The similarity is noteworthy not to insult Kia's quality (RonCo's was often suspect), but rather because of [Ron Popeil]'s penchant for do-everything kinds of products. And that seems to be where Kia is going with the Rondo.

Buyers will get a choice of two engines, a 2.4-litre, 162 horsepower in-line four or a 2.7-litre, 182 horsepower V6. The transmissions are a four-speed automatic with the four-banger and a five-speed automatic with the V6. Fans of the manual transmission, please see your Mazda dealer about the Mazda5: there are only automatics for Rondo. A sport-mode manual shift function is offered with the automatics, but it hardly qualifies as a manual.

Where the V6 will come in handy is for the Rondo's towing capacity. Maximum towing for the four is rated at 1,500 kg, assuming the trailer has brakes. It's 1,000 kg without trailer brakes for both V6 and four-cylinder. With the V6 and trailer brakes, however, the capacity jumps to 2,000 kg, enough to pull a small travel trailer or pair of snowmobiles.