| With the ever increasing prices of gasoline | | | | comfort since its seats are higher off the |
| not to mention the growing problem on global | | | | floor approximately 270 millimeters compared |
| warming car buyers have chosen to purchase | | | | to the 230 mm on Kia. |
| smaller, eco-friendly, and highly fuel | | | | |
| efficient cars. In North America which was | | | | The space on the second row is just right. |
| once a citadel of minivans and SUVs are | | | | The seats are also comfortable and can easily |
| shifting to more urban-friendly alternatives. | | | | be moved to and fro. When the third row is |
| The competing models are Kia Rondo EX V6 and | | | | vacant moving the seats back provides |
| the Mazda 5 GT; these two models offer | | | | passengers with more room to stretch. But |
| five-plus seating with plenty of cargo space | | | | once the third row is in use, pulling the |
| especially when the third row seat is not in | | | | middle-row seats forward gives the third row |
| use. | | | | with ample space. |
| | | | |
| The Rondo and the Mazda 5 are in some way | | | | When it comes to up front, there is very |
| similar like for instance the sharp-edged | | | | little to differentiate the two vehicles. The |
| flashing on the glove box door. Their biggest | | | | driving positions are comfortable, provides |
| similarly so far is the seating capacity, | | | | better visibility, and the layouts overall |
| Mazda 5 can accommodate six in a 2+2+2 | | | | are logical. Both cars also comes with air |
| configuration while Kia adds a seventh spot | | | | conditioning but is offered as an option on |
| to the middle row but of course imagining the | | | | the Mazda 5. Both cars are also equipped with |
| limited seat space it will only be able to | | | | decent audio packages and power locks, |
| accommodate a child. | | | | windows, sunroofs, and mirrors. The |
| | | | noticeable difference is in the manual |
| Both cars also deliver a high level of | | | | adjustment for the 5's cloth seats versus the |
| flexibility and cargo capacity. Although the | | | | power adjusters for Kia's heated leather |
| idea of folding the middle and third row | | | | buckets. |
| seats flat down may prove to be a simple | | | | |
| matter however for Kia this is not the case, | | | | Differences are also evident in the doors. |
| you have to remove first the second-row | | | | Kia makes use of four conveniently hinged |
| headrests. And not only that when it comes to | | | | doors while Mazda utilized sliding rear |
| the actual cargo carrying capacity it gets a | | | | doors. This difference may be subtle but |
| little too muddy for Kia. | | | | still highly significant. The advantage of |
| | | | the Mazda door is the fact that it is easier |
| The maker of Mazda radiator, Mazda and Kia | | | | to load especially when it is parked in tight |
| seem to use a different method when it comes | | | | spots however the down side of it is that it |
| to calculating the relative space available | | | | hinders access to the third row because the |
| however one thing is for sure with the third | | | | leading edge eats into the entryway. |
| row deployed, there is no cargo space in | | | | |
| either vehicle. But take note once the third | | | | In terms of fuel economy it is pretty much a |
| row is down the cargo space quadruples. And | | | | tie. The Mazda 5 is rated at 11.2 liters per |
| with the center row seat flat, the Rondo | | | | 100km for city driving and 8.3 liters for |
| opens up to 73.4 cubic feet. The Mazda 5 was | | | | highway driving. On the other hand Kia |
| able to match this space however its roofline | | | | consumes more fuel in town but much better on |
| may slightly limit its overall height. | | | | the highway. |
| | | | |
| As for the accommodations, both Mazda and Kia | | | | When it comes to safety, the Rondo surpass |
| are at par with each other. In the third row | | | | the Mazda 5 by coming with standard traction |
| Kia has noticeably more legroom, headroom, | | | | and electronic stability control systems |
| and knee room. On the other hand Mazda has a | | | | unfortunately neither are offered on the |
| hard plastic trim piece that is right over | | | | Mazda 5. Both however are equipped with front |
| the head of the passengers. In terms of | | | | and side seat-mounted air bags as well as |
| seating comfort, Mazda provide slightly more | | | | drop-down side curtains and active headrests. |