Picture Gallery: 2009 Kia Borrego EX V8 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Discuss
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This week I’m driving the all-new (yes, I can really say that) 2009 Kia Borrego: a mid- to large-sized seven-seater SUV. An SUV that comes out at, I would say, a very odd time indeed. When all other car manufacturers are ceasing to build truck-based SUVs and moving the market to lighter crossover vehicles, Kia comes, guns-a-blazing, with this truck-based behemoth.
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As you might expect from a manufacturer on the rise, a lot of content has been thrown into the Borrego at a reasonable price, to attract your attention.
My tester is a loaded EX V8 model, and is equipped with all the luxury amenities you would expect from any top-tier manufacturer, such as dual-zone climate control, power leather heated seats, power windows/mirrors and locks, electronic stability control, traction control, curtain airbags all around, and a power sunroof (do they even make manual sunroofs anymore?).
And of course, what everyone wants today, a great big honkin’ V8 under the hood. A 4.6-litre producing 325hp, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.
2009 Kia Borrego EX V8
MSRP as tested (including destination): $45,395
For more information on Kia and the Borrego visit Kia Canada
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What I see is an extremely impressive interior: all the knobs, switches and buttons are not only placed well, but they look good, they feel good and they do not seem cheap by any stretch of the imagination. The interior could be from a Lexus or a Honda or Acura — remove that Kia logo on the steering wheel and I would forget I’m in one.
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The seats are very comfortable, and the Borrego’s size means there is tons of leg and head room all around. The third row seats aren’t the most comfortable, mostly because of the leg room, but there are not many vehicles that these seats are comfortable in. Climbing into the third row is a pain in the you-know-what, though; sliding the second row up and folding the seat helps but it is still rather awkward.
Missing is auto down for the passenger and rear windows, but that is a pretty small niggle. The rest of the features expected, such as dual-zone climate and heated seats that work wonderfully, are here — I’d like a little more bass from the stereo as well; it sounds excellent but needs some more oomph.
My only other niggle would be the way the seats fold: they do not fold flat and cargo space is long but limited in height. But day- to-day so far I am enjoying my time inside the Borrego.
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For instance, if I had written my driving impressions of the Borrego on day one, I would have lambasted it — it is a truck-based SUV, I get that — heck I own a pick-up truck, so I know how a truck rides. But the Borrego was killing me on the first day, though now I more or less have a love/hate relationship with it.
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I liken the feeling to driving a 1980s pick-up truck with an empty bed over a rail-road track … constantly. It truly is one of the roughest, most jarring things I have felt in a vehicle: hit the bump slightly with a front tire and the steering wheel wants to jettison from your hands, and then the chassis shakes like you just hit a brick wall. (See Day Four amendment for more about this.)
On smooth roads, though, it is absolutely luxury-smooth and quiet, so it seems like some more suspension tuning is required. The rest of the drive is great as well: the turning radius is excellent for a vehicle of this size — exceptional even, as I have driven small compact cars with worse — and visibility is good, although I would like larger mirrors.
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Fuel consumption was acceptable for the type of vehicle and engine size — I averaged 14L/100km. With the instantaneous readouts available on the dash, I noticed that around 120km/h I averaged between 11-13L/100km; driving at about 80km/h I averaged around 9L/100km — of course this varied greatly because of many factors.
Overall, the Kia Borrego leaves me with a positive impression, and I will be carrying a tire pressure gauge with me more often: running all week with over-inflated tires meant a rough ride that wasn’t required, with not much gain in fuel economy.
Amendment: After checking the tire pressures on the Borrego, I noted that they were all at 40 psi. This is the max tire pressure for the tire, while Kia’s recommended pressure for the Borrego is 32psi for all corners. After setting all corners to 32psi and taking another drive, it was obvious that the over-inflated tires were the cause of the extremely harsh ride. The ride is still truck-like, but no more did the chassis shake on every bump, now providing a more luxurious and comfortable ride that won’t jar the fillings from your teeth.
*Rating out of 5:
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2009 Kia Borrego EX V8
MSRP as tested (including destination): $45,395
For more information on Kia and the Borrego visit Kia Canada
to our site.
November 05, 2008, 05:59:45 am Thx for the review.
PS. The "Read the article" link on the top panel isn't working, it redirects to the front page of the forum.
November 05, 2008, 08:17:28 am I prefer the slippery lines of the Santa Fe, of the two cousins.
Does the Fe come with the motor?
November 05, 2008, 08:19:13 am They are not the same. The SantaFe is a unitbody this is body on frame. I don't think they are related at all.
November 05, 2008, 08:20:41 am Also is not the Borrego larger?
November 05, 2008, 08:58:02 am Seems so haven't checked measurements but it is big.
November 05, 2008, 09:13:30 am
Nope. Santa Fe and Borrego are totally different trucks. This one is a rear-drive based truck, while the Santa Fe is a front-drive based "truck."
November 05, 2008, 11:48:50 am So, will Hyundai add a 'Genesis' version of this vehicle to it's stable?
November 05, 2008, 01:58:31 pm how does it compare to a Vera Cruz?
November 05, 2008, 02:17:35 pm Larger and heavier and as Chris said this is a RWD based truck not a FWD based cute-ute that is overblown. This is a true truck in every sense.
November 06, 2008, 11:16:51 am Nice looking Kia Explorer err Borrego!
November 06, 2008, 12:19:13 pm
November 06, 2008, 12:27:51 pm "What I see is an extremely impressive interior: all the knobs, switches and buttons are not only placed well, but they look good, they feel good and they do not seem cheap by any stretch of the imagination."
that's what I felt with my KIA, its that 'mind set' and it's the past history to get over and realize what great strides they have made. I admit I did have reservations before purchasing my Rondo, but now after one years ownership its solid with no squeaks or rattles and no mechanical problems and everything functioning ok.
In a recent 2008 Consumers Report study KIA was ranked 10th on a list of 34 with regards to reliability.
November 06, 2008, 12:46:51 pm
I agree
November 06, 2008, 05:29:33 pm
Don't tell Jeremy Cato....He included the Borrego in a list of "crossovers" in a recent Globe article!
November 07, 2008, 10:01:13 pm James, check your tire pressure! My Borrego was delivered with between 42-45psi in all the tires. I didn't believe it so I measured it with two different gauges... sure enough it was set 10+ psi above the manufacturers rating! Ooops. When you relieve pressure to 32psi it has a much more agreeable ride... albiet it's no BMW. The harshness is definitely gone though.
November 07, 2008, 10:54:55 pm I will check the pressures but what I feel is most definitely suspension and chassis harshness.
November 08, 2008, 08:28:25 am The recommended pressure on the b-pillar label is 32psi... the max pressure on the Hankook RA07 tire is 44psi. as printed on the tire. I think Kia was inflating to the MAX rating vice the recommended rating (at least in my case).
November 08, 2008, 02:12:17 pm Update, a member of Kia Forum told me that Kia's are shipped with 40+ psi in the tires and the dealer is supposed to set it correctly on the PDI.
November 08, 2008, 07:13:38 pm This is typical of dealers, you pay the $1200 pdi for them to check air pressures and wash the car and they don't do either properly. Anyways, I checked the pressures today but unfortunately it was after being bounced around all day. They were all at 40psi I dropped them down to 32, I'll drive the car again before being done with it and I'll update.
November 10, 2008, 12:57:13 am I am assuming that the manufacturers provide the vehicles that you review and so I would think it would be in their best interest to have at least those prepared properly. If they can't do it for a demo vehicle that may help sell hundreds more, then I can imagine how little they'd care about a mere mortal customer buying one unit.
November 10, 2008, 07:59:05 am It finally proves against what everyone always says.
Everything seems to think that press vehicles are "special" in some way that they are prepared and checked over to ensure they are perfect. This is never the case, I have been given cars that have broken pieces or have malfunctioning systems etc. And this shows again no special preparation was made.
The ride is better with the lower PSI in the tires, not perfect but 100 times more acceptable, I will publish a note.