The Borrego, which debuted in 2008 as a 2009 model, was Kia’s first sizable three-row SUV and at the time its largest in the United States. It bears the name of California’s Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
It quickly failed because of the timing. In 2008, some U.S. petrol stations charged $4 per gallon, and a recession was just getting started. SUVs built on trucks were losing sales to more fuel-efficient crossover SUVs. The Borrego’s poor fuel efficiency made it unattractive to consumers.
Its two engine choices produced comparable results. The V6 achieved mpg ratings of 16 in the city and 21 on the highway, while the V8 achieved mpg ratings of 15 in the city and 20 on the highway. In 2008, those seeking a sizable, thirsty SUV didn’t want one from Kia.
Only until 2009 was the Borrego available for purchase in the US. In 2011, Kia quickly replaced the Borrego with the unibody-built Kia Sorento, which had a contemporary look. It had front-wheel drive, smaller, more fuel-efficient engines, and a more pleasant ride. The Borrego is an uncommon car in modern times due to its short production run of only two years and low sales.
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When did Kia Borrego production end?
After the second (and final) model year of the Borrego in 2009, Kia introduced a larger Sorento in 2011 to take its place.
Will the US market carry the Kia Mohave?
The inside has had a thorough renovation and is available with five, six, or seven seats. The cabin now has quilted Nappa leather, which comes in three color options. In addition to allowing the Kia to slow down for traffic, navigation-based cruise control also lowers speed while, for instance, approaching a motorway off-ramp.
The second row of pews in six-seater variants has heating and ventilation features. The Mohave’s lavish use of wood trim on the dashboard and door cards adds to its upscale appearance.
Long-standing rumors claimed that Kia was developing a body-on-frame off-road vehicle that could go head-to-head with the Toyota Land Cruiser and serve as the foundation for a midsize truck. Unfortunately, the Mohave isn’t it, so it’s not really regrettable that it won’t be arriving in the United States.
Kia Borrego, what happened?
For the 2009 model year, the Kia Borrego was unveiled as the brand’s largest SUV in the U.S. in July 2008[10]. The Borrego’s American lineup was as follows:
Although the LX Kia Borrego was the entry-level model, it came well-equipped for its $26,245 MSRP base price. It had a 3.8 L V6 engine with an automatic transmission, alloy wheels, cloth interior, keyless entry, AM/FM stereo with single-disc CD/MP3 player, USB/iPod and auxiliary audio input connections, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, six speakers, and air conditioning. Optional features included a 4.6 L V8 engine.
The Kia Borrego’s top-tier EX trim added features like an AM/FM stereo with a six-disc in-dash CD/MP3 changer, USB/iPod and auxiliary audio input jacks, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, an Infinity premium sound system with an external amplifier and a rear-mounted subwoofer, a power sunroof, and dual-zone climate control for a base price of $27,995. A 4.6 L V8 engine and heated dual front bucket seats were available extras.
With a base price of $37,995 MSRP, the Limited was the top-of-the-line Kia Borrego model and added features like a standard 4.6 L V8 engine, leather seating surfaces, power dual front bucket seats, upgraded alloy wheels, heated dual front bucket seats, optional touch-screen GPS navigation with voice recognition, and a Homelink transmitter.
For all versions, Bluetooth hands-free calling and wireless stereo audio streaming were options.
The Kia Borrego was discontinued in the United States in 2009 because to poor sales, and in 2010 manufacture of the brand-new, second-generation 2011 Kia Sorento commenced in West Point, Georgia. The Borrego only had one model year in the United States: 2009. All the features of the Kia Borrego were available, including a new third-row seating option for all models except the Base model, despite the absence of a V8 engine in favor of brand-new Inline Four-Cylinder (I4) and V6 engines.
The 4.6 L Tau V8 was removed from the lineup in other markets because of the time’s escalating oil prices.
Is Telluride the same as a Kia Mohave?
In the US, you have to decide between the Sorento and the Telluride if you want a Kia SUV that can off-road. These two are different in size, but sadly both have unibody construction, which isn’t the best for demanding settings. Traditionalists still favor body-on-frame SUVs as their weapon of choice.
But did you know that Kia formerly offered the Borrego, a body-on-frame SUV, for sale in the US? Due to low sales, it was taken off the market in 2010 and did not come back. However, it persisted as the 2023 Kia Mohave in Korea.
Gallery: 2023 Kia Mohave
The Kia Mohave is now undergoing its second makeover based on the Masterpiece Concept from 2019, while it still employs the same outmoded platform as the Borrego’s that has been greatly modified for the present. This video from Asian Petrolhead provides us a sneak peek at what the US has been missing in the supposedly robust SUV, which is currently being offered in South Korea.
The 6’2″ presenter in the video above explains that the Kia Mohave’s cabin capacity is limited but adequate because it is slightly larger than the Sorento but smaller than the Telluride. Since it sits on a ladder-frame chassis, the ride height is also higher than usual.
How did the Kia Mohave fare?
Do you recall the Kia Mohave, also known as the Borrego in North America? The midsize crossover SUV was discontinued in 2009, and the South Korean carmaker first replaced it with the unibody Sorento before switching to the identically sized Telluride in 2020. Both vehicles were well-liked options in the midsize crossover SUV market. Should the redesigned 2023 Kia Mohave make a comeback to North America given the popularity of body-on-frame SUVs like the Toyota 4Runner?
Will Kia release a larger SUV?
The Borrego first came with a gas-guzzling V8 engine when it was first introduced ten years ago. The newer Telluride big SUV is now offered with a V6, making it far more fuel efficient.
The 3.8-liter V6 engine that powers the 2022 Kia Telluride produces 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. With FWD as standard, the extremely powerful V6 engine is coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission.
The Telluride features an AWD version that’s available for 2022, and according to Kia, it can tow up to 5,000 pounds with the right accessories.
Why is it so difficult to locate a Kia Telluride?
It is nearly hard to find a new Kia Telluride due to high demand and a global shortage of semiconductor chips. And if you can find one, you’ll have to pay significantly more than the list price to buy it.
Since there aren’t many new cars available, prospective Telluride buyers have turned to the used car market in the hopes of locating one. However, a recent study claims that this is a horrible idea because used Kia Tellurides are even more expensive than brand-new ones!
Who is Kia’s primary rival?
Hyundai Capital and Toyota are rivals of Kia America. Comparably rates Kia America as having the highest overall culture score among its rivals.
What vehicle is superior to the Telluride?
There are other capable midsize SUVs that can compete with the Telluride, ranging from the premium Hyundai Palisade and tough Honda Passport to the sporty Mazda CX-9 and potent Dodge Durango.