2009 Kia Borrego V8 4WD
The 2009 Kia Borrego is an all new midsize SUV that seats seven and competes with the Toyota 4Runner, Nissan Pathfinder, and Honda Pilot. The Borrego I tested, ($39,295) came with a 4.6-liter V8 using a six-speed automatic. A V6 engine is also available. The engine is built by Kia, and is aluminum with double overhead cams. The V8 makes 337 horsepower, more than the Hemi in the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The V8 model is rated to tow up to 7500 pounds. It also came with an optional navigation system, leather heated seats and a rear AC with full controls. Fuel economy is an EPA-rated 15/20 mpg with 4WD as tested. That fuel mileage is good for an engine with that much power in a vehicle having the Borrego's weight and boxy aerodynamics, but it isn't frugal. In the mountain driving I did around Evergreen, it was somewhere in the high teens.
The interior is clean and well laid out, the seats are comfortable, and the instrumentation and controls are easy to understand. The one complaint we had was Jeanie's legs got cold as the heater seemed to struggle keeping the cabin warm. It was a cold day with the temperature hovering around 5 degrees though. The Borrego offers three rows of seating, with overall interior volume greater than the competition. Legroom in the third row is very good, although it comes out of cargo space behind the third seat. With the 50/50 third seat lowered flat, there's a ton of cargo space. The 60/40 second row also drops flat, and it slides forward making it easier to access the third row. Exclusive features include a standard tow hitch that's hidden behind the rear bumper, and LED turn signals on the sideview mirrors.
The Borrego is comfortable off road, with all-terrain capability that separates it from crossover SUVs such as the Toyota Highlander and Mazda CX-7. It comes standard with skid plates, and its optional electronic 4WD system is the latest generation made by BorgWarner and features an auto, high, and low range. The V8 comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels. Because the Borrego is a true 4WD system, for someone who lives farther off the main road, it would be a good choice for those with more challenging driveways. The ride is solid, consistent and comfortable, on a double-wishbone front suspension, and multi-link in the rear. The smooth six-speed transmission in the V8 is the same that's in the BMW X5 luxury SUV. I did notice some body lean as I pushed it around the corners on I-70. But overall, the Borrego handled well for such a big vehicle. Kia doesn't seem to be into developing their own styling statement, so the Borrego looks pretty much like any other boxy SUV; even its hood contours are rectangular. It may have a bold look, but it's still very plain to look at.
Kia has come a long way in their development of a quality SUV. There's not much to fault with the Borrego, except that it does get the fuel economy of a midsize SUV.
Denis and his wife Jeanie own the Mountain Man Store at their new location in downtown Evergreen.