Auto review: 2009 Kia Borrego EX

Kia Borrego is good, but is there room for another SUV?

Kia and its South Korean corporate cousin, Hyundai, continue to expand their lineups far beyond their original economy-car origins. This year we get a genuine luxury car from Hyundai, the Genesis. And from Kia, we get the largest SUV from a Korean manufacturer yet -- the all-new 2009 Borrego.

Sizewise, the Borrego is about a foot longer than the current Kia Sorento. It's about an inch shorter, and more than an inch wider, than the segment-leading Ford Explorer. The Borrego is a little bigger than the Hyundai Veracruz, and there's one other big difference: The Borrego is offered with Kia's first-ever V-8 engine, while the Veracruz comes with only a V-6.

The test Borrego came with the standard V-6, too -- a 276-horsepower, 3.8-liter engine that has so much power I'm not sure why I'd want to opt for the thirstier, more expensive V-8 unless I towed a lot. The V-6 Borrego can handle a 5,000-pound trailer, while the 337-horsepower V-8 can tow 7,500 pounds.

EPA-rated fuel mileage for the four-wheel-drive V-6 is 16 mpg city, 21 mg highway. The four-wheel-drive V-8 Borrego is rated at 15 mpg city, 20 mpg highway. Regular gas is fine for either engine.

The Borrego is a traditional body-on-frame SUV, as opposed to the more carlike "crossover" SUVs, such as the Ford Flex, that are built on unibody car platforms that don't have a separate frame. Traditional SUVs are typically more rugged but ride more roughly, and that applies to the Borrego, though the ride isn't bad at all except on really rough pavement.

Inside, the front bucket seats are fine; the middle seat is roomy for two adults, passable for three. The rearmost seat will hold two adults -- thankfully, the middle seats are adjustable to a near-upright position to give a little more legroom for the back-seat passengers -- but getting in that rear seat requires some minor gymnastics. For kids, though, it's fine. And even with all three rows of seats in place, there's quite a bit of storage room in the back for groceries and such. The second and third rows fold forward for an almost flat load floor.

The Borrego comes standard with rear-wheel-drive, but the test vehicle had four-wheel-drive, including a "low range" setting for off-road use. The Borrego might not be as adept in the woods as a Jeep Wrangler, but it holds its own on tough terrain.

The base Borrego is the LX model, which starts at just less than $27,000 and comes with plenty of standard features, including air conditioning, traction control, stability control, side and side-curtain airbags, cruise control, and a good sound system. Upgrade to the EX, the test vehicle, and you get some extra features, such as dual-zone climate control, fog lights, power front seats and steering wheel-mounted stereo controls. Both models have a full-sized spare tire. Even so, interior trim was relatively Spartan and plastic-heavy, given the price.

Options on the test Borrego included bigger 18-inch tires on chromed wheels ($750), an $1,800 premium package that added a sunroof, an upgraded 10-speaker Infinity sound system, running boards and rear air conditioning, a navigation system ($1,500), and a $1,500 luxury package that added leather upholstery for the first and second rows of seats. With shipping, the total was $36,295, roughly on par with the competition.

This is a very, very tough part of the market, not only because there are lots of excellent midsized SUVs, but because of slow sales, so there are some rather astounding discounts being offered. Have you priced a Dodge Durango lately?

The Kia Borrego compares very well with more established models on the market, but it doesn't really offer much that's new. Price tends to drive this segment of the market, and Kia might have to discount the Borrego more than the company wants to for it to get some initial traction.

Steven Cole Smith | Sentinel Auto Editor

REVIEWS: 2010 Kia Soul

I took the Kia Soul for a 10-mile blast around Ann Arbor. First things first, the car looks great. It's obvious that Kia is trying to imitate Scion with the Soul's styling, but who cares? It's cool. Our test car's red interior is a bit much, but it works. It's great to see a Korean company having some fun with its designs.

That said, don't look for Mini Cooper fun in the Soul. It's clear that the underpinnings are from a far less exciting car. The Soul isn't a bad car, but it isn't sporty, despite the fact that our test car was the sport model. The large wheels and stiffer suspension just accentuate its economy car roots on bad roads. The 2.0-liter engine has decent torque and midrange punch, but don't try to rev it to the moon as all you really get is noise. Additionally, the five-speed manual gearbox has vague feel and first gear seemingly disappeared on more than one occasion during my drive. We can only hope that there was something wrong with our test vehicle and the shifter feel we experienced is not typical.

Still, the Soul has a ton going for it. Most notably (other than the styling), it's inexpensive. Our test car included stability control, satellite radio, USB iPod integration, and Bluetooth. The folding rear seats create a flat load floor, and there's additional hidden storage in back as well. All this for an estimated as-tested price of around $19K. Not bad at all.

So throw the Kia Soul in with the other fun-to-look-at cars like the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Scion xB, Honda Element, and the Mini. Just make sure you know that the fun is in the styling and the price point, not the driving dynamics, much like most of its competition.

Marc Noordeloos, Road Test Editor

Fashion trends in junior high school tend to go like this: the rich, popular kids show up one day wearing the newest style from the Gap or Abercrombie and Fitch (I might be dating myself here). One month later, every single student, save for the nerds of course, is dressed in very similar-looking threads purchased from Wal-Mart and Target. Basically, the cheapo chain stores make large profits by satisfying all the pent-up demand created by the boutiques, who already paid for all the design and marketing. Kia's decision makers clearly think they can use the same formula with the Soul, which should start for about $1500 less than a Scion Xb. I think they're right.

There is definitely a distinct preproduction press-car feel to our test vehicle - the horn doesn't work and, as Marc noted, first gear has a way of completely disappearing. Problem is, the Soul is already on sale on Korea, and it's hard to imagine journalists have been hammering on this little thing. Let's hope the ones that land in dealerships next spring have these issues settled. Otherwise, the Soul is exactly what I expected - not fun to drive, but not offensive either. Handling and acceleration are both perfectly adequate for a car in this segment.

The car certainly looks cute, but doesn't really stand out - no one looked twice when I pulled into a supermarket parking lot. Then again, no one swoons over the clothes at Wal-Mart - but they still buy them.

David Zenlea, Assistant Editor

Even in the generic silver our test car was covered in, I was able to spot the Soul from the opposite end of the parking structure. Its tall, slightly curvy box-on-wheels shape and high-mounted vertical tailights pushed to the corners distinguish it a bit from the crowd. Even, possibly, from the crowd it mimics (xB, Cube, Element).

I was glad to hear that other staffers had the same experience with the magically disappearing first gear and that it wasn't just my own faulty shifting technique. That said, I was very disappointed in the sloppy, vague shifter feel. Even though the Soul is not powerful or necessarily sporty, a firm, precise shifter would go a long, long way in upping the fun-to-drive quotient.

Although the red seats are a bit much, the the fit and finish beat the xB hands down and in some areas equal or better those in the Honda Element. The steeply raked windshield helps to make the interior feel more open and airy than these competitors, too. This is despite the smallish, slot-like rear side-windows that get smaller as they go rearward.

Jennifer Misaros, Production Editor

What we have here is the first Kia that people will buy for reasons other than price, although the price is mighty attractive, too. I liked this funky little box far more than I expected. First, as Ms. Misaros notes, the interior is really nicely done. I love the bright red materials. Why should a fun and funky young person's car be lined with drab black and gray?!? Bring on the color, I say.

Second, the exterior is also really, really good looking, especially for Kia. It would be easy to attribute the Soul's distinctive styling to Kia's design chief, Peter Schreyer, but the fact is that he has only been on the job for a couple of years, so he could have done nothing more than minor retouching to the Soul. But the Soul is a tribute to the fact that there clearly are some talented designers within Kia, aside from Schreyer. And since Schreyer is a veteran of the Volkswagen and Audi design studios, we can expect to see even more good stuff from him and his team.

What I'm getting at here is that the Soul doesn't look or feel cheap. It has substance and it has style, attributes sorely missing from most Kia vehicles in the past. It's a vehicle I was happy to be seen in.

It's true that the Soul is no sport wagon, but it will serve the needs of young urbanites and small families quite well for nightclubbing, shopping, and weekend jaunts. Yep, there was definitely a syncro problem in our test car's five-speed manual transmission; let's hope similar issues don't rear their heads in production cars.

As it is, the Soul doesn't feel anything remotely like a bargain basement ride. I was shocked as I slithered up my snowy driveway to feel stability control at work; I had never imagined that it would be available.

All in all, I come away very impressed.

Joe DeMatio, Executive Editor

I guess car companies are finally realizing that young, cool people won't be caught dead in nerdy econoboxes - unless those nerdy econoboxes are so unabashedly nerdy that they actually become cool. I adored the first-generation Scion xB (I actually contemplated trading in my BMW 5-series wagon for one), but the current, second-gen xB lost a lot of that charm.

And now Kia made the real sequel. The Soul fixes the original xB's two biggest problems - the 1.5-liter Hamster wheel under the hood and those atrocious center-mounted gauges - with a 2.0-liter and some cool gauges. The shape of the gauges really reminds me of mid-1990s Opel products (not a bad thing) and even the shift knob - with it's pull-up-to-engage-reverse-sleeve is straight Opel. Dunno where the Opel reference comes from, but I like it. Yeah, the shift linkage is slightly out of adjustment on this Soul, but that's easily fixed, and anyone who's driven an old VW knows how to get around that little problem.

I drove the Soul in four inches of fresh snow, so I can't say much about its dynamics. It was ten degrees outside, so I also didn't spend much time poking around the cargo hold. But I can say that when I first saw it, it made me grin - and let's face it, buyers in this segment won't care much about skidpad grip or at-the-limit handling. They'll be looking at the Soul because it's cute and cheap. And it does those two things really well.

Jason Cammisa, West Coast Editor

2010 Kia Soul

Base Price (with destination): Estimate of $15,000
Price as tested: Estimated: $19K
Options: N/A

Fuel Economy: Not Available (city/hwy/combined)

Engine:
Size: 2.0 L I-4 (CVVT)
HP: 142 HP @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 137 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm

Transmission: 5-Speed Manual

Weight: Not Listed

Wheel/Tire Info:
-5-inch steel w/ full wheel cover (base)
-16-inch aluminum alloy (+)
-18-inch aluminum alloy (! and sport)

-195/65R15 (base)
-205/55R16 (+)
-225/45R18 (! and sport)

I Can't Believe It's a Kia!

That was my first reaction on spotting the silver 2008 Kia Amanti with black interior and leather trim sitting in our driveway. I could not believe this classy car was a Kia!

Driving it made me even more excited. This sporty-looking, smooth-driving, automobile seemed too luxurious to be made by the South Korean automakers, the same guys who first brought "very inexpensive" cars to the U. S. I remember some folks even sneered at the Kia as being "too cheap" to buy even with fantastic warranties and the lowest prices in town.

The Amanti quickly dispels all that. The sporty styling features chrome accents on the front grille, door handles, and body-side moldings, along with clear-lens halogen headlights with front projection fog lights, tinted windows, and a dual exhaust.

The full-size sedan is the flagship car of Kia Motors America, who recently announced the Amanti had topped the large car segment in the Strategic Vision Total Value Index or TVI®, which considers complete consumer ownership experience as well as the buyer's beliefs about the economic consequences of purchasing the product.

Kia's Amanti also recently received a Strategic Vision SmartGreenIndex(SM) in the large car segment, and was awarded a "Good" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in frontal and side impact crash tests.

The Amanti boasts a unibody frame on a platform 250 pounds lighter than previous generations, and a 3.8 liter all-aluminum DOHC V6 engine that generates 264 HP and 260 pound-feet of torque with a five-speed gated automatic transmission with Sportmatic™ shift that gives it an extra power boost. Thanks to a precise power rack-and-pinion steering system, and super suspension and shock systems, drivers enjoy a smoother ride that contributes to the overall feeling of being in a luxury sedan.

Amanti's many amenities that help push it toward the luxury class include stylish upgrades like leather seat trim, 17-inch chrome wheels, power adjustable pedals, a premium Infinity sound system, dual zone automatic temperature control, power front seats, power windows, and heated outside mirrors.

Safety features include eight airbags, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, Lower Anchors & Tethers for Children (LATCH), engine immobilizer, and a tire pressure monitoring system.

The base price of the Amanti I drove was $25,495, but added options including an Electronic Stability Package, leather trim package, heated front seats, Infinity Audio system with 9 Infinity speakers with subwoofers, a 4-inch monitor with trip computer, and a power sunroof, brought the total to $31,695.

The estimated fuel economy ranged from 17 in town to 24 on the highway for an estimated fuel cost of $2,209.

And it's good to know that while the Kia's prices may have gone up, the 10 years/100,000 mile warranty is still there, with 24-hour roadside assistance also available.

By Jo Ann Holt
Epoch Times

Cars.com: Kia Borrego Review

It's a question that very few car shoppers have been asking: When's the next all-new truck-based SUV coming out? Well, Kia stepped up and answered with its new seven-seat Borrego.

The Borrego may answer a question few outside Kia are asking, but when you take the time to size up the new midsize SUV, it's clear that it's a very well-executed truck-based model. It mitigates many of the undesirable aspects of this type of platform -- from unrefined ride quality to lower fuel economy -- while retaining the design's strengths, like towing capacity.

While the Borrego is a refined truck-based SUV, its existence begs a second question: Does the U.S. need another truck-based SUV? The answer for many shoppers is probably no, and the fact that Kia was able to make a nice vehicle using this type of platform is trumped by the reality that it's about 10 years late to the SUV party.

Styling
If you're a fan of traditional SUVs, there have been few all-new models for you in recent years, as many manufacturers have been churning out sleeker crossovers. While a few of these crossovers, like the GMC Acadia and redesigned 2009 Honda Pilot, have tried to emulate the tough-SUV look, many more have spurned it. The Borrego embraces it.

The Borrego is similar in size to the Explorer, and my wife thought it looked a lot like an Explorer, too. It definitely has the upright, angular design of the Ford, and it's defined by its large front grille, one that's flanked by projection-beam headlights.

Ride & Handling
The most impressive thing about the Borrego is that Kia has eliminated nearly all of the negative ride and handling aspects of its body-on-frame platform. This design is often associated with wallowing on undulating pavement, pitching when braking or accelerating hard, and vague steering. The Borrego, by comparison, offers precise steering that wouldn't be out of place in a car-based crossover, and it handles corners with confidence. It also remains remarkably even-keeled during hard acceleration and braking. Overall, it's a surprisingly easy vehicle to drive.

Where the Borrego does retain a truck-based-SUV trait is in its firm suspension tuning, and you'll feel it whenever you hit a rough patch in the road. You'll hear it, too, when the cabin gets noisy on rough surfaces.

Going & Stopping
I spent most of my time driving a Borrego with the base 3.8-liter V-6 engine, and came away thoroughly impressed with both the power and refinement that this drivetrain offers. The V-6 produces 276 horsepower and teams with a five-speed automatic transmission. This engine doesn't feel burdened in the least by the four-wheel-drive V-6 Borrego's 4,460-pound curb weight; the SUV moves fairly quickly when you step on the gas pedal.

Equally impressive is the automatic's smooth shifts; there's not even the slightest tug when the transmission moves from one gear to the next. It's the kind of sensation you'd expect from a high-end luxury car but might be surprised to experience in a mainstream SUV.

I also had a chance to drive a Borrego with the optional 337-hp, 4.6-liter V-8. Interestingly, the difference between it and the V-6 in everyday driving is minimal. Despite the V-8's extra torque at lower rpm (323 pounds-feet at 3,500 rpm versus 267 pounds-feet at 4,400 rpm), the engine doesn't feel any quicker than the V-6 when taking off from a standstill or accelerating hard at midrange speeds. The V-8 is very quiet, and the six-speed automatic it works with makes shifts so smooth you can hardly feel the gear changes. That said, the V-6 drivetrain is already rather refined, so while the extra dose of smoothness is appreciated, it's not enough on its own to make the V-8 more compelling than the V-6.

However, you will want the V-8 instead of the V-6 if you plan to tow a heavy boat or camper trailer. The V-8's 7,500-pound maximum towing capacity is 2,500 pounds greater than the V-6's.

When it comes to gas mileage, the V-6 isn't the clear winner you might expect it to be. Two-wheel-drive V-6 models get an EPA-estimated 17/21 mpg city/highway, while the V-8 version achieves 15/22 mpg. The figures are similar when looking at four-wheel-drive models: the V-6 is rated at 16/21 mpg, while the V-8 gets 15/20 mpg. The Borrego V-6's gas mileage estimates are fairly close to those of three-row crossovers like the Pilot, Hyundai Veracruz and Mazda CX-9.

The V-6 Borrego's brake pedal has an even, natural feel, and the all-disc antilock brakes produce sure-footed performance when a quick stop is needed. The V-8 model's brake pedal isn't as linear.

The Inside
First of all, let me say that Kia really needs to get away from its all-gray interiors. That's the color scheme (if you can call it one) that my Borrego V-6 test model had, and it gave the cabin a "blah" feel, even though overall materials quality and fit and finish are good. The red-lit LCDs for the optional dual-zone automatic air conditioning and trip computer look really nice, as does the optional navigation system's graphics.

The front bucket seats are comfortable and can have power adjustments that let you raise the seat high for good forward views over the hood. A memory feature for the driver's seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors is included in an option package.

The Borrego has a 60/40-split second-row bench seat that can slide forward and back. The backrest also reclines, though the handle to do this is located high on the outside corner of each backrest. It's easy to reach when standing next to the SUV, but if you're already seated you have to twist around to lift it. This design is common, but Toyota, for one, has a better way: in its Highlander crossover, there's a lever on the outside of the seat cushion that reclines the seat.

There's decent space in the second row for adult passengers, and the seat cushioning is comfortable enough. However, the seat is close to the floor, which makes for a knees-up seating position that doesn't offer taller passengers a lot of thigh support.

The third-row bench has space for two people. Kia makes it easier to get back there by including a slide-forward function for the passenger-side section of the second row. The Borrego's third row is similar to the ones in the Pilot and CX-9; adults can ride back there in a pinch, but would likely balk at the prospect of a road trip. Again, taller passengers ride with their knees up because the seat is close to the floor.

Cargo
When the Borrego's three rows of seats are up, there's just 12.4 cubic feet of cargo room. That's about the size of a Honda Civic sedan's trunk, and it's less space than the Pilot and CX-9 offer behind their third rows.

Kia makes it easy to expand that space with a fold-flat third row. There's a handle on the back of each section of the 50/50-split bench that, when lifted, lets you push the backrest down until it's level with the cargo floor. The process for folding the second row is similar, and when down this backrest is nearly level with the cargo floor.

Safety
The Borrego's list of standard safety features includes antilock brakes, side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags for all three rows, an electronic stability system, active head restraints for the front seats and rear parking sensors. V-8 models have a knee airbag for the driver. A backup camera is part of an optional Premium Package for EX models.

In the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's front-impact crash test, the Borrego achieved a five-star rating, which is the best possible score. As of publication, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety hadn't crash-tested the Borrego.

Borrego in the Market
The Borrego enters the U.S. market as the truck-based Chevrolet TrailBlazer and GMC Envoy midsize SUVs exit. While sales are down this year for crossovers and SUVs alike, truck-based SUVs have been hit especially hard; sales of Ford's Explorer are down 42 percent through October, and Toyota 4Runners' are off 45 percent.

Now, if you're a glass-half-full kind of person, you might think the withdrawal of competitors like the TrailBlazer and Envoy means there are more buyers for the Borrego. I like your optimism, but with the way SUV sales are getting hammered in today's struggling economy, I'm not about to buy into that theory right now.

A sometimes-overlooked element of vehicle launches is timing and the ability to predict what the next hot vehicle category will be. Ford's timing was nearly perfect when it launched the original Explorer, which helped kick-start the SUV phenomenon. In contrast, Kia's timing with the Borrego is way off as buyers shift to large crossovers, a type of vehicle that Kia doesn't currently sell.

By Mike Hanley
Cars.com

The Weekly Driver: 2008 Kia Amanti

Since its debut in 2004, the Kia Amanti has been one of the most unheralded cars on the road. And it's difficult to understand why more premium midsize sedan buyers haven't considered the Korean manufacturer's top-of-the-line offering.

I hadn't driven the Amanti since its debut model. It's been redesigned once, but for 2008 the Kia remains largely unchanged from a year ago. It still features exterior characteristics reminiscent of Audi, Lincoln and Mercedes, and there's nothing wrong with that.

The Amanti (it means "love" in the Italian dialect Calabrese) remains a premium vehicle at a budget-conscious price and with one keen feature none of its more popular and well-heeled competitors can offer -- a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

In 2005, about two years after the Amanti was introduced at various auto shows, J.D. Power and Associates selected it as the "Most Appealing Premium Midsize Car," in its Performance, Execution and Layout Study."

Two years later, the Amanti outscored several more expensive luxury car in the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS) side-impact crash testing, and earned the highest rating of "Good."

My recent weekly test drive was the 2008 Amanti. It's available in only one trim, a 3.8-liter, 264-horsepower V6 with a five-speed automatic transmission.

Audi, Lincoln and Mercedes have all had long head starts and decades to refine their offerings. But some of the Amanti's interior features are equally impressive. The wood grain-accented dash is well designed and handsome. The driver and passenger front seat adjustment controls are shaped like seats and are contoured into the sides of the seat panels. And the Amanti has well-positioned seats, easy entry and exit and plenty of room for five adults.

Standard equipment includes: dual-zone automatic climate control, eight-way driver seats and four-way passenger seats, cruise control, three 12V power outlets, leather steering wheel with audio and cruise remote functions, front fog lamps and front windshield de-icer, among a dozen other items.

My weekly driver also included two option packages: the $2,500 leather package (leather seat trim, two-way memory for driver's seat and outdoor mirrors, heated front seats, Infinity AM/FM/CD audio system with 9-inch speakers and 4-inch monitor with trip computer; and the $1,600 premium package (black interior key color, supervision meter cluster, aluminum interior trim, 17-inch chrome finished alloy wheels and power-adjusted pedals. The sunroof with tilt option added another $900, pushing the price to just under $31,000.

Amanti's refined looks its and generous features are also complemented by a fine drive. The Kia flagship accelerates well in traffic and cruises with a nice, quiet ride in highway situations. The power steering is near effortless and the car maneuvers in and of tight situations without hesitation.

Five years ago, I concluded the debut Amanti was a surprising newcomer and that its more luxurious cousins would do well to keep a close watch on their half-priced relative. What I can't figure out is why the Amanti still hasn't become more of a family leader.

Safety Features -- Dual front, front and rear-mounted and curtain side airbags.

Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 17 mpg (city), 24 mpg (highway).

Warranty -- Bumper to bumper, 5 years/60,000 miles; Powertrain, 10 years/100,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/100,000 miles; 24-hour roadside assistance, 5 years/unlimited miles.

Base Price -- $25,495.00.

Price As Driven -- $31,695.00.

Automobile.com: 2010 Kia Soul Preview

So what do you think of Kia's new Soul? Great name, no? I saw the production version in São Paulo, Brazil, at the largest auto show in the South American region last month, and the Soul was a major hit there, as the concept was when I watched it roll onto the Kia stage in Frankfurt the year before, and Detroit's North American International Auto Show in 2006, where I took in its official debut.

Hardly changed from concept form, it's really the ideal car for the current market situation. Compact, yet extremely roomy inside for five in comfort, with a little luggage to boot, thrifty on fuel yet apparently sporty enough to be enjoyable on the open road, and extremely stylish in its cubic configuration. Still, it's unfair to dub it a "cube" as it's more gracefully penned than the Nissan that goes by that boxy name, and much more alluring than the Scion XBOX... er... xB, or Honda's rather odd Element. No, while totally cool in its own right, I think that the Soul will attract a wide range of buyers from all over the spectrum, and not just among the young and hip crowd. It makes sense, really. The same attributes that make a vehicle attractive to ski and surf minded young adults make it ideal for empty nesters hitting the nursery (horticultural nursery... of course) on weekends or picking up the grandkids for a day at the cottage.

"The Soul is for those who love individuality but don't like to be categorized by finding the next best thing," offered Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA. "Indicative of the new design direction of KMA, Soul is an attractive and customizable vehicle for those looking for something with a little more personality than other vehicles on the market today."

I've taken the opportunity to sit inside and look around at the various auto shows the Soul has shown up at, and it offers stylish seating fabrics complementing its bright, fun exterior colors, while a clean, uncluttered dash ensconces attractive three-dial instrumentation and LCD illumination. A stylish floating centre stack design shows off a straight-forward, simple to operate HVAC system and high-grade stereo interface.

That audio system gets an AM/FM/CD/MP3 head unit enhanced with satellite radio, plus USB input jacks can be found in the centre stack with full iPod controllability through the stereo or via the steering wheel controls. Now, that's what I like. Even better, an Audio Upgrade Package can be had on top-trim levels that adds a centre speaker, a subwoofer and a 315-watt external amplifier. Ooh, I like this even more. Good audio is the way to my heart, and pocketbook, unfortunately.

The more powerful stereo can only be had in the two nicest trim levels, Soul! and Soul sport (lower case intentional). The little compact people mover is available in two other trims too, mind you, the base model simply designated Soul and the second-rung version Soul+. Even in base guise it gets plenty of standard features, including black door handles and side mirrors, body-colored bumpers, a rear wiper/washer and 15-inch steel wheels wrapped in P195/65R15 tires. Not a bad start. A little more money will get you a Soul+, which adds keyless remote entry, solar glass, privacy glass on the rear side and rear windows, body-color handles and power side mirrors along with 16-inch alloy rims covered in P205/55R16 rubber. The Soul+ also boasts standard air conditioning, cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls, Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and tweeter speakers to enhance the stereo's sound. Soul+ buyers can opt for an audio upgrade package, a power moonroof and floor mats that are standard on the Soul! Additionally, that third-rung Soul! gets fog lights, 18-inch alloy wheels riding on P225/45R18 tires, plus it benefits from a special beige and black interior with cloth seats and metal-finish accents. The abovementioned audio option can be added on, and is also extra with the Soul sport which additionally ups the ante with a sport-tuned suspension, metal foot pedals, red and black interior trim with sport cloth seats and metal-finish accents throughout, extended side sills, a rear spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels and unique front and rear fascias. It's the ultimate in Korean Soul.

I mentioned that it seats five, which is hardly unusual, but Kia's put together a truly flexible seating and storage system that should intrigue buyers. The seats fold in a variety of ways for optimizing people and cargo carrying duties, the rearmost split 60/40, while the car features fourteen "storage zones" for stowing all of your knickknacks.

Kia introduced the Soul to North America at the Los Angeles auto show, not far from where it was initially designed, and again it stole the hearts of show goers. The metallic green color chosen for the photo release that preceded its LA intro is more subdued than Kia has shown other markets, although it is expected a full palette will be available wherever it is sold.

While it was previously reported that the North American Soul would deliver more power than the base models of other markets with only the 140+horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder being offered, fuel efficiency has been given top priority and a 120-horsepower 1.6-liter four will be the standard engine in the base five-speed manual-equipped model. Soul+, Soul! and Soul sport models will get the peppier powerplant, which should also deliver thrifty mileage in the neighborhood of 30 mpg. Additionally, a five-speed manual will be standard equipment, with a four-speed automatic optional. I've tried similar powertrain combinations in other Kia models, and the 2.0-liter makes for sporty performance and thrifty fuel economy, while the latter should be more than adequate for those more price sensitive.

Rather than build the Soul on an existing platform, Kia has developed an all-new front-drive architecture with an especially long wheelbase for optimizing interior room. It measures 100.4 inches wheel to wheel, while the entire car stretches 161.6 inches in length. It's also 70.3 inches wide and 63.4 inches tall.

With a long wheelbase, the concern would always be torsional rigidity, or the lack thereof. Kia offset this problem with more than seventy-percent high-tensile steel, for maintaining overall structural strength without adding weight, so the handling, ride quality and overall refinement is good, as is crash worthiness.

Such safety concerns can be left curbside as over and above its rigid body structure the Soul will be well prepared for any potential accident. Each model, regardless of trim level gets front seat active headrests, dual front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted and full-length side curtain airbags and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). What's more, ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), electronic stability control (ESC), and rear discs are standard on Soul+, Soul! and Soul sport models. The base Soul gets drums.

A car's handling, making it capable of avoiding an accident in the first place, can often be its most important safety consideration. On that note, the Soul mounts a fully independent suspension setup on a front sub-frame, with MacPherson struts and coil springs that should deliver good response to steering input. In the rear, a sub-frame is the basis for a transverse torsion beam axle with trailing arms, optimizing ride quality and maximizing the cargo area.

Hauling things in mind, Kia will offer a number of OEM-backed add-ons available at the dealer level so that Soul customers can personalize their vehicles. Items include the usual stuff that a Scion dealer would offer its xB customers, such as aerodynamic body kits and exterior garnishes that Kia calls Soul Essentials, plus roof rails, an exterior cargo box, two different bike carriers, a ski rack, various floor mats, a cargo mat, car net, trailer hitch, sunroof visor, and many more typical accessory items. But then there are a few oddities like an SUV-like roof-top basket, like something off of Land Rover Defender, a stylish red and silver engine shroud, a B-pillar applique, and body decals. Performance accessories can be had from the dealer level too, such as anti-sway bars, lowering springs, a cold air intake system, chromed cat back exhaust system, billet aluminum oil cap, aluminum fuel door, a set of aluminum foot pedals, and wheels of course, in silver and black plus red and black designs. The accessories shown are exclusive to Canada, although the US should get similar options.

The Soul is expected to arrive in Kia dealerships across the country in the spring of 2009, with the South Korean brand hoping to attract an entirely new type of customer, in similar fashion to how Toyota widened its reach with Scion. Expect to see a lot of Souls on the streets next year, as it's the right kind of car for the times, combining great styling, endless personalization options, excellent fuel economy and no shortage of interior room for all your gear, all for a price that is bound to lure in would-be buyers.

Automobile.com

Turn On The Lights -- The Party's Not Over

As 2009 draws nigh, Kia's new 'Borrego' emerges as the mid-size luxury SUV you can actually afford

Who knew? The V-6-powered Borrego is rated to two up to 5,000 pounds, while V-8 models can handle a 7,500 pound trailer. The V-6 scampered to 60 miles per hour in just 8.1 seconds (without a boat) for this review. There's a lot of room and the optional leather interior was rated divine. It's the modern New Age family SUV.

Who knew, back when Kia started designing the Borrego, its first mid-size sport utility vehicle with rugged body-on-frame construction (and optional V-8 power) that it would arrive just as gasoline prices peaked?

Who knew that gasoline prices would begin free-falling as the credit market deteriorated and the economy started seizing up?

Who knew? Certainly not Kia, nor any other auto manufacturer, it seems.

One look at the specifications and you know the new Borrego has the right stuff to cope with difficult conditions.

Our week with a new EX model proved to us that the Borrego has the size, performance, equipment and price to get a leg up in the current economy.

"I'm driving one right now," said Dan Leonard, general manager of Crowley Kia in Bristol, "and I can tell you that it is a great vehicle for the money."

"The money" is $26,245, plus $750 for destination charges and handling, for an LX model with a generous list of standard features.

In addition to a peppy and refined 3.8-liter V-6 engine, rated at 276 horsepower, Kia includes a five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, seating for seven in three rows, traction control, six air bags (including side curtain air bags that cover occupants in all three rows,) and all the comfort and convenience items expected in a modern family SUV.

This means air conditioning, power windows, power remote locks, power mirrors and an AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system. All that is standard, plus with countless additional features that may seem unimportant when you see the list but make a real difference over time in day-to-day use of a vehicle.

There's also an upscale EX model, which was the model Kia loaned us. It added dual-zone automatic climate control, power front seats, a trip computer -- and heated power mirrors.

It also had four-wheel drive, an available option.

The EX also has, as an option, Kia's first V-8 engine coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Trials conducted during the press presentations this fall at Pocono in Pennsylvania and the Ontario race track in California demonstrated that the V-8 is refined and noticeably more powerful than the V-6.

Yet our V-6-powered Borrego driven in Connecticut delivered all the punch most drivers would ever need.

It scampered to 60 miles per hour in just 8.1-seconds.

V-6 models are rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds while V-8 models can handle a 7,500-pound trailer.

If there was any quibble with the V-6's performance, it was the fact that the generally smooth-shifting automatic transmission required a healthy push on the accelerator pedal before it would downshift for added power during merging and passing maneuvers.

"Right now, people are looking at the EX with the V-8 engine and four-wheel drive. They want it loaded with Sirius radio, a power sunroof and leather. The third-row seat [a standard feature] is also a big plus," Leonard said.

Inside, the Borrego offers front-seat occupants impressive room in all directions. These seats are not at all uncomfortable.

The second-row 60/40 split seat is a pleasant surprise -- it is perfectly capable of keeping grownups comfortable.

Even the 50/50 split two-passenger third row can accommodate adults, though they might grumble. Access requires some flexibility and once in, you discover that the bottom cushion is entirely too low. Of course that means the head room is fine even for six-footers.

Both the third- and second-row seats fold easily to dramatically expand the rather limited cargo space at the very rear -- when all seats are up to accommodate passengers.

With the second and third rows folded, the interior turns cavernous -- clearly competitive with other mid-size and larger SUVs.

This is, essentially, a truck-based SUV. And for a truck-based SUV, the ride was good.

Some previously smooth stretches of road delivered a few minor vertical motions, but overall, the Borrego feels good. Really rough pavement results in some abrupt motions, but you'l find that rare.

Another surprise -- the Borrego is easy and pleasant to drive.

And to compound the enjoyment, the interior -- design, materials and assembly -- is right up there.

Our EX had the optional leather upholstery, which added a feeling of luxury. Further enhancing comfort was the good noise control over most surfaces including coarse pavement.

Regardless of the turn of events, Kia dealers have been dealt a strong hand with the arrival of the new Borrego. Buyers, however, may tend to overlook the performance and concentrate instead on the exceptionally strong warranty that comes with this new model. Just as with every other Kia, its warranty covers the vehicle for 5 years or 60,000 miles and the drivetrain for 10 years or 100,000 miles. In today's unsettled times, that adds a level of certainty that many customers will find comforting.

The optional leather upholstery in our Kia Borrego LX really added a feeling of luxury.

Further enhancing comfort was the good noise control over most surfaces including coarse pavement.

Regardless of the turn of world events, Kia dealers have been dealt a strong hand with the arrival of the new Borrego.

Buyers, however, may tend to overlook the performance and concentrate instead on the exceptionally strong warranty that comes with this new model. Just as with every other Kia, its warranty covers the vehicle for five years or 60,000 miles and the drivetrain for 10 years or 100,000 miles.

In today's unsettled times, that adds a level of certainty that many customers will find comforting.

Paula Says...

The new Kia Borrego is a roomy, substantial vehicle. Its height means that shorter adults and children will find that getting in is a bit of a climb.

Once in the driver's seat, however, THIS shorter adult was impressed by the commanding view ahead.

The main visibility problem comes from the driver's side mirror. While it gives a great view to the rear and side, its position and size can completely hide a larger vehicle coming up from the left at intersections. Backing also suggests that every Borrego should come with the optional backup camera.

Those issues aside, I found the Borrego fun to drive. The engine is powerful and responsive and the handling is easy. The Borrego felt smaller to me on the road than its dimensions would suggest and its relatively tight 37-foot turning circle aids maneuverability in tight parking lots.

The ride is comfortable, but I did notice that it has some bounce over certain bumps and there were stretches of road on which I felt a lot of small, vertical movements that I had not detected in other vehicles.

Aiding comfort is the lack of noise, even at speed.

The upscale interior is another plus.

By JIM MACPHERSON