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The Kia Borrego is a new mid-size SUV that seats seven and compares favorably to the Toyota 4Runner, Nissan Pathfinder, and Honda Pilot.

The Borrego comes with either a 3.8-liter V6 engine using a five-speed automatic transmission, or a 4.6-liter V8 using a six-speed automatic. Both engines are built by Kia, and are all aluminum with double overhead cams. The V8 makes 337 horsepower, more than the Hemi in the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The V8 model is rated to tow up to 7,500 pounds.

Fuel economy is an EPA-rated 15/22 City/Highway miles per gallon with 2WD and 15/20 mpg with 4WD. The V6 is only a bit better with 17/21 mpg. That fuel mileage is good for an engine with that much power in a vehicle having the Borrego's weight and boxy aerodynamics, but it isn't frugal.

The Kia Borrego offers three rows of seating, with overall interior volume greater than the competition. Legroom in the third row is very good, although it comes out of cargo space behind the third seat. With the 50/50 third seat lowered flat, there's a ton of cargo space. The 60/40 second row also drops flat, and it slides forward for easier ingress and egress to the third row.

Exclusive features include a standard tow hitch that's hidden behind the rear bumper, and LED turn signals on the sideview mirrors.

The Borrego is comfortable off road, with all-terrain capability that separates it from crossover SUVs such as the Toyota Highlander and Mazda CX7. It comes standard with skid plates, and its optional electronic 4WD system is the latest generation made by BorgWarner and features high and low range.

Kia doesn't take styling risks, so the Borrego looks pretty much like any other boxy SUV; even its hood contours are rectangular. It may be bold, but it's still vanilla. The V8 comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, the V6 with 17s.

The interior is especially clean and well laid out, the seats are soothing, and the instrumentation and controls are intelligent.

The ride is solid, consistent, and comfortable, on a double-wishbone front suspension, multi-link rear. The smooth six-speed transmission in the V8 is the same that's in the BMW X5 luxury SUV.

There's not much to fault with the Borrego, except that it gets the fuel economy of a mid-size SUV.

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The 2009 Kia Borrego comes in three models: LX, EX, and Limited. The LX and EX each offer a choice of 3.8-liter V6 and five-speed automatic transmission with 17-inch alloy wheels or 4.6-liter V8 and six-speed automatic with 18-inch alloy wheels. The Limited comes with the V8 only. Two-wheel drive is standard; four-wheel drive is optional on all models.

The Borrego LX ($26,245) comes with cloth upholstery, manually controlled air conditioning, six-speaker AM/FM/CD with MP3 audio, six-way driver's seat. The LX V6 is available with four-wheel drive ($28,295). The LX V8 ($30,995) comes standard with 4WD. Options include a navigation system and a rear-seat entertainment system.

The Borrego EX ($27,995), EX 4WD ($29,995), EX V8 ($30,995), and EX 4WD V8 ($32,995) come with eight-way power driver's seat and four-way power front passenger's seat, leather steering-wheel, dual-zone air conditioning, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, heated door mirrors, trip computer, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, automatic headlights, and fog lights.

Kia Borrego Limited ($37,995) and Limited 4WD ($39,995) add a power tilting and sliding sunroof; premium Infinity® audio system with in-dash 6-CD changer and 10 speakers; navigation system; separate rear air-conditioning controls; memory settings for the driver's seat, mirrors, and steering-column; tilting and telescoping steering-wheel; leather seat-upholstery; heated front and second row seats; power-adjustable pedals; keyless entry; and a rear-view camera.

Safety equipment on all models includes frontal airbags, side-impact airbags for the front seats, and full-length airbag curtains. Also standard are ABS with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, downhill brake control, electronic stability control, traction control, backup warning, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The V8 models add a driver's knee airbag.