Traditional mid-size sport-utility vehicles are a pretty anonymous-looking bunch so it didn't really surprise me that not one question was asked or one eyebrow raised during my week with the all-new 2009 Kia Borrego.
There were other forces working against the Borrego, too. For one thing, a whole lot of people have forsaken rugged, body-on-frame SUVs in favor of the more comfortable and family-friendly crossover vehicles. Then, too, everyone remembers the pain of $4-a-gallon gasoline.
The simple truth is that the Kia Borrego was born at the wrong time. Had it been introduced a few years ago when its development was begun, the story might have turned out much differently for the South Korean manufacturer. Conditions being what they are, Kia saw only 272 U.S. sales in the month of January.
But enough of this coulda, woulda, shoulda. Let's take a look at what is.
Approximately the size of a Ford Explorer, the Borrego is a solidly built and versatile off-road warrior.
The well conceived interior has three rows of seating that accommodate up to seven passengers. The second-row seatbacks are adjustable and the seats slide back and forth.
Move the second row forward and two adults will be able to climb into the third row and ride comfortably, at least around town.
With all three rows of seats in place there are 12.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. With the second- and third-row seats folded flat, cargo space balloons to 97.6 cubic feet.
But that's not the whole story. Both the second and third rows have split seatbacks so cargo space can be divided up a number of different ways, according to need.
Two engines are available in both LX and upscale EX trim. The 3.8-liter V-6 produces 276 horsepower. The 4.6-liter V-8, a slightly less powerful version of the powerplant in parent Hyundai's Genesis sedan, produces 337 horsepower.
The V-6 Borrego is teamed with a five-speed automatic transmission and has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The V-8 model, using a six-speed automatic, can tow 7,500 pounds. Rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive are available on all models.
The vehicle offered for my inspection was a Borrego EX with V-6 power and all-wheel drive. Performance was more than adequate in all situations, but fuel mileage did not live up to its advance billing. I averaged 14 mpg in city driving and 18 on the open road, less than the EPA rating of 16/21.
Despite its four-wheel independent suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, the Borrego handled and rode pretty much like any number of SUVS. The 8.5 inches of ground clearance and stiff suspension settings guarantee mobility long after the asphalt has disappeared, but those same attributes also guarantee a truck-like ride on the asphalt.
All Borregos come with a full complement of safety equipment - front seat airbags and side curtain airbags for all three passenger rows, antilock disc brakes with traction and stability control, downhill brake control and a backup warning system.
For the base price of $29,995, the V-6 Borrego EX comes with a lot of standard convenience features, including dual-zone climate control, 6-speaker am/fm/cd sound system with Ipod capability, cruise control, trip computer, automatic on/off headlights and power driver and front-passenger seats.
The test vehicle also had $6,250 in delivery charges and options, including a navigation system, leather seat trim, upgraded 10-speaker sound system, rear air conditioning, sunroof, heated front seats, chrome 18-inch wheels and a two-position memory feature for driver's seat, outside mirrors and steering column. Bottom Line: $36,295.
In the heyday of the rugged SUV the Kia Borrego would have been considered a bargain. It still makes good sense for anyone who really needs a rugged and practical utility vehicle.
by Nick Yost, NY Autos Examiner
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