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Tung Nguyen
News Editor
2 Aug 2019
2 min read

Kia Motors Australia has dropped the slow-selling Rondo and Soul from its local line-up, while the Optima mid-size sedan is also expected to leave showrooms by year’s end.

However, the gap left by the discontinuation of the Rondo people mover will be filled by the incoming Seltos small SUV, which should be priced around the mid-$20,000 range.

For reference, the Rondo was available in three flavours ranging from $26,990 before on-road costs to $31,490.

The sole Soul grade meanwhile, was priced at $24,990, but the tallboy hatchback is expected to make a return to showrooms in the form of an electric vehicle (EV) available early next year alongside the e-Niro.

Kia Australia has stated its intention to get both the Soul EV and e-Niro into the country by January next year to serve as feature cars for the Australian Open, but is still yet to cement its plans.

Read More: Kia e-Niro 2019: new electric range announced for what could be Australia's cheapest EV

The Optima mid-sizer however, has been under a cloud since the introduction of the similarly-sized Stinger performance sedan in September 2017.

Existing stock is expected run out by the end of the year, with right-hand-drive production winding down in the next few months.

In the first six months of the year, Kia sold just six units of the Rondo, the Soul found 55 new homes and 232 new Optimas were registered.

The combined volume of all three models account for less than one per cent of Kia Australia’s 32,064 unit tally to the end of June 2019.

Will you miss the Rondo, Soul or Optima from Kia’s line-up? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Tung Nguyen
News Editor
Having studied journalism at Monash University, Tung started his motoring journalism career more than a decade ago at established publications like Carsales and Wheels magazine. Since then, he has risen through the ranks at GoAuto to Managing Editor before joining the CarsGuide team in 2019 as the newly-appointed News Editor. Since starting at CarsGuide, Tung has spearheaded the push for well-researched and unique stories that will shines a light on the automotive industry for new-car-buying intenders, who might struggle to keep up to date with the fast-paced environment of motoring. The last few years alone have seen an explosion of interest in electric cars, as well as a push for autonomous driving, and as News Editor, it is Tung’s job to stay abreast of all the latest and deliver stories worthy of CarsGuide growing audience.
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