Owner Review: RM16k worth of nice choice — My 2010 NAZA KIA RONDO 2.0 EXS

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Basic information about my car:

2010 NAZA KIA RONDO 2.0 EXS. Bought for RM16000 in 2020

Reasons why I bought this car:

I had been using my 12 years old Naza Citra for 5 years since 2015 and it's time to replace it with a better and newer MPV. This MPV will be my wife's ride to send kids to school and for 'Balik Kampung'.

Car Selection Process

I had a budget of RM 20,000
Models that I have considered include:PROTON EXORA

Before i buy Rondo,i'd also consider Exora especially BOLD model due to it's sportier design and larger boot. However my regular mechanic doesn't encourage me to buy Exora because of reliability issue especially on the CVT transmission. So my next best option was this Rondo. Actually I didn't really like the Rondo because its front design is not so attractive. I am also afraid of the spare part availability issue because this model is quite rare on the road compared to Citra.

I don't really worry about Korean car's reliability because i have experiences owning 2 Korean cars before which were the Citra itself and Hyundai Getz (both were used unit) which i had no serious issue in terms of reliability and maintenance during my ownership. After doing some research,i'd learned that Rondo actually shares many parts with KIA Optima MG and Hyundai Sonata NF where they share the same chassis platform and engine. So,there won't be issue on sparepart availability since many parts are interchangeable. I also found out that common wear and tear parts for Rondo are easy to get either at spareparts shop or even on online shopping platforms like LAZADA and SHOPEE. Finally, I decided to buy a good used Rondo and I opted for the Limited NOVUS Edition unit as it comes with a full bodykit and leather seats.

User Experience

I have already done 15000 km.
My average fuel consumption is 10L/100km.

Upon test driving the car, I could feel the difference in terms of solidness and built quality compared to Citra. The interior design and material used is better,it's also more comfortable to drive. The newer 2.0 THETA II CVVT engine which produces 147hp and 189Nm of torque is powerful enough to move the 1.6 ton MPV with ease. The engine is also quieter and more responsive. The faster you drive,the smoother the engine feels.

For those who like to drive more aggressively,they can use the Tiptronic gear shifter to change gears manually especially when overtaking and going uphill.The cabin space is also larger since it's built on a D segment chassis,hence more legroom for driver and passengers. Traveling long distances won't make you feel tired. There are also many usable storages including 8 cup holders. The automatic climate control and leather seats added premium feel and comfort to the car. The maintenance cost is not as high as many speculated. I can say the pricing for most of its replacement parts are compatible with Japanese cars,and of course cheaper than Conti cars. There are genuine and also cheaper OEM or aftermarket parts on sale,but always choose genuine parts for better quality and peace of mind.

Pros and Cons

Pros of my car

1) Cheap yet reliable D- segment MPV 2) Good build quality 3) Easy to get spareparts and the price are reasonable 4) Large and comfort cabin space 5) Powerful and responsive engine 6) Auto climate control 7) Leather seat
8) Good NVH

Cons

1) High FC especially for stop & go / town driving,maybe due to its heavy kerb weight. However,replacing the O2 sensor might help improve FC by at least 15% as claimed by another Rondo user who had replaced the sensor.
2) Ride and handling is just average. Typical body roll issue for an MPV. Using aftermarket sport springs might help reduce this issue.

3) Difficult to get the right wheel alignment set up.
4) Rear wheels tend to sit in a slight 'kang-kang' position and unfortunately its rear arm set up is not adjustable. This results in excessive Camber wear or 'makan sebelah' in the long term .

Total Score: 4

Performance: 4

Quality & Features: 4

Space: 4

Ride comfort: 4

Fuel Economy: 3

Price & cost: 5

Summary:

Buying a used car, especially one that is considered a rare model, might come with a high risk of spending a lot of money to maintain it. Before we buy such a car,we should do extensive research on the model, especially its reliability,part availability and the cost of maintenance. Join any club or the car owners community either on FB or Whatsapp group to get direct feedback and review from the actual owners. Don't rely on hearsay which most of the time is not true. This is also the case with owning a Korean car where many people talk about all the negative things about it even if they never own one. The other benefit of joining the community is you can always ask for help if you have any problem with the car.

You can also get information on good mechanics to repair your car or where to buy parts at cheaper prices. After buying a used car,you should flush and change all the fluids such as Auto transmission fluid,brake fluid,power steering fluid,air cond refrigerant and also the coolant. Spend a little bit more money to replace all the old bushings and then you will have a good ride, as good as a new car. One tip is to buy a used Rondo, always check for signs of fuel leakage as it is a common issue for Rondo to suffer from petrol tank leakage after a few years. Anyway,the cost to repair the leakage is only around RM200-RM300 depending on the size of the crack. My Rondo also had the same issue, but it cost me only RM190 to repair it since it's just a small crack.

I had experienced where my alternator failed due to age while in Dungun, on my way traveling to Kuala Terengganu. After I informed my problem in Rondo owners' Whatapss group,one of the members immediately called me to offer help since he stays in Dungun and the best thing is he is also a mechanic who owns a workshop. He helped me to replace the alternator with a new original KIA part at a far cheaper cost than normal market price. Normally,the cost of replacing the original alternator would cost around RM1000,but he only quoted me less than RM700 including labor. I'm grateful to have a very helpful car community. I feel more confident to travel all around the country since I know there will be someone who can help me if I'm in trouble. I never regret owning a Rondo,it's absolutely a wise choice!

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