The Kia Boreggo is a good mid-sized SUV. It steers and handles nicely. It's power is there, but fuel economy protections make you work for it. The interior is functional and attriactive. All it needs is a bit more refinement in the ride department.
7.5 / 10
Dynamics
7.5 / 10
Engine Performance
The 4.6-liter V8 engine makes considerable power and torque, for its size. But a sluggish electronic throttle calibration bent on promoting fuel economy makes it seem less powerful than it is because the driver needs to press the pedal more than expected to get results.
7.5 / 10
Transmission Performance
This automatic shifts smoothly, and six gears means no gas-sapping optional final drive ratio is needed to get the 7,500 lb tow rating. But downshifting does not happen as easy as one would like, and a deep throttle input is needed to trigger one. At least a manual shift mode is available.
7.0 / 10
Brake Performance
Stopping distance and brake pedal feel are about average for the SUV class
8.0 / 10
Steering Perfomance
Good on-center feel and good steering effort. Neither too light and vague nor too heavy and difficult.
8.0 / 10
Handling
The Boreggo's lowish height and wide stance make it feel stable in corners and in our slalom maneuver.
6.5 / 10
Off-road Performance
The Boreggo has a low range transfer case and a very slick downhill assit control function, but in stock trim the lowish body height and so-so approach and departure angles limit performance.
8.5 / 10
Towing Performance
The Borrego V8 is a strong engine that comes with a six-speed automatic transmission and a standard 7,500 lb tow rating. And the trailer hitch and 7-pin wiring come standard--including a tap and pigtail harness for your electric brake controller.
7.0 / 10
Fun-to-Drive
"Fun" might not be the best word, but secure and capable do apply. This is no penalty box.
6.8 / 10
Comfort
5.5 / 10
Ride Comfort
The ride isn't hard, but the rear suspension shudders over certain types of lumps and bumps in the pavement. And it got worse when more weight was added.
7.0 / 10
Wind Noise
Wind noise is mild when cruising the freeway, but not spectaculary so.
7.0 / 10
Road Noise
A certain amount of road noise is audible from the tires, but the level is about average for this type of vehicle and is not objectionable.
7.5 / 10
Front Seat Comfort/Space/Access
A reasonably low step-in and a nice, wide door opening make the Borrego easy to get in and out of. And the seats are comfortable over long distances, too.
6.0 / 10
Rear Seat Comfort/Space/Access
Even though the Borrego has good legroom figures for this class, none of the mid-sized frame-based SUVs excels when compared to crossovers in this area. And the power exit feature that drives the front seat back when the driver exits can catch a rear seat occupant unawares if they haven't exited first.
7.0 / 10
3rd Seat Comfort/Space/Access
Good access, but only from the passenger-side rear door. Independent rear suspension allows for a footwell and enough headroom for average-sized adults. The best news here is that the third row is standard on all Boreggos.
7.5 / 10
Driving Position
The seat had plenty of adjustments and the steering wheel in the EX we tested had tilt and telescope functionality. No complaints.
7.7 / 10
Function
7.5 / 10
Headlight Illumination
Generally good, with a broad pattern and clear illumination. We would have liked more "punch" with the high beams on, however.
7.5 / 10
Visibility
None of the pillars present a significant obstruction, and parking sensors help with the close-quarters maneuvering. Still, we would have like the optional back-up camera--an available option our test vehicle did not have.
8.5 / 10
Instrument Panel Layout
Clear, logical, complete. And the nighttime illumination is very good, too.
9.0 / 10
Climate Control System Layout
The dual-zone automatic contol layout is very easy to understand and operate. Toggles for temperature setting are easier to use than the flat buttons other carmakers sometimes use. Rear controls for the third zone are similarly complete in the back seat, plus the front row has a parent's control.
7.5 / 10
Audio System Layout
Our navigation-equipped Boreggo featured a pleasant and easy-to-use combination of knobs, hard buttons and touchscreen controls, and the graphic menus for radio, satellite and iPod control were complete and intuitive. Our only gripe concerned the lack of top-level display of artist and song title in certain modes.
8.0 / 10
Secondary Control Layout
All of the stalks and switches that surround the driver are logically placed and well marked. We only wish the iPod port was placed closer to the console bin, so a connected iPod could remain hidden.
7.0 / 10
Interior Storage
Pretty good, but not clearly above average.
7.0 / 10
Standard Cargo/Trunk Space
Standard space behind the third row is adequate, with a handy underfloor bin. And the 3rd row folds easily into the florr, with a 50/50 split, if you need a bit more.
7.5 / 10
Maximum Cargo Space (ease & amount)
Others in this class can carry about the same amount or a bit more. Still, the Boreggo provides a nice flat load floor when both back rows are folded. Better still, the folding strategy is simple, owing perhaps to the standard-equipment nature of the third row.
7.5 / 10
Cupholders
Plenty to go around in all rows.
7.7 / 10
Design/Build Quality
8.0 / 10
Exterior Design
Clean and modern, but the Boreggo still looks like an SUV. The plastic body cladding is nicely integrated, avoiding the "tacked-on" look.
8.0 / 10
Interior Design
Proof that form and function are not mutually exclusive. This is probably due to the fact the Kia's designers did not opt for the sort heavy handed "this is a truck" theme we sometimes see in competing products.
8.0 / 10
Interior Materials
A cut above what we usually see in a Kia, and good in it's own right, too. Kia sucessfully avoids falling into the trap of sprinkling too much "bling" in the cabin.
7.5 / 10
Interior Control Tactile Feel
Generally quite good, but so are a lot of the competitors.
7.0 / 10
Squeaks & Rattles
Structurally, our Boreggo EX4x4 felt quite sound and well screwed-together. Certain rear suspension impacts could have been more composed, however.
7.4
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