2009 Kia Borrego Review

PROS  Powerful and refined engines, Lots of features, Nice pricing

CONS  Bouncy ride, Mediocre fuel economy, High step in

Slowly sneaking up on the automotive horizon, Kia is becoming a full-line automaker. The South Korean's latest offering, the Borrego is a midsize SUV with seven-passenger capacity and an available V8 engine. It is designed to compete with vehicles like the Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer, GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Veracruz, Jeep Commander, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Pathfinder, Saturn Outlook, Subaru Tribeca, Suzuki XL-7, and Toyota 4Runner.

The Borrego is a true SUV, meaning that it has a truck-based frame and a low-range four-wheel-drive transfer case for off-road driving. This contrasts with soft-road SUV competitors, which are based on cars and have all-wheel drive with no low range. Though the popularity of traditional SUVs is on the decline, there are still several popular offerings in this segment including the Ford Explorer, Jeep Commander, and Toyota 4Runner.

Borrego is offered as a four-door wagon in two trim levels, LX and EX. The LX comes with either a 276-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 or a 337-horsepower 4.6-liter V8, which is the first V8 engine offered by Kia in the United States. The EX is available only with the V8. Both engines mate to an automatic transmission. The V6 gets a five speed and the V8 gets a six speed. Towing capacity is 5000 lb with the V6 and 7500 lb with the V8.

Both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive models are offered. The four-wheel-drive system includes low-range gearing for severe off-road driving. The four-wheel-drive system has three modes, full-time four-wheel drive, part-time four-wheel drive high, and part-time four-wheel drive low. The system is controlled by a dashboard dial and includes hill ascent/descent control.

Standard safety features include antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, tire-pressure monitor, and dual-front, front-side, and curtain-side airbags. A driver-knee airbags is standard on V8 models. A rear-view camera is optional. Park assist is not offered.

The LX model starts at $26,245 and includes air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, front bucket seats, center console, second-row adjustable split-folding seat, third-row split-folding seat, power mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with iPod adapter, satellite radio, variable-intermittent wipers, rear defogger, rear wiper, theft-deterrent system, rear privacy glass, roof rails, skid plates, and 245/70R17 tires (V6) or 265/60R18 tires (V8).

The EX model starts at $27,995 and adds dual-zone automatic climate controls, leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, eight-way power driver seat, four-way power passenger seat, heated power mirrors with integrated turn signals, trip computer, automatic day/night rearview mirror, compass, universal garage door opener, automatic headlights, floormats, and fog lights.

Popular options include sunroof, navigation system, rear-seat entertainment system, Bluetooth cell-phone connection, remote engine start, and chrome wheels. All Borrego models are manufactured in South Korea and carry a $750 destination charge.

Get Up and Go  The old saying "I could have had a V8" doesn't ring true with Borrego. While the new 337-horsepower V8 provides ample acceleration and impressive--for the class--passing punch, the V6 is more than up to the task in most cases. The Borrego V6 provides good acceleration from a start and enough passing power that you don't miss the V8.

That is unless you intend to tow or are constantly driving around with a full load of passengers. It that's the case, then the extra 65 pounds-feet of torque and 2500 pounds of towing capacity provided by the V8 is a must.

The V8 is also a trifle smoother than the V6 and comes with a six-speed automatic versus the V6's five-speed auto shifter. Both transmissions offer smooth upshifts and prompt shifts downshifts, but the six-speed seems to have better spacing between the ratios to take advantage of the V8's increased torque.

The available four-wheel-drive system offers a full-time mode that's much appreciated in Chicagoland's frequently changing road conditions. However, there is no straight two-wheel-drive mode for good-weather highway driving.

If the Borrego's powertrain has a downfall, it is fuel economy. When equipped with four-wheel drive, it is EPA rated at 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway. Similar V6 models rate 16/21 mpg. Low as they are, those numbers are actually better then direct competitors at Ford, Jeep, and Toyota, which typically rate 14/18 mpg but still fall short of crossover type SUVs, which rate as high as 20 mpg around town and 25 mpg on the highway.

In routine driving, expect to average about 16 mpg with Borrego V8 and 18 mpg with the V6. If your commute includes lots of open expressway driving, you might be able to boost those numbers by a mile per gallon or two. Thankfully both Borrego engines use regular-grade gasoline and the fuel tank is a large 20.6 gallons.

On the Road  Borrego is a traditional SUV and rides like one. On smooth roads the long wheelbase and soft suspension provide a supple and comfortable ride. Once the road grows bumpy or rough, the ride becomes busy as the flaccid suspension fails to keep up with the changing surfaces. V8 models have a firmer ride that introduces too much head toss, which can quickly grow tiresome on highway trips.

Given its off-road ready upbringing, Borrego acquits itself fairly well in the handling department. The steering is accurate if a trifle slow and over boosted. Body lean is modest and is only a real problem in quick changes of direction. Brakes have good stopping power, but the pedal is numb and difficult to modulate, leading to somewhat awkward stops. The turning circle is quite tight and makes Borrego more maneuverable around town than you might expect.

Wind and road noise are more intrusive than expected, giving Borrego a fairly noisy cabin at highway speeds. In urban driving, the engines stay quiet in all but hard acceleration. Interestingly, the suspension seemed to be quite noisy on bumpy roads, which is out of character for a large SUV.

In all, Borrego falls short of class leaders Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder in overall on-road refinement, but is more than acceptable for everyday transportation.

Behind the Wheel  Borrego's interior features a pleasant and functional design. Materials are more than appropriate for the price and as good as those offered on more expensive competitors.

A large speedometer faces the driver from behind the steering wheel. It is flanked by a tachometer and engine temperature and fuel level readouts. The standard radio controls are simple and intuitive. Adding the optional navigation system muddles the audio controls somewhat, but thankfully most operations can still be executed with just one button touch. Climate controls are low and take time to master. Ancillary controls are conveniently placed and illuminated at night.

The front seats are comfortable and offer plenty of head and leg room for large adults. The soft seats will have some riders looking for more back support on longer trips. EX models have a manual lumbar support that helps somewhat.

The available power tilt-telescope steering wheel is a nice touch in this class and makes it easy for drivers to find a comfortable position. Step in is higher than most crossover SUVs but no higher than other off-road ready competitors. Visibility is good to the front and sides and a rear-view camera is optional. However, park assist is not offered, so in many cases it's park by Braille and that doesn't bode well for the front and rear bumpers.

The second-row seats are quite comfortable, if a bit flat, and offer ample head and leg room. That's surprising for a midsize SUV and kudos to Kia for making it so. The third-row seats are best suited for kids, but can accommodate adults in a pinch. Either way, getting in and out is difficult.

Cargo space behind deployed third-row seats is acceptable but not very impressive. Thankfully, the second- and third-row seats fold flat in a snap creating a cavernous cargo area that will easily swallow a weekend's worth of supplies from Menards or wherever. Interior storage is good, though there could be a few more open bins in the center console for cell phones and the like.

Bottom Line  Borrego compares very favorably to current truck-type SUVs but falls short of newer crossover vehicles in on-road refinement and economy. There are those who need the tough body-on-frame construction of Borrego, though, and it isn't a bad choice. Borrego's biggest downfall is a choppy ride and that's likely to be refined over the next few years.

Old-style SUVs are quickly becoming a thing of the past, so it's curious why Kia would roll out Borrego in today's economic climate. Still, Borrego is price thousands below most competitors, and it offers all of the features and utility you would expect from a seven-passenger SUV. Shop wisely, if you need the towing capacity or off-road ability, Borrego is a solid choice.