THE people-mover market in Australia is a small one, making up just 0.8 per cent of all new cars sold in Australia.

Compact people-movers, meanwhile, have come and gone over the years, with models like the Renault Scenic, Holden Zafira and Mazda Premacy – to name just a few – withdrawn from sale as buyers have flocked towards compact SUVs.

That has not, however, stopped Kia from sticking to its guns with the all-new Rondo seven-seater, which has undergone a major redesign to expand beyond the ‘pure MPV’ target market.

Now a cross between a Cerato hatch, a Prius V-type mini-people-mover and a compact SUV, the Rondo straddles a number of segments which Kia thinks will be to the vehicle’s advantage in a market where families want something to cart the kids and the shopping around without looking like that’s what they are actually doing.

The Rondo is a good looker and it has a lot going for it in terms of packaging, but can the little MPV make more of an impact than its predecessor and forge a niche all its own?

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