2009 KIA Borrego V8 Review
An SUV by any Other Name…
By: Nathan Adlen
I asked myself, “Do we need yet another SUV?” as I approached the mellow looking 2009 KIA Borrego. Personally, I enjoy having a vehicle that can tow things and that’s one of the KIA’s strong suits. Having a third row seat is a nice thing for an expanding family (as mine is). Soft, leather covered seats big enough for my oversized dimensions and a killer Infinity stereo are a real plus.
Then it hit me – this is a KIA?
There is nothing wrong with the KIA Borrego. It has a very smooth V8 (sourced from the Hyundai Genesis), a real 4WD system with a center locking differential and a real truck frame. Thanks to this combination of engine and frame, the KIA Borrego maintains class leading tow ratings at 7,500 lbs (for the 337 Horsepower 4.6 liter V8 with 323 lbs feet of torque at 3,500 rpm).
These are all good things.
In a world of fat wagons with AWD (most crossovers), the KIA Borrego is a refreshing change back to the old ways. I find it interesting that KIA opted to wait until now to unleash their Borrego. This is a bit of a gamble. On one hand, they might have a created a niche for themselves with most automakers producing the same old SUVs and concentrating mostly on crossovers. No crossover can compete with the KIA Borrego’s towing capacity. On the other hand, they might get tossed out of the market given the green movement and unpredictable gas prices. 
Now, let me tell you what I did with the KIA Borrego while I had it.
Think of the statements, “ridden hard and put away wet” (it’s a horse euphemism people) and combine it with, “stupid is as stupid does.” If the KIA Borrego had an opinion about my treatment of it – well those statements might apply.
I read other reviews. Nary a thing was mentioned about what it really does off the beaten path. Sure, the KIA Borrego has a selectable 4WD system and a locking differential, but what does that mean? Is it a ground pounding, hard-core, dirt munching machine?
Uh, no…
I have to admit, I did push the KIA Borrego hard and it did better than I expected. All in all, in Colorado snow, slush and gooey mud, it accounted for itself nicely. Once I began bounding over tree-stumps, large rocks (aka, small boulders) and deep rutted trails, the KIA Borrego was not amused. The main problem is with its low clearance. Yes, it’s competitive at 8 ½ inches; it’s far too low for anything serious. The road biased tires didn’t help either. 
The worst offender was the next to useless side steps.
Many have commented on so many vehicles like the KIA Borrego coming standard with them. The REAL reason automakers are so keen to add these side-steps is due to the wind cheating advantage their vehicles gain. Look carefully at these side steps and you may notice their close proximity to the sides and belly of the vehicle; this helps lower the overall drag coefficient. Some crossovers and SUVs gain up to a 4 mpg advantage on the highway. Less drag, less wind resistance = better fuel economy.
Every pair of pants I wore has a dirty spot where the side step rubbed against it. These steps are useless unless you are as short as my 4-year-old. The loading and entrance height is commendably low for a real SUV. These steps are annoying.
If you want a real off-road experience, you will have to shut off the ESP (stability/traction control) and aim for low break-over hills and wide trails. The smooth 6-speed automatic transmission has a manual-like mode which helps keep your rpm where you want it for peak torque (around a very useable 3,500 rpm). This, 
combined with a computerized, push-button hill decent control helps keep you from over baking the KIA Borrego on the trail.
On the road, the KIA Borrego is smooth and mild mannered (which describes its exterior to some extent). It is easy to pilot around town. Freeway cruising is its strongest suit. I did a 200 mile highway loop and felt no fatigue, managing 21 mpg. On the streets, the KIA Borrego goes about its business with little drama. Potholes or railroad tracks tend to make the body shimmy and bound, but it’s manageable and the Borrego regains its composure quickly. Nobody complained about its ride and my kid passed out every time the drive lasted over 10 minutes.
Towing is the KIA Borrego’s best attribute. I hooked up a rental trailer to its standard tow-hitch (which is tastefully covered by a plastic panel) that weighed over 6000 lbs fully laden. I expected a real drop in performance, but that was not the case. This KIA Borrego is an excellent tow vehicle. There was a slight amount of rear-end sag, but good highway control (thanks to the independent rear suspension and rigid frame). Even the mirrors were fine for small trailer duty being fairly wide. Lane changes, maneuvering and accelerating were all better than expected.
Squirting through bends and tight corners is not the KIA Borrego’s forte. I was able to modulate some of the turning balance with a judicious use of the long pedal. Brakes were okay, working hard to stop the Borrego. They began to fade when I continuously drove stupidly and abused the daylights out of the 4-wheel discs. Driving on, I felt fairly confident and enjoyed the mild portion of back-road driving.
I credit the exceptional 4.6 liter V8 for much of this.
It’s no rocket and can be a bit lethargic off the line. Still, the KIA Borrego’s V8 can muster a mid 7 second 0-60 which is more than adequate. Each shift of the silky 6-speed automatic is impressive. It all works together supremely well.
I’m sorry to say that this is not a luxury SUV as the commercials may indicate. If KIA wants a luxurious interior they should take a gander at the Germans, especially Volkswagen/Audi. Or, perhaps KIA should look at their brethren like the Hyundai Genesis. As it stands, the KIA Borrego’s interior is a nice place to be, and that’s about it.
Don’t get me wrong, this is a great machine for a family. Seat comfort in all 3 rows is very competitive and real sized people can fit in the 3rd row (although it was a tad too small for me – I’m 6’2”) and I love that they had the foresight to add hard sided plastic backing to the seat-backs. It makes for easier loading and quick cleanups. There are even 2 cup holders in the way-back.
Nice.
Prices are good. Base, 2WD V6 models start around $27,000 and they are well equipped for “base models.” My tester was nearly fully loaded and crept in just under $40,000. These are compelling prices, especially given the Hyundai/KIA massive 10 year/100,000 mile warranty.
I am holding off on mentioning too much about the V6 version. Hopefully, I’ll be testing one soon and would rather not speculate on what this vehicle is like. I did test drive one, but for a short amount of time and it felt (surprise-surprise) a tad slower and pokier than the V8.
For families who are looking for an alternative to mid-sized crossovers and need to tow – you could do a lot worse.