Dennis Dillon Auto Park

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Driving Impressions

You can't go wrong with either engine in the Rondo. The 2.4-liter engine is smooth, throaty and robust, with enough acceleration performance that you may forget it's a four-cylinder. It makes 175 horsepower, is matched with a four-speed automatic transmission with a manual mode called Sportmatic, and is EPA-rated at 20/27 mpg City/Highway.

The V6 only costs $1000 more, however, and gets just one or two fewer miles per gallon, and comes with a fifth gear in the Sportmatic transmission. You don't really need the extra speed of the V6, but it's very quiet and makes the vehicle feel smoother and more solid. And if you carry six or seven passengers using the optional third-row seat, you'll appreciate the extra horsepower. The 2.7-liter V6 produces 192 horsepower and has an EPA-estimated 18/26 mpg, making it a good blend of performance and fuel efficiency.

With the four-cylinder engine we found passing trucks on two-lane roads easy. The four-speed automatic kicked down smoothly and the engine scooted the car forward quickly and silently. We played with the Sportmatic and found it well-programmed. We ran the Rondo up to 80 mph where it was quiet and smooth, feeling like no more than 70. We also did time in Phoenix rush-hour traffic, and the LX was a great zoom-around-town vehicle. At idle, you can barely tell the engine is running.

The V6 with five-speed Sportmatic in the EX worked even better. We drove it like a sports car over twisty roads, and we could barely hear the engine when the transmission downshifted for acceleration; it was a bit slow to kick down into second gear, but was fine at higher speeds. The manual upshifts at 5800 rpm were sharp.

Both models use the same suspension, although the shocks are tuned a bit firmer with the V6 because of the extra weight. The ride and handling are excellent. In the LX, we deliberately hit a speed bump at 30 mph and didn't get jarred. Over freeway expansion strips, we could hear the thunk of the tires but couldn't feel the bumps. We drove through more curves, at least 20 miles of them, and the LX was crisply responsive.

We used the four-wheel disc brakes hard, and they were strong and solid. The performance was pretty darn impressive, especially considering the LX uses 16-inch wheels and tires and not the 17-inch Michelins on the EX. The front rotors are big at 11 inches in diameter, and are vented for better cooling. It's a good sign when a car excels at a task for which it wasn't necessarily designed.

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