Proton Exora GXR: from $27,990 drive-away. 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol; 103kW/205Nm; six-speed CVT; 8.2L/100km; FWD.
Kia Rondo Si*: from $29,990 plus on-road costs. 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol; 122kW/213Nm; six-speed automatic; 7.9L/100km; FWD.
*SLi model shown.
Value
Proton
The Exora is the cheapest seven-seat people-mover on the market and undercuts the Rondo by $2000 before on-road and dealer costs. Standard gear on the top-spec GXR tested here includes leather upholstery, cruise control, reversing camera, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth, DVD player and 16-inch alloy wheels.
Kia
More expensive, but Kia recently offered the Rondo Si at $29,990 drive-away to eat into the Proton's price advantage. Matches the Exora's reversing camera, parking sensors, cruise control, Bluetooth and alloy wheels. Misses out on leather trim (but has a nice cloth) and DVD player, but does get a colour touchscreen for infotainment.
Winner: Proton
Inside
Proton
This is where the Exora feels its price. The design isn't bad and there is a mixture of materials, but they all look and feel cheap. The low point is the floor mats - made out of the same material you'd expect from a door mat. The seats are flat and unsupportive. On the plus side, and importantly for a people-mover, there is good space.
Kia
The Rondo looks and feels in a different class from the Exora in terms of design and materials used. The Kia is also well ahead in terms of storage. The Rondo can't match the Proton in terms of space, though, despite being close on external dimensions. The second row is comfortable for adults, but the third row is very tight.
Winner: Kia
Engine
Proton
Despite having a turbocharger, the Exora's engine produces less power and torque than the Rondo's 2.0-litre non-turbo unit. It feels lacklustre from low revs with one on-board, so fully loaded it could struggle. It's also very noisy - and not a nice noise, either, as my passenger compared it to a vacuum cleaner.
Kia
A bit flat low in the rev range but still feels more responsive than the Exora, with better performance and a nice six-speed auto gearbox. Also manages to use less fuel than the Exora. Quieter and more refined, too. Significantly, the Rondo can run on regular petrol while the Exora requires premium unleaded.
Winner: Kia
How it drives
Proton
This is another area where the Exora feels like a car built to a price. The ride is unsettled on anything but very smooth roads and crashes heavily over bigger bumps. The steering is unevenly weighted and lacks feel.
Kia
The South Korean brand's decision to locally test and fine-tune its suspension and steering pays off here. The Rondo drives better than the Exora in every regard. Feels more like a small car to drive than a bulky people-mover.
Winner: Kia
Safety
Proton
Curtain airbags are a major omission on a family car. Only airbags are front and side, which leaves the passengers in the second and third row unprotected by life-saving safety devices. In this day and age, and for a car aimed at families, you shouldn't accept that.
Kia
Still misses out on curtain airbags to protect the third row occupants, but crucially does have them covering the second row. It's not perfect, but it's still much better than the Exora.
Winner: Kia
Verdict
Proton
Proof you get what you pay for. There's plenty of space and the five-year warranty wih five years' free servicing makes it a good-value proposition. But it's a disappointing driving experience.
Kia
Yes, it costs more and that can be a stretch for many, but the Rondo is worth the extra money. Nicer to drive, more comfortable and safer, it ticks the right boxes if you need an occasional seven-seater.
Winner: Kia
