The new leader in towing capacity in the mid-size SUV segment surprisingly doesn't wear a badge from Detroit or Japan. With a whopping 7,500 pound tow rating, the new Kia Borrego is a shot across the bows of other vehicles in this segment, once defined by the Ford Explorer. And although Kia is entering this segment at a time of reduced demand, the Borrego offers best-in-class fuel economy, on top of significant towing ability, reason enough for us to take a look.
In a first for the South Korean automaker, the Borrego is offered with a V8 engine, which puts out a class-leading 337 horsepower, about 45 more than a Ford Explorer. Mating this power plant to a six-speed automatic yields EPA-estimated fuel economy of 15 mpg city, 22 mpg highway for the 2WD version and 15/20 for the 4WD.
On our test drive through the plains and mountains of Colorado, our V8, 4WD version of the Borrego ran 283 miles on just over 13 gallons of gasoline, averaging better than 21 mpg. The six-speed transmission shifts seamlessly while accelerating, and while cruising the flat and wide open highways near Denver, the Borrego hummed along at 75 mpg at just 2,00 rpm, thanks to that sixth gear. However, it does take a firm push on the gas to get the Borrego to downshift when climbing those big hills to the west, which probably also helps keep the fuel economy high.
The ride is firm, as you would expect from a body-on-frame constructed vehicle. Kia took pains to build a lighter, stiffer vehicle using a hydraulic forming process to build the frame. It has paid off on the fuel economy side of the equation.
Inside the Borrego offers seating for seven passengers with a fold-down, third row of seats in the far back. Our test model held four adults comfortably. As with the third-row seating options in many SUVs and crossovers, the distance from the seat to the floor boards is limited to the thickness of the seat itself--these are best reserved for kids or people with lots of cartilage left in their knees.
With the third row up, the cargo volume is 12.4 cubic feet, but with both the third and second row folded down, it expands to 97.6 cubic feet.
Kia offers the full range of electronics and luxury items buyers have come to expect in their SUVs, including in-dash navigation system with integrated controls for everything from the satellite radio to your iPod. The touch-screen navigation system became easy to use with just a little practice. Entering specific addresses or searching for points of interest is best done before you set off unless you have a passenger.
We did find some quirks in the navigation system. For example, while it easily found our tiny little motel complex on the outskirts of Rocky Mountain National Park through the points of interest search, we couldn't find the listing for Denver International Airport in the same fashion. Only after navigating to the airport by selecting it as a waypoint visually using the map screen did we discover that the airport had been listed in the GPS's database, but under its official name, Jeppesen Terminal.
In addition to the touch screen system, the Borrego features a backup safety sensor that uses ultrasonic sensors to detect objects behind you that you can't see. A warning beep tells you when you get too close. The side mirrors also tilt down automatically when you shift into reverse, giving you a better view of the ground to the rear of the vehicle so you won't back into curbs.
The Borrego includes a litany of standard safety equipment such as front, side, three-row curtain and driver's knee airbags (V8 only) and an extensive alphabet soup list of traction, braking, stability and other control systems. While we thankfully did not need the stability system or ABS, we did play with the Downhill Brake Control (DBC) coming down the mountains on I-70 West. Keeping a steady speed rolling down those steep grades was simple with the Borrego's automatic transmission in manual mode. Simply selecting second or third gear kept the speed in check. On really steep grades in second gear, the DBC would kick in for additional braking power.
Overall, we found the Borrego a worthwhile addition to the short list of vehicles capable of pulling 7,500 pounds while carrying seven people.
Michael Vatalaro
Boat U.S. Magazine
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