2009 Kia Borrego: An SUV that Doesn't Quite Crossover
Kia (along with Hyundai) is moving quickly these days. Both companies have unleashed V8-powered product in the last few weeks, and both models look to cash in on the higher-priced (and higher-profit) segments normally out of reach for each brand.
The timing for a body-on-frame, V8-powered SUV (a V6 is standard) could be better, but after 100 miles in the all-new 2009 Kia Borrego I must admit -- I'm generally impressed.
In terms of exterior and interior design the Borrego matches up effectively against the strongest three-row SUVs and crossovers. Second- and third-row space is fully functional for full-sized adults, and the ability to adjust/access those seats measures up to class leaders overall. I'd appreciate a higher third-row seat bottom for increased leg support (and available headroom suggests Kia could have gone this route). But the third row still worked for my 6-foot-frame, at least on short-to-medium trips.
Another tweak Kia might consider adding is the easy-access lever to the driver's side of the 60/40 second-row seat. On the passenger's side there's a lever on the side of the seatback that makes the "40" section flip down and slide forward. That's the more common side for people to access the third-row seat from, so this placement makes sense. But most modern utility vehicles have that same lever on the driver's side second row seatback; the Borrego doesn't. It would also be nice if the seats defaulted to their original seat track position versus stopping at the first detent after you slide them forward (ala Volkswagen).
In terms of driving dynamics the Kia Boreggo feels good, but not quite modern-crossover good. On smooth asphalt you could be fooled into thinking it's a unibody platform, but the first broken pavement reveals a shudder through the cabin and steering wheel not felt in CX-9s, Enclaves or Highlanders. These vibrations are more subtle than jarring, but there's no denying them. For a vehicle with interior and exterior elements ripped directly from the latest family movers this trait feels a bit out of place.
Which brings us to the V8 and six-speed automatic. With a relatively refined nature and 337 peak horsepower/323 pounds-feet of torque this 4.6-liter engine manages crossover-like refinement with truck-like pulling power...in first gear. But forward thrust seems to fall off in second and third gear. Me thinks there's a bit of EPA tuning going on here (a 4WD V8 Borrego is rated at a not-so-crossover-like 15/20 mpg).
Like the Ford/GM six-speed in the Edge/Lambdas, the Borrego's transmission is trying to please multiple masters. Super low first gear makes it feel quick from zero-to-20, but higher gearing in the second and third (plus a real desire to get into third gear ASAP uunder normal throttle application) likely gives it better in-town mileage ratings. This trait doesn't really damage the car's driving experience, but like the ride/steering shudders it impacts the overall experience.
Other minor points include positive elements, like the adjustable headrests in all seating positions and convenient clips for holding the seatbelts in place while reconfiguring the seats. On the negative side, the Borrego's LCD screen and switchgrear don't quite measure up to its $30,000 price range. The intermittent operation of the LCD screen on our test car (it would randomly go blank for 15-20 minutes at a time) didn't help matters.
But as I said, overall this Kia impresses me in terms of refinement, performance, interior/exterior deisgn and nice-to-have features. However, the market for large SUVs topping out at 20 mpg isn't what it was two years ago (when this car was in development). Even with the Borrego's value proposition I don't see this one flying off dealer lots in the second-half of 2008.
- Posted by
- Karl Brauer July 28, 2008, 6:00 AM
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- Kia
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- 2009 Kia Borrego, Crossover, SUV
Looks like a Subaru Forester.
...and we thought the Ford Flex was a bit too late to the market. 1998 called. It wants its SUV back.
It's look is a bit dated and definitely bland, but actually this Kia achieves something the Ford Flex and new Honda Pilot didn't--it actually looks relatively small. At a glance there's no way I would have realized this is a 3-row SUV. Based on that in today's market, this could be a hit. But the fuel economy rating may trump everything else. How much better is the V6?
The used SUV market will make life difficult for this new Kia Lamb (I assume Borrego is the name of a city or something, hopefully one that people are more familiar with than borrego's usual meaning). But once used or unsold Tahoes and Explorers get flushed out of the market, there's a future for the Borrego. These vehicles will always have a niche to themselves.
I've noticed that strange gearing in other Kias. They have a first gear, maybe a second, and then a seventh and an eighth... terrible.
Yup, Kia pulled the same "trick" with their first sedona minivan. I remember driving it years ago and thinking, "Wow, this thing is fast" the first time I hit the throttle. Then I tried accelerating up and on-ramp and realized it was a super-low first gear married to an otherwise typical 6-cylinder.
I wonder how many people this works on. If you only test-drive these cars on a five-minute loop around the dealership (with no highway section) it probably works well...
dougtheeng, you (and others here) would probably enjoy this blog entry Edmunds.com Automotive Editor James Riswick wrote awhile back on his personal CarSpace blog. You can create your own at http://www.carspace.com/blogs.
http://www.carspace.com/blogs/curbthoughts/Separated-at-Birth--Forester-or-Borrego
Corrected link: http://www.carspace.com/blogs/
Boy, I wish I could edit the comment above. :(
Body on frame SUVs:
Aspen: 14/19/15
Durango: 14/19/16
Trailblazer: 14/20/16
Explorer: 14/20/16
Pathfinder: 15/22/17
4Runner: 16/21/18
Kia Borrego
V8 2WD: 15/22/18 mpg
V6 2WD: 16/21/18 mpg
V6 4WD: 17/21/18 mpg
Crossovers:
Pacifica: 15/23/17
Nitro: 16/22/18
CX-9: 16/22/18
Veracruz: 16/23/18
Edge: 16/24/19
Enclave: 16/24/19
Pilot: 17/23/19
Traverse: 17/24/19
Murano: 18/23/20
Highlander: 18/24/20
The Borrego is body on frame tough, with crossover fuel economy.
Or, the Borrego is 4Runner efficient, plus delivering more power and more space.
If we're talking suv mpg, one needs to include the Escape. The Escape is a (small) body on frame SUV that beats every vehicle you listed.
2009 numbers:
I4 FWD 22/28/24
V6 AWD 17/25/20
Hybrid 34/31/32
I know people criticize the Escape, but they're not bad vehicles and mileage is impressive.
The Escape is smaller than many of those other SUVs/crossovers, and it offers no third seat.
That said, I think the Escape makes a compelling argument, particularly the hybrid version. Even with the higher cost it only takes about five years to pay off versus a non-hybrid (at today's fuel prices).
That's exactly what I was going to do, billt. Those are impressive numbers for a B-O-F SUV. Don't forget the Tahoe:
2WD 5.3 V8 = 14|20
4WD 5.3 V8 = 14|20
2WD 6.2 V8 = 12|19
4WD 6.2 V8 = 12|19
Or the V8 Pathfinder:
2WD 5.6 V8 = 13|18
4WD 5.6 V8 = 12|18
and V8 Explorer:
2WD 4.6 V8 = 13|20
4WD 4.6 V8 = 13|19
As for the "crossovers", subtract at least one mile/gallon for AWD on the figures you posted. The gap between the Borrego's fuel economy and their's is negligible - 1 or 2 miles a gallon, if that, for a larger, more capable vehicle in terms of towing and hauling. Driving where most people go? "Crossovers" offer better ride and handling, but not always and in exchange for other capabilities. For me, the fuel economy difference has to be substantial in order to justify spending more money on a "crossover" over a real SUV.
"The Escape is a (small) body on frame SUV "
Are you sure the Escape is body on frame?
I don't think so. It's a front drive platform that I seem to remember is the same as the Mazda6. With no low range it's really just a tall car that would compare to a Subaru or Matrix.
The Escape/Tribute/Mariner is a unibody vehicle that uses its own platform. While the Escape has been vastly improved, mainly with its new powertrains, it still isn't at par with its competitors the CR-V and Rav4. Hell, the Mitsubishi Outlander blew the 2008 V6 AWD out of the water when I was driving them both a few weeks ago. The vehicle's biggest fault is the interior: the center stack is absurdly cluttered and the materials look, feel, and smell cheap. There's no way I'd pay anything close to sticker for one, unless it as the hybrid.
Orangutan, isn't the CR-V grossly underpowered? And, man, it's ugly! That front end makes me sick.......
It's no more or less underpowered than other similar I4 compact SUVs or sedans. Sure, there's no torque but it performs adequately and without making a fool of itself. My significant other has a first-generation CR-V and it has substantially less power from a smaller engine (and a lighter weight) and it's just fine 98% of the time. The other 2% of the time involves going up long and/or steep hills and/or being laden with our fully family and cargo. Even then it handles things, just at a reduced pace. The trade-off for "adequate" is good fuel economy in every circumstance.
"The Escape/Tribute/Mariner is a unibody vehicle that uses its own platform."
Found it.
The Escape is built on the Ford CD2 patform which is based on the Mazda GF platform on which the Mazda 626 was built (not the Mazda6 that I earlier mentioned).
Back on topic, The Borrego looks like a pleasant useful truck (and I glad to hear it's a real truck)but it looks too bland and it arrived to late to be more then just a minor footnote in the history of the SUV. Only very aggressive pricing will get anyone's attention in this new era of the small car.
Bravo on the fuel economy! The Koreans have been lagging behind here.
firstwagon, Looks like you got me on the BOF part. Does that make it an early crossover? :)
brn, according to the massive collective brain of humankind known as wikipedia, the first crossover was the 1957 Moskvitch 410,
1977 Lada Niva, 1977 Matra Rancho,
1979 AMC eagle,
1984 Jeep Cherokee,
1994 Toyota Rav4,
1996 Honda CR-V,
1997 Lexus RX, 1997 Subaru Forester,
1999 Audi Allroad,
then many crossovers appeared in the 2000s, including the 2001 Ford Escape.
Missed 1995 Kia Sportage.
billt9, you apparently missed the current Nissan commercial where they claim to be the creators of the crossover.