pet connection

Rolling all the way from Korea into my carport this week was the Kia Rondo EX, a mid-sized station wagon with plenty of room for a family of six people, pups or any combination thereabouts. Having just stepped out of a Subaru Outback, I was prepared to be less-than-impressed by the incoming Kia, mostly because the Rondo’s sticker price is more than $14,000 less than the stately Subaru. What I discovered was that price isn’t everything.

In fact, my 6-foot-4 frame fit much better in the Rondo than the Outback, and with proper adjustment of the leather seats, I was left enjoying nearly three extra inches of headroom under the moon roof. I was also surprised to see that this smallish wagon sported a third row of passengers seats that feature a 50/50 split so one seat can fold flat while the other stays in place.

In fact, both back rows fold flat enough to handle many of your dogmobile duties with one cautionary note: When folded flat, the seats leave a deep “trench” that will need to be covered to prevent loose paws or toys from getting stuck. The floor-to-roof tailgate opens wide enough to fit at lease one crate (28 inches wide by 31 inches tall), and there’s even a small storage bin under the rear floor for small toys and treats.

But the best thing about the Rondo is the price. For a base of $20,195 — or $23,495 fully loaded — the Rondo EX is a great starter wagon to get you and your flock out and about.

Here’s the full review on the Kia Rondo.