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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, April 21, 2010 · 20 $ any Castrol oil change package Coupon required. Expiry: May 16, 2010 Code: 5558 8 OFF 345 Speers Rd. (at Dorval), Oakville 905-842-9299 Valid at all GTA locations. Borrego offers space for seven and lots of towing power By Lorne Drury Metroland Newspapers Carguide Magazine It may be the right truck at the wrong time. That statement could very well sum up the fate of Kia's mid-size Borrego SUV that arrived on the market in late 2008 as a 2009 model. Of course, that was just the time that auto sales began to tank with mid-size SUVs leading the nosedive thanks in part to a run-up in fuel prices. Often when a manufacturer is late to the party with a vehicle it works in their favour, allowing them to take the best features of the leading contenders and use them as benchmarks for their new model. That should have been the case for Kia with the Borrego, which in itself is a solid, well-built vehicle. The problem for Kia is that people aren't buying mid-size sevenpassenger SUVs in the same numbers these days. Smaller crossovers (SUVs based on a car platform) have now taken over a big chunk of that market. The boxier, truck-style SUVs like the Borrego are much less in demand. But for those who still need a vehicle that can carry up to seven passengers and has lots of cargo room, the Borrego is a nice alternative to SUVs like the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer and Hyundai Veracruz. The Borrego is available with two engine choices, a 276 hp 3.8litre V6 or a 337 hp 4.6-litre V8. Both are available in LX and EX trim levels with a 4x4 system standard across the board. Prices start at $37,395 for the V6 LX, jumping to $41,395 for the V6 EX. The V8 LX starts at $39,895 and the V8 EX is $44,395. Add on a destination and delivery charge of $1,650 and a gasguzzler tax of $200 for the V6 and $400 for the V8 (in Ontario only). The Borrego is a vehicle that should appeal to cottage-goers and drivers who pull a boat or travel trailer. It has off-road capability with a ground clearance of 217 mm (8.5 in) and the 3.8-litre V6 engine has a towing capacity of 2,268 kg (5,000 lb), while the 4.6-litre V8 will haul 3,402 kg (7,500 lb). Make no mistake, though, this is a big, heavy truck weighing 2,750 kg (6,063 lb) with the V6 and 2,800 kg (6,173 lb) with the V8. As a result of this weight, fuel economy is not the best, with a highway rating of 9.4L/100 km (30 mpg) and 13.0L/100 km (22 mpg) city for the V6. The V8 is rated at 9.7L/100 km (29) highway and 14.4L/100 km (20) city. Both run on regular unleaded fuel. During my time with the Borrego I averaged just over 14L/100 km. My tester was a V6 EX model that has a full time torque-ondemand 4x4 system (the LX features a part-time 4x4 system), mated with a five-speed automatic Kia Borrego 2010 At A Glance: BODY STYLE: midsize SUV. DRIVE METHOD: frontengine, four-wheel drive. ENGINE: 3.8-litre V6 (276 hp, 267 lb/ft) with five-speed automatic transmission; 4.6litre V8 (337 hp, 323 lb/ft) with six-speed automatic transmission. FUEL ECONOMY: 3.8-litre 13.0L/100 km (22 mpg) city, 9.4L/100 km (30 mpg) highway; 4.6-litre 14.4L/100 km (20 mpg) city, 9.7L/100 km (29 mpg) highway. PRICE: 3.8L LX V6 $37,395, 3.8L EX V6 $41,395, 4.6L LX V8 $39,895, 4.6L EX V8 $44,395. WEBSITE: www.kia.ca made you feel you were on a bucking bronco. Overall though, it's an easy SUV to drive and I found myself at home in it almost immediately when I got behind the wheel. I drive a lot of vehicles and often you can never find the "sweet spot" as far as driving comfort is concerned. The Borrego does a lot of things well and is an impressive entry for Kia into the midsize SUV class. But, timing is everything and it may have arrived at the wrong time in automotive history to make much of a dent in the marketplace. Kia's Borrego midsize SUV is a body-on-frame design, ideal for heavy towing and off-roading and with room for seven passengers. transmission. A dial on the dash allows you to lock into 4Low or 4High depending upon the conditions. It sits on 18-inch alloy wheels and has dual automatic climate control, leather seats and trim, power driver's seat, auto dimming rear view mirror, electric tilt/telescopic steering column, driver's seat integrated memory system, power tilt and sliding sunroof, fog lights and various exterior chrome garnishes. Safety features included fourwheel anti-lock (ABS) brakes, electronic stability control, traction control, six airbags, downhill assist control and hill assent control. From a styling standpoint, I don't feel the Borrego breaks any new ground. It looks much like so many other truck-based SUVs. It is not unattractive, but it just doesn't stand out from the crowd. As for the interior, it is nicely finished with materials that appear to be more upscale than you normally find in a Kia. The seats are supportive and comfortable and the heating feature on the seats was sure nice on cool mornings. All the knobs and switches seemed easy to access on the dash. During my week with the Borrego, the V6 showed plenty of power for all driving situations, so much so that unless you are using the Borrego as a tow vehicle, there would be no need for the V8. On the highway, the ride was fairly smooth and comfortable but on pothole-plagued secondary roads, the stiff suspension produced a bouncy, noisy ride that at times