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The Kia Borrego finally made its official debut at the Detroit auto show this week, following a number of teasers and leaks late last year. The seven-passenger SUV features the company's first ever V8 engine — the same V8 that powers the 2009 Genesis from parent company Hyundai.
Borrego’s body-on-frame construction and muscular exterior sit on fully independent front and rear suspension matched with coil-over springs. Built on a platform with a wheelbase of 114.0 inches, an overall length of 192.1 inches and overall width of 75.4 inches, Borrego would fall into the midsize SUV category in U.S. terms.
Two of the three Genesis engines are offered with the Borrego. However, it's not known whether they will be de-tuned for the Borrego. Kia has not disclosed final horsepower figures. In the Genesis, the entry-level 3.8-liter DOHC V6 delivers an estimated 290 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of torque. The Genesis' Tau V8, meanwhile, produces 368 horsepower. In the Borrego, that figure might be lowered to around 300 horsepower.
Inside, Borrego features an in-dash, six-disc CD changer powered by a 600- watt Infinity audio system. Borrego comes with a sliding second row for easy access to the third row, as well as fold-flat second and third row seats to optimize cargo space.
Safety features include: advanced two-stage airbags, full-length side curtain airbags for all three rows, four-wheel disc brakes with an antilock brake system (ABS), electronic brake distribution (EBD), brake assist system (BAS), electronic stability control (ESC) and traction control (TCS), and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Borrego also offers downhill assist control (DAC), which keeps the vehicle moving straight and steady down steep grades and helps to keep the wheels from locking, as well as hill assist control (HAC), which helps the driver move up steep inclines without fishtailing or allows the vehicle to stop uphill without sliding backward.
The South Korean automaker says the full-size Borrego sport-utility vehicle will not return to the U.S. for the 2010 model year.
The Borrego arrived on the market late in 2008, a victim of poor timing and bad luck. Kia had hoped to sell up to 20,000 Borregos each year, but the U.S. launch coincided with high gas prices and the financial crisis that together, slashed SUV sales to half their 2007 levels.
Kia sold 825 Borregos in November. For 2009 through the end of November, Kia has sold 9,510 Borrego SUVs in the U.S. The Borrego also is sold in its home market as the Mohave, and Korean sales have been more brisk.
While it's been a slow mover on American dealer lots, the Borrego's been relatively well received in the automotive press. TheCarConnection's experts gave the 2009 Borrego a rating of 7.8 out of 10. TCC praised the Borrego's smooth powertrain and expansive interior, while taking issue with its styling and some interior materials. TheCarConnection's Bottom Line: "The Borrego isn’t the type of vehicle that’s especially popular or fashionable at this time, but it’s a home run against the competition," which includes the current Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Nissan Pathfinder.
Though the Borrego won't be sold as a 2010 model, a Kia spokesman tells us the company could not rule out a future return--leaving its fate "TBD."
Even if Hyundai/Kia are making the best cars they ever have, they still have a real TCO issue, IMO.
Trying to be a responsible car buyer, it's hard to ignore the fact that the depreciation hits Kias and Hyundais take pushes their TCO way higher than their competition.
It looked like a nice truck but I wouldn't have put my money into a new one.
Wow - I can't think of another vehicle in recent times axed after just one year. Seems like they didn't give it much of a chance, and besides, all I hear lately is that big SUVs are selling while econocars just sit on the lots....
Heck used Jeep Commanders are like FIVE GRAND MORE than they were 6 months to a year ago, and the Kia is probly better built so I think they should give it more of a shot.
Originally previewed during the 2019 Seoul Motor Show at the end of March by the Masterpiece concept, the second-generation Mohave is making its official debut courtesy of two images released by Kia South Korea on its Facebook page. It looks almost the same as the showcar before it, albeit the styling has been slightly toned down here and there to make the large SUV more suitable for production.
The four-point LED headlights and the somewhat unusual grille have been largely carried over from the Masterpiece, which is the same we can say about those large taillights that meet in the middle where the model’s name is prominently featured on the tailgate. The SUV used to be known as the Borrego in the United States before being discontinued in 2009 features a quad exhaust system, but we’re getting the impression those are fake as all four tips seem to be blocked off.
Interestingly, there’s no sign of the Kia badge anywhere on the body, with the front logo depicting a Mohave badge. The side moldings incorporate the SUV’s name, and the front doors have what looks to be a V6 badge on both sides. In case you haven’t noticed, the vehicle sits on wheels that have a six-lug configuration, thus suggesting more off-road capabilities than a Sorento. Skid plates at the front and rear also point towards the direction of a rugged SUV, while the “4WD” logo denotes the vehicle will offer an all-paw setup.
Kia South Korea has not released any technical specifications regarding the new Mohave, and we also don’t have any shots of the interior cabin. A closer look at the side profile reveals a greenhouse virtually identical to the old model, which is usually a sign that we’re not dealing with an all-new vehicle, but rather a refresh of the previous generation. The V6 3.0 badge suggests it has the same turbodiesel engine as the model it’s about to replace, which offers 256 horsepower and a generous 560 Newton-meters (413 pound-feet) of torque
The aforementioned Masterpiece concept (pictured above) had all the windows blacked out, so we really don’t know how the cabin has changed. Considering the previous-generation vehicle was launched back in 2008, chances are its successor is going to have a massively improved interior, presumably with influences from Kia’s other large SUV, the Telluride
It will be interesting to see whether the Borrego will return to North America as an off-road-ready SUV to capitalize on the huge demand these adventurous vehicles are enjoying at the moment in the U.S.
Kia is only a few weeks away from launching the new generation Mohave in Korea, and has just previewed its interior design for the first time by posting official sketch on their local website
Compared to the outgoing (and, frankly, quite old) iteration, the changes are significant, with a more simplistic dashboard panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and distinctive dual-zone climate control.
The center console houses the automatic gear shifter, drive mode selector and buttons for the hill start assist and other systems, next to the two cup holders and cubby. Leather and contrast stitching covering the top of the dashboard and door panels, and there’s also wood, aluminum and piano black trim.
Equipment includes electrically adjustable seats with heating and ventilation, Quilted Nappa leather, multi-zone climate control, three rows of seats, USB ports, surround view monitor, head-up display, smartphone wireless charging, premium sound system and many more.
Powering the 2020 Mohave is a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 diesel that’s paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. We still have to work on our Korean, but from what we can decipher it produces 256 HP (260 PS / 191 kW) and 413 lb-ft (560 Nm) of torque.
It’s still too early to say whether Kia will launch it in North America too as the successor of the Borregothat was discontinued in 2009 due to disappointing sales. The fact that it already has brand new three-row SUV, the Telluride, to cater to big families makes any predictions nigh impossible.
If you're looking for a body-on-frame SUV, there are several different models available in the United States. From the capable but aging Toyota 4Runner to more luxurious examples, such as the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator, there's no shortage. But some examples, once available to US consumers, are now forbidden fruit. One such SUV is the body-on-frame Kia Mohave.
Once known as the Borrego in the US, the tenacious Kia Mohave has received several updates to its exterior, cabin, chassis, and engine. This follows on from the 2019 update, which saw the mid-size SUV receive technologies such as LED head- and taillights, as well as a head-up display, among other features.
The closest thing to the Mohave in the United States would be Kia's own Telluride. Unlike its body-on-frame sibling, the North American equivalent utilizes a unibody chassis.
The latest iteration has received chassis and suspension tuning which aims to smoothen the ride quality and reduce pesky interior vibrations. Additionally, dual-layer window glass reduces intrusive road noise into the cabin. Plenty of technology is on offer, with forward collision assist, blind-spot assistance, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist part of the myriad safety features.
Under the muscular hood sits a 253 horsepower 3,0-liter turbodiesel engine. Torque is rated at 413 Ib-ft. Largely unchanged, the powertrain is now equipped with an "emission reduction device" to meet South Korea's revised emissions requirements. Power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The interior - available in five, six, or seven-seater configurations - has received a comprehensive update. Now more luxurious, the cabin boasts quilted Nappa leather, available in three color schemes. Navigation-based cruise control not only enables the Kia to slow for traffic but reduces speed when approaching the off-ramp of a highway, for example.
For six-seater models, the second row of pews receives heating and ventilation functionality. Further adding to the premium persona of the Mohave, is the generous use of wood trim on the dashboard and door cards.
Kia was long-rumored to be working on a body-on-frame off-roader that could go toe-to-toe with the Toyota Land Cruiser and form the basis for a midsize truck. Unfortunately, the Mohave isn't it, which means the fact that it won't be coming to the USA is no great shame.
01-15-2008, 08:10 PM
1 Year Wonder
