GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Looks like a nice high-utility automobile! What does it take to bring one to the USA?
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I saw one here in Florida a few weeks ago, but we get plenty of Canadian tourists (I think it had a Quebec tag). Much better looking than its predecessor, but I don't know if we'll see it for sale here in the states. As far as importing one from the Great White North... I'm sure it possible, but probably not the most economical idea.

Wasn't the KIA Rondo discontinued - at least in the U.S.? My even more elderly than me next door neighbor has one and it looks pretty practical. He is a widower and has always had two cars - the other is a relatively new big Buick Sedan - haven't seen it out of his garage in many months as he is always driving the KIA.

jake75 wrote:Wasn't the KIA Rondo discontinued - at least in the U.S.? My even more elderly than me next door neighbor has one and it looks pretty practical. He is a widower and has always had two cars - the other is a relatively new big Buick Sedan - haven't seen it out of his garage in many months as he is always driving the KIA.

Yep. Rondo was discontinued in the US. Didn't sell well. We might see the new model in time, but it would probably depend on how well it sells in Canada. Like I said, I did see the new model here in Florida, but I'm pretty certain the car had Quebec plates on it. I live very near to Disney World, so we see all kinds of tourists, along with plenty of snow birds from the Great White North.

runningslow wrote: Yep. Rondo was discontinued in the US. Didn't sell well. We might see the new model in time, but it would probably depend on how well it sells in Canada.

The new (2014) Kia Rondo appears to be tearing up the competition in Canada. Outselling Chevy Orlando 13:1 in August for example!
http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/search/lab ... -results=3

Chiadog wrote:Looks like a nice high-utility automobile! What does it take to bring one to the USA?

American's lousy tastes in vehicles will need to change. Notice they don't offer the similar Orlando here either. People like their fat, gas guzzling SUV's too much here. We can't appreciate a small, practical vehicle here like our neighbours to the north eh!

That, along with Kia's apparent borrowing of GM's Vibe Marketing playbook doomed the original from the beginning.

Here's some of their missteps that I recall... I shall call this lesson RONDO FAILURE 101.

1: Sometime in 2006, Kia imports a very flexible, roomy, practical vehicle based on the Optima/Sonata platform. What a great vehicle - drives like a car, can seat 7, comes in four or six cylinder flavors that's a little more efficient and much easier to handle than the typical bloated minivan or SUV. What's not to like?

2: Kia Motor America releases them with so little fanfare, the automotive press picks up on it. After finding a total of three sold on a sales release. The Rondo continues to be virtualy unheard of.

3: Slowly decontent them over a period of time.

4: Kia, unsure of why the vehicle failed pulls the plug in 2010 for US sales. Kia's Canada arm apparently was aware of them the whole time and sales continued and they get this slick looking new version!

I can think of 2 possible ways to get them to sell:
MARKET THEM! Or, Canada should invade the United States - then maybe we'll get a shot at them.

Kia's not alone though in their neglect for a versatile vehicle like this. When was the last time you saw Mazda say anything about their 5 here in the US?

Anyway.. I really wish this vehicle would come back. I wasn't in a position to buy one at the time they went away. When I was in a position to buy one, only used options available and they were completely trashed since they were, well, used Kias.

ColonelPanic wrote: American's lousy tastes in vehicles will need to change. Notice they don't offer the similar Orlando here either. People like their fat, gas guzzling SUV's too much here. We can't appreciate a small, practical vehicle here like our neighbours to the north eh!

I see it differently. Americans love small practical utility wagons just as Canadians do. The Gen 1 Vibe sold very well for a relatively crude but efficient vehicle with a weird name. the Matrix would still sell well if it got one-fiftieth of the advertising the Camry gets. Toyota actually "hides" the Matrix in those "whole Toyota line" advertisements. the Saturn wagon sold decently, same for the Escort wagon. For as flawed as the Dodge caliper was, it easily outsold the new Dart in-spite of being considerably more expensive.
The reason Americans don't buy hatch/wagons is the same reason they don't buy diesels: We do not have access to them! Kia's best selling "car" is the Soul, and that is no accident! Give US a diesel wagon already.