and 6 speakers), ESP, TRC, Nappa leather + suede seats (powered drivers side), footwell lighting, real aluminium dash trim, gated sports shifter, etc. ... I really LIKE THIS CAR! I believe he's laughing about his fuel consumption. It's GOOD!

I've used Michelin Pilot Preceda (made in France) on my bro's old Civic and he also used to use Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 on his Turbo BP TX3. The GSD3s were better, more grip, etc. and performed VERY well in the wet. On a turbo car you need it due to the sudden torque producing wheelspin in the wet - dangerous.

On the Optima EX high grade (aka Novus), the new one. The tyres are Michelin Pilot Primacy (made in France, not Thailand). These should be quite good too. But for now I would recommend the Eagle F1 GSD3 Assymetrico. This has a more MATURE tread pattern not the V type on the normal GSD3 so it will look subtle AND you can do tyre rotation.

My friend has good faith in the service and so far NO problems at all with his Optima. DAMN good, rock-solid and CHEAP!! His sister in law bought Civxx but the interior panel fit and finish was not so good compared to his. BTW yesterday I drove my colleagues Rondo EXS to lunch and back to test. It was in town so cannot really experience much. We got 11.5 litres/100km in town which is VERY GOOD for an MPV. I felt good - the interior was WIDE ... widest in its class I think but also a bit tough in narrow parking lots - BE CAREFUL. We then parked at KLCC just a few cars awar from a Livina. Honestly looking at the two I don't know why anyone would want to pay more and get less with the Livina. The Rondo is a global model (as opposed to the Asian only type Livina) with NHSTA and EURO NCAP 5 and 4 stars respectively. Combined with the Mitsubishi/Hyundai-Kia/CHrysler GEMA 2.0L engine, etc. this is a sure eye-opener to the Japs.

OK enough for now I sound like a salesman! But I just want to post a counterpoint to all the bad mouthers who haven't even done any research.

The FC is really good for a car of this size, weight and engine capacity thanks to its DOHC CVVT engine. Read back in this discussion for more info.

---

Added on October 21, 2008, 12:47 pmBro funnyTONE any further updates on your RONDO?

This post has been edited by BikerVoodoo: Oct 21 2008, 12:47 PM