Despite a downturn in the segment, Kia has officially launched its all-new Borrego mid-size SUV. The Borrego was first unveiled to the public at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show and will take on the likes of the Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Honda Pilot.
Although most buyers will likely opt for the 276 horsepower 3.8L V6 version of the Borrego with gas prices now at $4, the two-wheel drive V8 model actually achieves the best highway mileage of the range (22 mpg). Moreover, the two-wheel drive V8 model actually ties the V6 versions – two and four-wheel drive models – in combined mileage (18 mpg). Not bad for a 337 horsepower SUV.
The Borrego also leads the segment in interior room and warranty length – 10 years/100,000 miles.
With a starting price of $25,245 and several class-leading attributes, the Borrego is sure to steal some sales away from the competition. However, with SUV sales falling off a cliff, the Borrego is still facing an uphill battle.
07/16, 5:42 PM
posted by:
xyunya
The best non-selling SUV around.
07/16, 5:43 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
This will be stillborn. D.O.A.
The pricepoint is okay, but with gas as it is now the market segment is withering, so most Kia buyers will not migrate up to this and the die-hards that gotta have such a vehicle will likely stick to what they know.
07/16, 5:50 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Berrego, or Borrego? The headline has one, and the article has another.
07/16, 5:50 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Oh, and “Borrego” means “sheep” in Spanish. Sort of fitting…
07/16, 6:14 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
Why is everyone complaining about the SUV segment? Sure, its falling pretty fast, but it’s still a huge segment and isn’t going anywhere. It’s still larger than most other segments out there, and will most likely continue to be as long as it adapts.
I don’t really like the Borrego though. I think it comes in at a good price point, but I would like to see something a little bit more daring from Kia. Nothing major, but the interior looks as if it came out 8 years ago, the looks are nothing to brag about and neither is the name tag.
07/16, 6:40 PM
posted by:
inline6
jayjc08,
The midsize SUV class isn’t a huge segment anymore. The Exploder, TB, and GC - the three best-selling SUVs in the market - used to sell 20-30k units/month each. Today, they’re lucky to make the 10k mark each. GM’s dropping its midsizers and replacing them with the TEs and the Lambdas. The next Exploder will be a crossover. The GC will probably stay in this segment.
But this just proves the point I’ve been making all along. It takes a long time to bring a car from the drawing board to production. Kia probably had this in the oven since 2005, when the midsize SUV class was still doing 1,000,000-plus annual units. And they couldn’t recover any of the development money they’d spent (probably hundreds of millions) on it by not producing it and giving it a chance to make some of its development money back.
07/16, 6:46 PM
posted by:
golf4me
LLN is having a banner day with car names. Putzs
07/16, 6:53 PM
posted by:
LS7
Wrong engines. Drop the 2.7L V6 from Sonata, and you are good.
07/16, 7:11 PM
posted by:
ktulu
wrong place
wqrong time
07/16, 10:54 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
What the hell is a Borrega/Berrega anyway? Sounds like the bad guy’s name in an old spaghetti western.
07/16, 11:32 PM
posted by:
MugenSentraKen
====>>LS7: huh? Sonata has a 3.3….
07/16, 11:52 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
Johnny, “Borrego” is Spanish for sheep or ram.
07/17, 12:06 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
My name is Borrego! First I shear your sister, then I **** your sheep. No wait! …eez the other way.
07/17, 6:50 AM
posted by:
Stinky007
What, 4$!?! Sign me up for a whole transport ship full of them
Seriously, there’s a typo in the text!