The new Kia Rondo is a car in search of an identity. A cross between a car, wagon, SUV and van, the Rondo combines some of the characteristics of each of those vehicles into what Kia describes as “a family-oriented urban utility vehicle” (a UUV?). Basically, it’s a tall, five- or seven-passenger hatchback: it’s taller than a typical car, has a unit body platform with a fully independent suspension, is available with three rows of seats, and has a large lift-up hatch for easy access to the rear cargo area.

Practical without being overweight or difficult to drive, the new Rondo is the latest in a new-generation of space-efficient family vehicles - with the added advantage of being priced lower than those other seven-passenger vehicles in the marketplace: minivans and SUVs. The Rondo has very large windows; in particular, the Rondo’s large rear window makes it much easier to see where you’re going when reversing than in most SUVs, vans and cars. As well, the Rondo has a rear defroster, wiper and washer - but unfortunately, the rear wiper doesn’t have an intermittent setting.

For first and second row passengers, there’s plenty of headroom and legroom. The optional third row seat is narrower than the second row and not as comfortable, but at least the floor is low enough so that your knees aren’t up under your chin. In five-passenger models, the second row 60/40 split bench seatbacks can be folded flat with one easy motion: just lift the lever on top of the seats and the seatbacks articulate forwards and lie flat level with the rear cargo floor. The second row head restraints don’t have to be removed first. In seven-passenger models, the second row seats have a fore-aft adjustment to increase or decrease legroom for third row passengers, or allow more cargo room behind the seats.

These second row seats have a different, slightly more complicated folding design: the seat cushion must be lifted up from the rear, and the seatback folded down flat after removing the head restraint. There are two slots in the back of the seat cushion to store each head restraint.