2009 Kia Borrego
by Jim Prueter -01/2009

Nice SUV, wrong time

 

Kia Borrego is an all-new vehicle from the Korean automaker. The mid-sized, truck-

based SUV enters the U.S. market just as other brands are leaving due to poor sales. Buyers are fleeing to car-based crossover vehicles.

Sales of Ford Explorer and Toyota 4Runner are down 46 percent, and Trailblazer sales were down 45 percent before Chevy decided to discontinue the model. Borrego, introduced in August, managed less than 2000 total sales through December 31, 2008.

It isn’t entirely Kia’s fault, since product plans are made several years before vehicles actually hit dealer showrooms. Nobody could have predicted $4 gasoline and a simultaneous 40 percent drop in the stock market. Call Kia unlucky.

Even though gas prices have now fallen below $2, the bloom is off the rose for the truck-based SUV market. A hybrid offering would have made more sense.

All that said, Borrego seems to be the best of the breed when compared to the competition. More refined and satisfying to drive than rivals, Borrego is surprisingly easy to drive, well thought out and generally a very nice vehicle.

It is offered in base LX ($26,995) or upscale EX ($28,720) trim levels with a choice of V-6 or V-8 engines, and two-or four-wheel drive. Add about $2000 each for the V-8 and all-wheel drive.

We drove a Borrego EX all-wheel drive with the 3.8-liter 276 horsepower V-6 engine. We found it to be quick, with no noticeable deficiencies that would favor the more expensive V-8 unless you’re planning on towing a heavier boat or camper. The V-8 has a 7,500-pound maximum towing capacity, 2,500 more than the V-6. EPA fuel economy estimates are almost identical for each with the V-6 gaining only one mile per gallon in each city and highway estimates. We averaged about 16 mpg overall in a blend of city/highway driving during our week of testing the vehicle. Not great, but about on par with rival vehicles.

Outside, Borrego’s styling is neither head turning nor polarizing. Rather, it’s one of those nondescript “blend in with the wallpaper” looks.

Inside, we were impressed with the overall build quality of fit and finish. All Borregos come with three rows of seats, ample room up front and in the middle row, and room for just two in the third row (three, if they’re kids). Second-row seats both recline and slide forward to give third-row passengers more wiggle room. Both second- and third-row seats are among the easiest to fold in the industry. Cargo space behind the third row in the up position doesn’t leave much room for groceries.

Front bucket seats in our tester were nice and comfortable but oversized headrests leaned too far forward and were always felt on your neck and back. Good for whiplash, less so for comfort.

All controls for heating, air conditioning, and audio system are easy to see and use. A large center console offers additional storage and there’s a pair of drawers on the center stack just above the console for small items like cell phones, loose change and an iPod.

Cupholders are everywhere — ten total for seven passengers. Not so nice is the red-lit LCD gauge, which is hard on the eyes. But the overall interior still looks rather dull, to the point of boring.

But what impressed us the most was the ride and handling of the vehicle. Steering, braking, handling and visibility: all excellent. Ride, not as smooth because of the firm truck-based platform suspension. You’ll feel the bumps, potholes and rough road surfaces.

We also were impressed with the smoothness of the V-6 and five-speed automatic transmission. V-8 engines are mated to a six-speed automatic. Both transmissions have manual shift mode capabilities.

Safety gear includes standard antilock brakes, front and side impact airbags for the driver and passenger, side curtain airbags for all three rows of seats, electronic stability control, traction control and back-up warning system. V-8 equipped models add a knee airbag for the driver.

Borrego earned the highest five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in front-impact crash tests.

Overall, Borrego is a nice blend of quality, features, room and comfort with three rows of seats and available all-wheel drive. But buyers are fleeing the truck-based SUV market for more fuel-efficient crossovers that offer the same features for less money and a better ride.