The 2009 Kia Borrego is the contrarian’s SUV. While just about every other SUV is trying to become a car-like “crossover,” the Borrego enters the ring as the one and only new-generation body-on-frame sport utility vehicle. That’s a bold move and a very smart one, too. After all, the Borrego can do things no crossover would even imagine possible.
The midsize 2009 Kia Borrego is tough enough to give its competitors a run for the money in the muck. Off-road, certain dimensions convey advantages. For example, Borrego has 8.5 inches of ground clearance and a healthy 27.3-degree approach angle, sufficient for plowing through the gnarliest terrain without getting a face full. Clearly, Kia sees the Borrego playing in the dirt as an equal to the “big” boys.
One thing is for sure. Borrego will not look out of place in the boonies. It has the macho lines that off-roaders like, yet its styling is sufficiently restrained to fit right in as a family wagon. From the front, the chrome grille is nicely integrated and flush with the front fascia. The hood is stamped with “character” creases that impart a handsome, burly look. Headlights wrap around the fenders in keeping with current trends. Foglights peek from contrasting cladding on the front chin with the cladding serving to outline the wheel openings and protect the lower flanks of the SUV. The taillamps also wrap around the body for symmetry. Up top, two sturdy rails flank the roof and look substantial enough to support something, well, substantial.
The 2009 Kia Borrego comes with a choice of two engines. The base model borrows its 3.8-liter V6 from the Sorento. It puts out 276 hp and an impressive 267 lb/ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds with the V6. The optional V8 produces 337 hp and 323 lb/ft of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission. Towing capacity is strong for a midsize SUV at 7,500 pounds - nearly as much as a full-size SUV. Kia puts a lot of emphasis on safety, offering six standard airbags, electronic stability and traction control, ABS and brake assist for all models.
The two trim levels - LX and EX - are essentially differentiated by the 4x4 system used. The entry-level Borrego boasts a fully manual unit, which means the driver selects the driving mode. The premium EX model not only offers low- and high-range gearing (4L and 4H) but also a convenient AUTO mode that lets the vehicle take care of power distribution. With either system, up to 50 percent of the available torque can be transferred to the front wheels.
Kia showed off the Borrego to a contingent of auto reviewers to good effect. “Under slightly muddy conditions and on a few rock faces, the Borrego fared well, overcoming obstacles while never complaining. The stiff chassis (ladder frame and not unibody) enhances stability and capability. So, beyond a regular SUV, the Kia Borrego is also a solid workhorse,” noted the reviewer for Auto123.com.
While the car journalists experienced the Borrego in the rough, the new SUV promises to be a candidate for family hauler. The EX model has leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control and a driver's knee airbag, to list just a few amenities. The cabin options include a 600-watt Infinity audio system, power adjustable pedals and a DVD-based navigation system — also a first for Kia — with a backup warning system and rear camera display. All Borregos have USB and iPod capability and three months of SIRIUS Satellite Radio.
The 2009 Borrego is a bold move for Kia. Fortunately, the new midsize SUV makes a very good first impression and has received compliments from a group of very picky automotive reviewers. Why wait for reviews when you can check out the Borrego for yourself? Come on in and give her a go!
